Future Hindsight – From Protest to Power: Jonathan Pulphus

Date: September 11, 2025
Host: Mila Atmos
Guest: Jonathan Pulphus – Organizer, co-founder of Tribe X, author of With My Life: Justice and Activism Beyond the University

Episode Overview

This episode of Future Hindsight explores how protest movements can be transformed into lasting political power and sustained civic engagement, drawing on the experience of Jonathan Pulphus—a Ferguson protest organizer, community builder, and author. The conversation emphasizes the lifelong nature of activism, the importance of both protest and strategy, and how activism can lead to tangible changes in institutions and government. The discussion also offers concrete advice for sustaining oneself as an activist and for inspiring the next generation of change-makers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Jonathan’s Activist Roots

• Community Engaged from Childhood – Jonathan was raised in north St. Louis, exposed early to grassroots organizing through his mother and Queen Mother Ramona Taylor Williams, who addressed food deserts, gun violence, and other systemic issues.
  • "If you know anything about north St. Louis city ... we have this line called the Del Mar divide that separates the haves from the have nots." (02:36)
  • Early activism included community gardening and direct appeals to elected officials.

The Ferguson Uprising: A Tipping Point

• Immediate Involvement – Jonathan was in college when Michael Brown was killed, bringing together his upbringing and urgent activism.
  • “...me and other people who are also concerned citizens ... chose to be in the streets for over a year.” (04:20)
• Demands for Justice – Protestors called for officer accountability and a broader reckoning with systemic issues.
  • “Of course after the murder there was just calls for transparency ... arrest of the officer, prosecution ... and a larger call for addressing the root causes...” (05:15)
  • Result: Both DAs failed to indict the officer; shifts in political leadership (e.g., Cori Bush’s rise) demonstrate protest-to-politics pipeline. (05:34)

On-the-Ground Organizing Realities

• Beauty and Chaos – Protesting brought powerful solidarity, but was met with state violence (National Guard, tear gas, LRADs, etc.) and ongoing trauma.
  • “...all the various obstacles that were put in our way that we had to navigate through, we had to love each other through, we had to defend each other...” (08:20)
• Losses Along the Way – Jonathan honors activists lost to violence and tragedy, underscoring the human cost.
  • “I do want to just take a moment to acknowledge those who were involved in that moment who are no longer with us...” (08:54)

Does Protesting Work?

• Yes, but with Nuance – Protest is powerful, particularly when leveraged by young people willing to take risks and when paired with strategic engagement.
  • “...when you realize and face that which you disagree with, how do you go about organizing around that.” (11:16)
  • "We're talking about the power to leverage civic engagement and envision a democracy that's more inclusive, that does not kneel to the foot of oppression..." (12:17)
• Role of Young People – Students are often the first to act and sense changes, pushing political momentum forward.
  • “Young people tend to have their pulse on what’s happening real quickly." (11:27)

The Clock Tower Accords: A Case Study in Campus Power

• Encampment at St. Louis University (SLU) in 2014 – Unlike some more recent campus protests, SLU’s movement included deep community partnerships beyond students, amplifying its effectiveness.
  • “...we had the benefit of a tremendous amount of community support coupled with student support to leverage and make the Clock Tower Accords...” (13:55)
  • “...because we had people who were not beholden to the campus, didn’t have to answer, weren’t tuition paying people... we were able to leverage that community and student support to get the university president ... to agree to some concrete demands.” (14:22)
• Lesson: Effective campus activism often requires breaking out of campus boundaries and uniting with the broader community.

Working Within the System

• Activists to Elected Officials – Successes include protestors like Cori Bush turning activism into legislative influence, but systemic inertia or retrenchment can undermine gains.
  • “It’s one thing to have these elected seats ... but if we aren’t taking care of ourselves ... it’s easy for the enemy to infiltrate, it’s easy for the opposition to fracture, and it’s easy for us to turn on one another.” (19:44)
  • Warns of historical examples (COINTELPRO, Black Panther Party) to illustrate the dangers of division.

