So, where you at, SuperCitizen?
Where you at ACLU?
Where you at Southern Poverty Law Center?
Where you at NAACP?
Where you at George Soros?
Where you at Oprah, Barack, Michelle, George Clooney, Jane Fonda, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Taylor, Kendrick, Kerry Washington, Viola Davis, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ava DuVernay, LeBron, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Emma Watson, Angelina Jolie, Megan Rapinoe, Tim Cook, Questlove, Springsteen, Common, John Cusack, Lady Gaga, Serena, Steph Curry, Bryan Stevenson, Stacey Abrams, Rev. William Barber II, Bill Gates, Melinda Gates, Jon Stewart, John Oliver?
The resemblances between what’s happening on real Earth in real America and what we find when fictional super-villains bent on conquest and destruction go berserk are undoubtedly leading many of us to wonder if it’s time to light up the Bat signal, to wonder in song, “Oh where, oh where has our Underdog gone?” and to hope someone with a vibranium shield in hand is about to say, “Avengers assemble!” in order to, well, save the universe.
Despite the infinite amount of Bizarro World grist being produced for comedians to mill into late-night show monologues, there’s really nothing funny and nothing fictional about the threat we’re facing. And since we don’t live in a universe populated by super beings inclined to come to our rescue, we have to hope those mortals who can will start to be super citizens by taking actions to confront and overcome the scourge of bullying and bigotry that has broken through the dams of law and human decency meant to hold it back.
That’s why I’m appealing to the folks who, as far as I can tell, have the status, stature, resources, privilege, connections, and relative security to DO SOMETHING. And if it might be helpful, I have something in mind. Here’s my thought:
One boycott to humble them all.
Canada’s already going at it seriously. Granted, it’s easier for Canadians to avoid buying American than it is for Americans. For us in the States to do this effectively and sustainably we’d need something that we don’t quite have yet – something any of the folks on my short list of super-privileged and super-resourced people and places could make happen in a week, I’m guessing.
That something is an easily and consistently accessible list of companies, educational institutions, and other entities that have - for whatever craven reasons they might offer - fallen into complicity with the bullies and bigots.
The list would have to be accurate. We don’t want to put folks on the list who don’t belong there. The list would have to be frequently updated. And the list would have to include alternatives folks could consider as sources for things they need - sources that are standing their ground, doing what’s right, and defending inclusivity and decency.
Sources on the Complicity List lose our patronage. Upstanding alternatives gain our patronage.
That’s it. If I could build it and maintain it myself, this note would be an announcement instead of an exhortation.
Will someone, anyone, please suit up, step up, and do this?
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