Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Look, I’m just going to come right out and say it: if you thought your daily dose of chaos was over, think again. We’re diving into the deep end here with Mumia Abu-Jamal, the notorious ex-Black Panther, who’s apparently still kicking—rhetorically speaking—from his not-so-cozy stint in prison.
He’s thrown his weight behind the pro-Palestinian student protesters at CUNY, because, why not stir up the pot from behind bars? Students waving banners, shouting slogans, and making the evening news isn’t exactly fresh off the press, but when you add a dash of historical radical endorsement from a jail cell, well, you’ve got yourself a story.
The Breakdown
Why Protest When You Can Riot?
- Protesting is so mainstream; hence, these CUNY kids have decided to take it up a notch with outright fiery spectacle. Sometimes you’ve got to break a few societal norms to make a headline. It’s not a protest until someone’s broadcasting it live.
Education or Indoctrination?
- Let’s face it, the classroom’s the new frontier for ideological battlegrounds. Forget math and science, the real question is how many different ways can one spin geopolitical discourse before noon?
The Mumia Boost
- When you need a boost to your social justice credibility, nothing works better than a shoutout from an ex-Black Panther serving a life sentence. It’s like receiving an endorsement from Gandhi, if Gandhi had a significantly more controversial CV.
Mainstream Media Meltdown
- The media just loves a good protest. It’s like a free buffet—an all-you-can-report fest that fuels the 24-hour news cycle. And when a figure like Mumia chimes in, well, that’s the gravy on the journalistic mash.
The Academic Shield
- Nothing says “untouchable” like hiding behind the hallowed halls of academia. On campus, it’s not rebellion; it’s a dialogue—just one that involves yelling over each other rather violently.
The Counter
Just a Chill Protest
- Sure, and my standups are just subtle suggestions. These students were contemplating peace in the same way a storm ponders calm. Seriously though, a little less fire might keep the debate club vibe intact.
Can We Get Some Actual Learning Here?
- Remember when college was about learning lucrative skills like philosophy and the arts? Now it seems you can major in Marching and minor in Megaphone Shouting.
Mumia Might Need a New Hobby
- Hey, maybe it’s time someone introduced Mumia to knitting or bird watching. It could significantly alter the prison-to-protest pipeline.
Ratings Over Reality
- If the news spent half as much time fact-checking as they do fact-making, we might actually know what’s happening before it’s tweeted.
Free Speech or Scream Speech?
- Advocating for rights is critical, but maybe we can set the volume to ‘spirited discussion’ rather than ‘ear-shattering screech’. Just a thought.
The Hot Take
Here’s the thing: if we want to fix the mess, start by taking a breath. Yep, a good old-fashioned inhale-exhale routine. Once everyone’s oxygenated, how about we cozy it up with reasoned debate instead of shouty showdowns? Sure, it’s less entertaining than watching live protest bloopers, but it might just lead to something resembling progress.
And for the media, maybe cover more kitten rescues and fewer flames; it’s better for the heart. As for Mumia, seriously, someone get this man a Netflix subscription or a yoga mat. There’s more to life than protests, even if you’re viewing life from a very limited perspective.
Source: ‘Do not bow’: ex-Black Panther praises pro-Palestinian student protesters from prison
