This is a mostly pie-free diary (although that got me thinking).
10 years ago, I could name a lot of the leaders of the women's movement. Today I can't name any that wasn't on the list 10 years ago and isn't over 60 or dead.
30-40 years ago, I could have named every leader of the civil rights movement. Today, I can't name any.
At one I time I could have come up with at least 2 or 3 names of leaders in the American Indian movement.
I'm not sure I can name anyone who's a leader in the gay rights movement, or ever could.
What's going on here?
Myabe I'm out of touch (but I don't think more than the "average" American). I'm certainly not looking for a cult of celebrity to follow - I like grassroots movements and collective action a lot better. But the realities of media (print and electronic) require identifiable individuals as advocates; people look for leaders.
I can name the leaders of the religious right. I can name the leaders of the PNAC.
I'd like to hear an explanation that goes beyond "it's the media's fault". Leaders like MLK or Gloria Steinem knew how to get media attention for their issues. They got mindshare in print journalism. And I don't think it's any coincidence that the absence of leaders correlates with the lack of progress on issues of race or gender (and if you think we've made sufficient progress on those issues, I feel sorry for you).
I'm starting to think also that one of the problems with "single issue" interest groups is that, because they lack strong, well-known leadership that broadcasts their agenda, they tend more and more to look to the Democratic Party to assume the mantle of leadership and be the national advocate and voice for their educational and activist efforts. I don't think that's good for the Democratic Party.
I have to say though that without a nationally identifiable, recognizable leader (is there a gay MLK that I'm forgetting about?), and really without a clear and coherent program, the gay community has made a huge amount of progress in the last 10-20 years. How did that work?
I know these groups have leaders, and I'm sure some of them are doing amazing work, but none of them has achieved that stature and notoriety of past movement leadership.
Has the environment changed so this is no longer necessary? Am I overlooking people who have every bit the stature and name recoginiton of past leaders? Is this worth worrying about?