So, you're an activist, huh? How exciting! Whatever your cause, yours is a role that helps to bring a voice to a group of people who otherwise wouldn’t
be able to speak up for themselves. Even if that group does have a large
support system, acting as an ally is still important because the group has not
achieved full equality to the majority population and they need you to help
spread the word and normalize the ‘outsiders.’
Activism is a lot of work. It takes patience, persistence
and a hell of a lot of love. Our political climate certainly does not allow for
a lot of the aforementioned, rather it breeds divisiveness, anger and fear; in
other words, a recipe for hate.
The unfortunate truth is that more often than not, hate is
met with more hate.
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| "Apple Doesn't Fall Far" A father takes his son to the LAX protests after the initial announcement of the 'travel ban.' IG:@maggimayfield |
I do not claim to be a good activist, or even a good ally to
any marginalized group. For example, when the travel ban was first initiated
and many immigrants (legal or not) were held at airports around the country, I
was one of many that decided to make a sign and march at the Los Angeles
International Airport. I was angry and I wanted to be around others who were
also angry. (My mother always taught me that there is strength in numbers,
right?) So, proudly I went and held my sign and demonstrated that this kind of
legislation wasn’t okay with me. I know, how narcissistic. Who am I? How did
this really affect me? The bottom line…this didn’t affect me. It had nothing to
do with me. However, my actions came from a place of love and support for how I
believe all humans should be treated. You know, with kindness and respect.
My activism that day was short-lived and I went on to perform at a
stand up comedy show later int the evening without making mention of my actions
earlier in the day while I was on stage.
Social media is supposed to be a safe place for the merging
of those two worlds. The Internet: a haven for activists to spread their wings
and find the funny in our “Second Lives” because the real thing is just dark,
daunting and seemingly hopeless.
But, I’m not sure that anyone is a perfect activist or ally
as I watch my comedian friends work out material online; they explore ideas
regarding a lot of the new legislation (usually affecting marginalized groups
who need us well-meaning activists) and confusing “fake news.” We write these
jokes as a feeler, to see what our friends think before we get crazy and bring
them into the real space. Nothing is worse, as a comedian, than trying a new
joke that you are so proud of and it falling flat on an audience. Okay, perhaps
the audience hating you a little for telling that joke…that would be much worse.
The problem with trying to find the funny and help normalize
a marginalized group online is that again, no activist is perfect. No ally is
perfect. When we write these jokes, no matter how basic or lame they may be, it's still a step towards helping to normalize the ostracized. Yet, I continue to
see fellow comedians call one another out for a seemingly harmless idea with
hate and anger, calling the joke “stupid,” “too easy,” or “at the expense of
the marginalized.” It's a nasty brawl that leads to name calling and the reassurance that "I am a comedian" so you know how much I can take a joke and that yours, was in fact not-a-joke.
Even if any of those things were true about the joke, why
are we attacking the writer? Perhaps this activist isn’t as up to speed on all
the issues the group may face. Perhaps they need a little nudging and ground zero education into
developing the joke/idea more.
No one is a perfect activist. However, it is a job, that if
you decide to take on, you can never get tired of. You can never get tired
explaining to a new audience WHY their way of thinking is mean and hurtful and
does not treat other humans with kindness and respect (regardless of the one
quality that the majority deems lesser than). You can never become exhausted
with loving someone despite their shortcomings in trying to help. You have to
love. You have to explain, a lot. You have to really listen to help guide. And
most importantly, you have to practice what you preach and love.
Continue to explore these ideas and jokes, my fellow
activists. I may not think your joke is funny, but rest assured, I’ll just not ‘like’
it on Facebook. But if it’s offensive, I’ll explain to you, in private, why I
think you need to restructure the joke and how you can be a better activist to better help the marginalized population you care about so much.
No idea is a bad idea. It’s just an idea that isn’t great…yet.
So, help one another out online. Meet those subpar jokes with high tolerance and
extra patient activism. Then, together, we can bring these ideas into that super
scary real space and actually help make the world a more tolerant, loving
place to live.
Stay patient and loving, my fellow activists, for we have a long road ahead.
Buffalo Springfield "For What's It's Worth"
Still, one of the best protest songs of all time. The lyrics that most clearly illustrate my point:"Nobody's right, if everybody's wrong." Look for what is right, even if it that means it's not you, this time.
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