This essay argues that Lamont’s Seeing Others constitutes both an example of, and call for, public sociology. Overviewing Lamont’s approach to change agents and recognition chains, I question what role sociologists can play as change agents. This involves both a brief historical overview of Du Bois’ approach to recognition and social research, before putting forward some methodological questions about how to instigate an ‘ordinary humanism’ in one’s research practice.