Reflective thinking about Knock Down the House
Knock Down the House is a heartwarming documentary that accompanies four candidates who
choose to run in Congress in 2018: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Amy Vilela, Cori Bush, and
Paula Jean Swearengin. In the movie, there are several things that I found engaging and one of
them is the straightforward interview of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez regarding the story of her
upbringing and the drive to act against what happens to be the norm. She differed through her
genuineness and zeal, and this is how grassroots activism can result in profound change of
politics. It was also accompanied by the personal testimony of Cori Bush who managed to
overcome her personal trauma and had to stand by the issues of healthcare and social justice,
making her testimony and instance of resilience and personal belief so strong and powerful.
The only thing that shocked me was just how far these women had to go and live up to the
systemic barriers that were placed upon them because they believed in what they were doing
because some of them were financial, political establishment, and even societal doubt. I did not
know that grassroots campaigns are more dependent on the perseverance of individuals as well
as the community working together more than it is on huge amounts of money or political
connections. Their experiences revealed how even in strongly established political system,
common citizens may defy powerful interests.
All these women were political aspirants who came into the picture out of passion to solve
certain problems prevailing in their societies. Alexandria wanted to conquer economic disparity
and sectional fighting on behalf of working-family in New York. Not being able to access
affordable health care, Amy Vilela hoped to revolutionize the health care system when she lost
her daughter. Cori Bush demanded justice on behalf of the oppressed communities and opposed
systematic racism and inequality. Swearengin, Paula Jean was concerned with environmental
matters and making corporations accountable. They were driven by their personal experiences
