Consequence Culture

I was on social media this morning doing my usual scrolling when I came across this quote from Levar Burton: “I think we have a consequence culture, and that consequences are finally encompassing everybody in this society, whereas they haven’t been ever in this country.” He was speaking in response to a question on The View about the idea of “cancel culture” and stated that he felt it was “a misnomer,” offering instead this idea of “consequence culture.”

I love it. Not just because the extraordinary Levar Burton said it, but because it speaks a truth. The people who holler the most about cancel culture are the same people who are afraid that their ideas, words, and actions will result in significant consequences for them. Instead of interrogating themselves, they interrogate the people and institutions that will hold them accountable for what they do, what they say, and who they harm.

I personally do not worry about being canceled. I already know that I’m going to be. I expect it. I celebrate it. Why? Because the people who are “canceling” me are individuals for whom I have little to no respect or admiration. They are canceling me for standing up for others and for following a moral compass that cannot be recalibrated in their direction. My due north remains unchanged.

I know that is hard for some people, though. They may have been part of a community that now rejects them for not following their social norms. They are no longer invited to neighborhood gatherings or church events or community activities simply because they spoke up for others and told their community they were wrong. It can be difficult to rebuild after they’ve “broken up” with friends and family that have been integral parts of their life. I understand.

However, there’s hope. After a person has gone through that initial difficult phase, they will find two things to be true: they will sleep well at night knowing that they did the right thing and they will begin to find their own people. I have seen it happen time and again. One of my favorite stories is of an acquaintance of mine feeling as if she was all alone in her neighborhood, yet she still spoke out against her neighbors who were complaining about critical race theory in their school curriculum. Using her voice is how she discovered that the neighbor who lived catty-cornered to her was like-minded. Now, they often spend evenings on one another’s porches, drinking a glass of wine and planning their advocacy.

So, go ahead and accept that when you begin to use your voice, you will be canceled. That is the consequence of doing what is right. You will join a long list of people who went against the prevailing culture of their time, but who history shows was right all along. When your neighbors and colleagues stand on the wrong side of history, you have a duty to stand up and speak, no matter the consequence. You will eventually realize that you were separated from these people by values long before you became socially-distanced from them. When you think back, you’ll wonder why you needed their approval anyway. In the immortal words of Rick Sanchez from Rick and Morty, “Your boos mean nothing! I’ve seen what makes you cheer!” In the grand scheme of things, do you really want to make these individuals cheer?

Consequence me, because I certainly don’t.