Radical Right, Radical Left, Radical Change

 It's so easy to radicalize ppl when they're mentally compromised, angry, lonely, or desperate for community. The radicalization is the symptom of a larger sickness, not the cause. And I know this b/c I was researching a story a few yrs ago and I found about about 2 blk men converting so-called racists.  The two Daryl's. 

Daryl Davis is a blues musician who has gotten dozens of KKK members to leave the org. He is personally responsible for disassembling of a branch in Maryland b/c he converted so many ppl that things fell apart. Then that KKK branch was rebuilt by a new leader, who Davis then converted away from the movement.  All he did was talk directly to the KKK members about their beliefs, where they got them from, what they actually think? He's been doing this for years and he's still alive, living his life as a musician, and then meeting ppl and asking them 'what do you really think?'

Daryl Lamont Jenkins is a black anarchist and punk rock fan who has converted hundreds of skinheads (btw, what's up with Daryl's changing the world?) Like Daryl Davis, Daryl Jenkins goes into areas and talks to skinheads and finds that 90% don't even care about the movement and its beliefs. That's why it's so easy to convert through conversation. Lamont thinks most skinheads are just mentally compromised, on drugs, and/or lonely. And right-wing and fascists groups feed on the loneliness and offer community to many people in the middle of the country who feel left out. 

Both Daryl's said the one thing that does not work is yelling at KKK members and skinheads and condemning them. That only gets the damaged ppl to double down on the community they feel apart of, since the rest of the world is calling them 'evil.' 

I think about Elon Musk and Kanye West. Psychologically compromised by mental illness and drug use. They have all the money in the world and they look so lonely and desperate. They have found community in the far-right and trolling ppl online with Nazi gestures and swatizka t-shirts. They have found a community and mimic the community's beliefs for adoration and power. But I wonder if they REALLY feel that way? Musk was hanging out in Hollywood and desperate to be liked for years. He bought an electric car company b/c he wanted to save the planet. Not exactly the profile of a far-right winger when he started off. Kanye West's mother taught Af-Am history and literature. His early albums were filled with brilliant layers of artistry on black life and love. I don't hate these men. I disagree with the things they have said and done but I don't waste any energy on hating them. That not only pushes them further into their adopted community and it wastes my energy. Boo'ing them or stirring up negative emotions when I see their name does nothing but hurt me and spreads the very hatred I want to eradicate.

I think social media is great for 'booing people' and terrible for actual dialogue. The two Daryl's are heroes b/c all they do is talk and connect. And so many of the so-called evils of the world melt away when people feel seen, love, heard, understood, and apart of something. 

If the left-wing every wants to rebuild itself, it should remember the roots of the modern American movement were in the black church, freedom riders, forming multiracial communities around love, and non-violence. It was not in shaming, taunting, cancelling, and sending ppl into social media exile. Talk to your so-called troubled friend who you disagree with and not to yell at them. Really listen. 

I grew up in Florida before the internet so I had some *whew* rough conversations with white ppl. And whenever I would really press them 'do you REALLY think that? Why do you think that?' 99% of the time they would crumble. They were so used to ppl reacting to hatred that they didn't respond when a blk person was in front of them connecting as a human being. "I'm not saying you're right, I'm not saying you're wrong...but why do you think that? What proof do you have? What if I could show you something different?'

Years ago, I moved out of a South Park Slope apt and helped my roommate Max interview new prospective tenants. One prospy was Russian student. My roommate called me up days later saying 'I can't let the Russian live here. He's racist!' And then he told me some of things the Russian said about black ppl. And I told my roommate 'well as a white person (or white presenting b/c Max is Jewish) you have an excellent opportunity here' because he's not going to say those racist things to my black face. But he said it to you b/c he's looking for a brother. Then we talked through some conversation pointers. Weeks later Max called me up amazed. The Russian guy was just ignorant and fearful. All the beliefs melted in the light of someone talking to him.