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Irreverence (n): 1. lack
of reverence, 2. an irreverent act or utterance; Irreverent (adj):
1. lacking proper respect or seriousness, 2. Satiric; Despair
(vb): to lose all hope or confidence
Lately, there’s been a lot of talk of people being
irreverent (disrespectful) to the politics and processes of change
(or a lack of such) in the black community. Despair is all over
the community, and few people have answers that make sense — beyond
doing what we’ve always done, engage in symbolic acts that bring
tangible change, re-cycle old ideas that are outdated, re-cycle
old leadership who don’t know the world has changed beyond what
they once knew.
One has to become irreverent, according to some,
just to question, or critique, the process. Some might call it
desperate. Desperation evokes criticism, at the least — irreverence
at best — and hostility in the most extreme instances. In black
America, some things are considered sacrosanct: God (or church),
anyone's mother, sick people, old people, disabled people.
Irreverent humor is considered manner-less humor.
But what about irreverent reality that’s more sad than funny,
when people can’t see the deficit, the inappropriateness, the
obvious insanity of a situation? Should we then say nothing? Must
a situation become so desperate that the truth has to shame the
devil in order for a different reality to come about?
In American society, we often witness those who
have lost hope (or have their hope challenged) engage in acts
of irreverence. Usually, the more hopeless the situation, the
more irreverent the person. Forms of rap music are considered
irreverent in their criticism of the ways society chooses to do
to deal with social ills. Forms of talk radio have become irreverent
in discussing dissatisfaction with the war, poverty and injustice.
Younger generations tend to be irreverent when they feel they’re
being ignored by older generations. They rebel against the things
they’re taught, reject the values that the mainstream revere,
and they satirize conformity as a function of maintaining the
status quo.
Resistance to change is a natural endeavor. Though
we know everything must change, we will resist it until change
simply overtakes us. It usually starts as an act of irreverence
that signal the despair “change-agents” feel when calls for change
are being ignored. Yet, there are people who feel nothing should
be said when the process is being taken for granted. Certainly
that type of stigmatizing modality can’t be taken seriously.
Throughout the history of social justice conflict
in America, particularly as it relates to African American equality
pursuits, change has been juxtaposed against sameness as a change
option. Criticism emerges and even change options become a point
of contention. Booker T. Washington differed with DuBois’ outward
challenge to segregation. DuBois’ view of Washington was considered
irreverent, given Booker T.’s social positioning in the South
and with the mainstream. King was considered irreverent when he
criticized the NAACP court (without direct action protest) strategy.
The criticism progressed the movement.
Malcolm was irreverent in his “Chickens coming
home to roost” criticism of the U.S. assassination practices in
the global community at that time. Malcolm was right and U.S.
policy was eventually changed. Kwame Toure (Stokely Carmichael)
and the Pro-Black Radical youth were called irreverent in their
criticism of the passivity of King’s non-violence movement, and
even more irreverent in their efforts to insert racial pride into
the civil rights agenda. “Black power” became the call of the
movement and a change in the perception of the “Negro” occurred
throughout the world. It all started with asking a question that
seemed blasphemous at the time, but made sense to the public in
the long run.
The point here is that people aren’t irreverent
just for the sake be being irreverent. They’re irreverent for
the same reason that some let folks know that neither the con
nor the game is lost on anyone except those who refuse to say
anything. Asking a legitimate question such as why is an 81-year-old
running for office, or highlighting an inappropriate action such
as why people of color are being disproportionately fired, is
not irreverence for the sake of irreverence. It’s irreverence
stemming from despair that change is forestalled for some very
illegitimate reasons, and nobody wants to ask the question. But
many of us understand the game, and can see through the wool being
pulled over the community’s eyes…with our irreverent selves.
Or are we just desperate enough to bring attention
(change) on these issues? Either way, change is gonna' come. The
question is, how soon? It depends on how silent we sit. Or how
irreverent we have to become.
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