Embodied Activism: Engaging the Body to Cultivate Liberation, Justice, and Authentic Connection--A Practical Guide for Transformative Social Change

by Rae Johnson, Bayo Akomolafe (Foreword)

A radically different approach to social and environmental justice work for fans of adrienne maree brown and Bessel van der Kolk

Instead of thinking about social justice as a process that starts with changing people's minds, Embodied Activism understands our bodies--how we feel in them and relate to others through them--as the sites of transformation

How do ordinary people with busy lives leverage our actions in support of liberation, justice, and authentic connection? How can activists and social change-makers avoid burning out? How does the body factor into what our social movements miss ?
Drawing on the somatic arts, trauma-informed psychology, and anti-oppressive movements, Embodied Activism helps us explore and transform the political realities of our everyday lives in a new by harnessing the felt experience of our bodies as the sites of our activism.
Rae Johnson teaches us to listen to our body language--and to question body image norms. They show us how to reconnect to our sensual capacities, which we can lose sight of in a non-stop, nervous-system-hijacking world. They give us tools and exercises to nourish ourselves and protect our bodies, minds, and spirits from the toll that activism can take. And they teach us about nonverbal communication styles and how to connect with each other in joyful, authentic community.
Embodied Activism is written for embodiment professionals, community organizers, and all readers looking for new tools and perspectives for changing the world, one body at a time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Activism, Politics, Social Justice, Health, Social Issues

224 pages, Paperback

Published May 30, 2023

Reviews

[Ashley McMullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Embodied Activism: Engaging the Body to Cultivate Liberation, Justice, and Authentic Connection--A Practical Guide for Transformative Social Change is a great book if you're looking for a stronger foundation and education in how to get in better touch with your body to avoid burnout and maximize your social activism. So often, those fighting for social justice get worn out and therefore can't make the kind of impact they want to make. Doing yoga, going to a therapist, and getting in tune with your body all help, and if you're doing those things (or have done those things), a lot of what's in these pages may not feel super groundbreaking.

However, Embodied Activism gives you terms for the things you may already be doing without realizing it, and then gives you the benefits (some of which you may already know, and some that you don't). All of this information is then woven into the social benefits of activism: how, once we can identify all the ways we have been caging people in through various and multiple ways, we can break that cycle to liberate society in positive, healing ways.

Three stars because this wasn't as mind-blowing as I hoped, but it was still fresh, compassionate, and insightful. I can see it being useful for beginner activists, those without a lot of knowledge on this topic, and may even members of Boards for nonprofits who need to be rejuvenated in how they approach their missions.

Thank you to NetGalley and North Atlantic Books for giving me advanced reader access in exchange for my honest review. This book publishes May 30, 2023.

[no]

no one can be mad at me for reading too many books it's for school!!!!!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

i guess i’d give it 3.5 if i could. made me think a lot about how i hold
my body and my relationship to embodiment but i’m rly not convinced about the link to activism.

[Ari Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful first half but the second half of this book was pretty uninspiring.

[Ailey | Bisexual Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Embodied Activism is a radical, resonant reimagining of what it means to practice social change—and where that work begins. Drawing from somatic psychology, trauma-informed care, and anti-oppressive praxis, Johnson urges us to stop intellectualizing justice work and start feeling it instead.

They ask: What if activism isn’t only protest signs and burnout-inducing urgency? What if it’s also the quiet, intentional ways we move through our relationships, the stories our bodies carry, and the subversive act of listening inward when we’re told to numb out? At the heart of the book is a deceptively simple but transformative idea: our bodies are not separate from our politics. They are the sites of power, perception, memory—and potential resistance.

Johnson names how oppressive systems live in our nervous systems, how trauma shapes our ability to sense and respond, and how non-verbal dynamics like posture, proximity, and presence communicate social power. They redefine activism as “any intentional action taken with the goal of positive social change,” opening space for more people—especially disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent folks—to see themselves as part of collective liberation. There’s no “right” way to be an activist here. There’s only the invitation to notice, to feel, to re-attune.

One of the most moving parts of the book is its exploration of percepticide—the process of being conditioned to ignore your own sensory truth in order to survive. Johnson gives us language for the quiet violences we’ve learned to normalize, and tools to reclaim our felt sense of reality. Through somatic practices and reflective prompts, they guide us back to ourselves, not as a form of self-help, but as a practice of interdependence.

For anyone who's felt disconnected from their body, burned out by activism, or unsure how to begin participating in justice work—this book offers a map back home. A soft, subversive, and deeply necessary read for those committed to changing the world without abandoning themselves in the process.

📖 Read this if you love: somatic healing practices, expansive definitions of activism, and the works of adrienne maree brown or Prentis Hemphill.

🔑 Key Themes: Embodiment and Power, Trauma and Sensory Awareness, Interdependence and Relational Activism, Pleasure as Resistance, Somatics and Social Justice.

Content / Trigger Warnings: Mental Illness (minor), Child Abuse (minor), Eating Disorder (minor).

[Kel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this text offers space and insight into engaging with the concepts that are covered. In my opinion this does add to its value as it is not just a textbook but also a call to action. Too often ideas stay just ideas and hopefully people actually use the knolwedge this book has to offer. The text I wouldnt say is introductory as there is rather a lot of technical language being used - so perhaps not the first book on the topic to pick up but a good addition none the less.

[Noopur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing read from start to finish! I ended up underlining almost every line. I felt exhilarated and full of hope after reading it. This is not just for people who call themselves activists but also for those who live their lives resisting oppression. I’d even say the somatic approach Rae Johnson proposes is essential for our world, where too many are disconnected from their bodies and from each other.

[Hilary Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was an enlightening read. Helped to think more deeply about my areas of activism in my everyday life, though this was not made so concrete until by the end of the book. I wish the Integrated Approach came earlier in the book. Otherwise, I would recommend for anyone desiring knowledge on embodied approaches to activism.

[Snickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the opportunity to read and review. This book is a great read to learn about how to become an activist or a better one. There's a lot of information available and easy to read and understand.

[Jillian]

receiving a copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways -- looking forward to reading and updating with a review

[Corrica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource that gives actionable items on top of an educational foundation. You can learn and grow as an activist and general human being through this book.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half on somatics was a slay, the rest didn’t really feel as exciting or relevant to me