Edition #28: Where Do Accountabililty and Cancel Culture Intersect?
Plus, what disbanding a police department could look like, a useful infographic, and the oddly entertaining re-enactment you didn't know you needed (and a brand new format!)
A Note From the Editor
I don’t exactly know what to say about this week. It’s been inexplicably long and emotionally tolling in a way I’ve come to expect these days, but even more so. In a futile attempt to focus my mind on moments of joy, I sat down to meditate yesterday, only to end up hysterically crying at a simple memory of eating lunch with my mother when she came to visit last summer. The train of thought goes something like this: I love my mom/when will I see her again?/ when will I ever see my family again?/George Floyd’s family will never get to see him again/so many people are hurting/you don’t really deserve to be hurting this much, and so on. In short, all roads lead to the same bleak destination.
Though I like to think I’m not one to let things fester, particularly not those of the negative connotation, I’m coming to realize that there will be no meditating, reasoning, reckoning, or crying my way out of this. I’m grieving— you probably are, too— and it’s a good thing. Uncomfortable, unbearable, f*cking painful, but necessary. A friend asked whether we could talk on the phone last night and I declined, telling her that I simply didn’t have the mental capacity to open my mouth at the moment. My phone lit up with a reply right before bed and I couldn’t help but laugh, her words echoing something my therapist had said just the day before:
“I know you have your people and I know you’re strong, but remember, you don’t have to do it all alone.“
When I’m not crying and avoiding my friends (haha!?), there are two things I’ve been thinking about a lot this week that I’d love to hear your thoughts on:
Should we be held accountable to the opinions of our former selves? If so, in what ways? I’m thinking about the intersection of cancel culture and accountability, and the fine line that separates the two. When damming photos, videos, or social media posts surface from the past, is a heartfelt apology enough? And does the length of time passed since the incident somehow lessen the blow, assuming people really can change?
A case study to consider: Justin Trudeau wears Brownface, then apologizes, and goes on to win Canada’s electionWhat’s worse, empty promises or silence? Thanks to social media and the internet at large, we the people (and the corporations/brands) always need to say something, anything. We must constantly communicate or values and virtues, even if they are, at times, more performative than genuine. When we mess up, we must make carefully crafted statements and promises, even when our words dance around the issues because we’re afraid of saying the “wrong” thing (and being cancelled for it). It reminds me of the way politicians answer questions during debates: a lot of words that don’t say much at all. But if silence is the only alternative, where does that leave us? Is there some undiscovered form of in-between communication that allows us to give real, human answers, even when circumstances and cancel culture prevents us from being fully transparent?
Cheers, my dears. I’d love to hear (and discuss) your thoughts in the comments below.
Three Pieces of Content Worth Consuming:
What Happened When A Crime-Ridden City Disbanded Its Police Department? I’ll give you a hint: violent crime decreased by 44%. Camden, NJ is one of America’s only case studies on how to overhaul the police force and rebuild it from the ground up, and the results are astonishing. Their first day on the job, officers are required to knock on doors of homes in the neighborhoods they’re assigned to patrol, to introduce themselves and ask community members what needs improving. This is what the future of policing could, and should, look like. Worth noting: Police corruption played a large role in Camden’s high crime rate to begin with; officers were found guilty of planting evidence on suspects, fabricating reports and committing perjury
Remembering George Floyd: “I Want To Touch The World”
All I knew about George Floyd before listening to this incredibly heartfelt episode of The Daily was that he was someone’s son, but he was so much more than that. Those closest to him knew him as Perry, and he had dreams bigger than the small Houston town he grew up in. He was a collegiate basketball player, a friend of DJ Screw, a jokester. He was a father, an uncle, a brother. He was a man of faith; an ordinary man who changed the face of the world as we know it. Listen, learn, share, and honor the memory of George Perry Floyd.These Days, “Wellness” Is Synonymous With Being Well-Off (and why it matters). I bookmarked this one back in April but came back to it this week, because the overarching point feels especially poignant as we inspect the domino effects of institutionalized racism. The piece explores the connection between over the top wellness fads circulated by brands like Goop and the propensity COVID-19 has to ravage particular communities over others— namely, those communities of color. It isn't about the magical moon juice or the crystals you shove in your vagina, but rather, that people with the means to take better care of themselves from the start are less likely to have the same pre-existing conditions as those living in communities with fewer resources.
Perhaps You Should…
Check Out These Useful InfographicsAll I have to say about this is wow, on so many levels. During these ever polarizing times when communicating with people of varying opinions can often feel like shouting into a void, I found these simple diagrams incredibly useful. Be sure to click through all of the slides on her post to get the full picture.
**Bonus Content** (To Confuse and Delight)
This guy re-enacted “Shrek 2” (in its ENTIRETY!) to raise money for the ACLU in honor of George Floyd. The result is as strange as it is lovely, and it was exactly the kind of content I didn’t know I so desperately needed this week. Also, someone get this guy an agent. Fast forward the video to 5:22, that’s when the real show starts
A Quote From A Book You Should Read:
“We repeat what we don’t repair,” Dr. Abassi had said to her once, and for so many years she’d taken the limited interpration of that as only pertaining to herself.”
-Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane
This newsletter is best served with a side of conversation, so drop your opinions, reflections, and thoughts in the comments below and let’s get to talking.
Or, share the most thought-provoking piece from today’s edition with someone you love, then call them up to discuss, debate, and percolate. Because as a wise woman once said, “Great minds discuss ideas.”
P.s., I hope you like the new format and functionality!
Honestly so happy that this article touched on the phenomenon of cancel culture as I was just discussing this with my roommate using this exact example. While I think each case is subjective, I do believe in personal growth and the ability for human beings to redeem themselves through concrete actions (as opposed to empty apologies). Maybe every moment isn’t a “teachable“ moment (Why should the burden of education fall on people of color when they already have so much to bear?) but every moment can be a learnable one, as well as a chance for someone to own their transgressions and demonstrate better thoughts and actions. I feel like perhaps my response is influenced by own White privilege, as having the ability to give a second chance is a privilege in itself. That being said, I’m not sure canceling someone without the chance for that person to change and respond correctly is constructive to creating a more just and equal future.
I think as a brand stand point staying silent is worse at a time like this but being genuine is key. It's been very interesting to see big companies taking a stance and to see how it is being received. For example, no one is canceling Nike because they have been behind the cause since day 1. But for the other brands who never publicly supported these issues, I find the most successful ones are the ones who talk about still learning, about change from within, and apologizing if employees have felt wronged. But it is like you said, tough to navigate when these can all seem like empty promises.