Narrative Control & Socialization

• Controlling the Story – Jonathan details how mainstream media often distorts protest movements and the importance of activists telling their own stories through social media and ethnography.
  • “Narrative control is a huge part of the battle ... we have platforms that allow us to tell our stories unfiltered, raw, and truthfully.” (22:47)
  • Example: Social media used to counteract misleading police reports and mainstream coverage.
  • “So for young people today, I guess that’s TikTok ... I would encourage young people to tell their own stories, document everything.” (25:24)

Ferguson’s Lasting Impact on the Black Freedom Struggle

• Mainstreaming “Black Lives Matter” – The Ferguson uprising made the phrase a household name and set the playbook for future organizing.
  • “We made Black Lives Matter a household name.” (27:19)
• Ripple Effect: Inspired other movements domestically and abroad; risk-taking and creative actions replicated elsewhere. (28:49)
• Part of a Long Arc: Links Ferguson to traditions like civil rights, Black Power, and abolition movements. (29:46)

Sustaining Activism: Marathon vs. Sprint

• Preventing Burnout: Urges activists to manage expectations, practice self-care, and avoid martyrdom. Activism is ongoing and requires longevity.
  • “We don’t need any martyrs. We got plenty of those. ... We want them to be healthy because we need them.” (31:15)
• Concrete Advice: Seek balance—college and activism can coexist if approached wisely.

Civic Spark: Action Step for Listeners

• Mentoring Youth — Engage a young person, ask about their experiences and thoughts on current events, and support their curiosity and agency.
  • “Find a young person in your life and ask them what they're wrestling with, really peek into them ... figure out ways based on that conversation on how you can support them.” (32:47)

What Fuels Hope?

• Faith and Community — Jonathan draws hope from his faith and the ongoing courage of peers and new activists, as well as civic-focused platforms like Future Hindsight.
  • “I put God above all ... he gives me hope. ... I know I'm not alone in this fight.” (34:08)
  • “I am inspired by people like yourself, and peers I know, these young people around the nation who refuse to bow down to authoritarianism...” (34:46)

Notable Quotes

• "Democracy is not a spectator sport. You have to be active, you have to be involved." — Jonathan Pulphus (03:00)
• "We made Black Lives Matter a household name." — Jonathan Pulphus (27:19)
• "Protest is the power to leverage civic engagement, to envision a democracy that's more inclusive, that does not kneel to the foot of oppression, and it seeks to advance outcomes and wins and gains." — Jonathan Pulphus (12:17)
• "Narrative control is a huge part of the battle ... it’s important that we leverage certain tools to make sure our story is clear, our story is concise, and that we all are on the same sheet of music." — Jonathan Pulphus (22:47)
• "We don't need any martyrs. We got plenty of those ... We want [young people] to be healthy because we need them." — Jonathan Pulphus (31:15)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Early activism & community context: 02:15–04:50
• Ferguson protests, demands, and aftermath: 05:15–06:50
• On-the-ground protest experiences (beauty and chaos): 07:18–09:59
• Does protesting work?—Power of protest & youth risk-taking: 10:25–12:41
• Clock Tower Accords vs. campus protest today: 13:40–16:53
• How the system responds, protest-to-politics journeys: 18:42–21:43
• Narrative control & the importance of telling your story: 22:32–26:44
• Ferguson's place in Black freedom history: 27:16–30:12
• Marathon vs. sprint activism, self-care: 30:35–32:14
• Civic Spark - actionable step for listeners: 32:42–33:51
• Sources of hope: 34:04–35:41

Episode Tone

The conversation is earnest, reflective, and empowering—Jonathan blends deep personal conviction with practical, actionable insights, and Mila guides the discussion warmly while connecting it to the broader fight for democracy and civic engagement.

For Listeners

This episode is essential for anyone interested in the journey "from protest to power," the inner workings of social movements, and sustaining change—both personally and systemically. Jonathan’s reflections offer not only a blueprint for activism, but also a compassionate reminder that real change is both collective and enduring.