TED Radio Hour How To Citizen
Dec 4, 2020
Baratunde Thurston, a writer, comedian, and political commentator, shares insightful ideas on active citizenship and community engagement. He emphasizes the transformative power of revolutionary love to bridge societal divides, encouraging listeners to commit deeply to their civic duties. Thurston highlights the importance of strategic nonviolence in social movements and advocates for healing and empowerment, particularly for Black women. With humor and personal anecdotes, he illustrates how humor can engage communities in meaningful discussions about democracy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Citizening as a Verb
- Baratunde Thurston encourages listeners to actively shape language for positive change.
- He emphasizes this in his podcast "How to Citizen," transforming "citizen" into a verb.
Revolutionary Love
- Valerie Kaur, a Sikh activist and spiritual leader, views love as a commitment to coexistence.
- She advocates for a revolutionary love that extends to oneself, others, and even opponents.
Finding Hope
- After the 2016 election, Baratunde Thurston found inspiration in a video clip of Valerie Kaur.
- Her message of hope amidst darkness resonated deeply with him, prompting him to explore civic engagement further.