Many years ago, my friend Bill and I used to play basketball together. Just messing around, one on one. As a joke we came up with a nickname for me, The Hive, because of my “swarming defense.” It was an homage to Gary Payton, guard for the Seattle Supersonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder). Payton was considered a lockdown defender with the nickname “The Glove.” The reality is, I wasn’t much of a basketball player except for liking to play, but The Hive name persists.

Several years later I received a package in the mail from Bill. It was a red hat. On the front it said “The Hive” with a picture of a beehive, and on the back it said “Swarming D” with a picture of a basketball hoop with four bees around it. An awesome and hilarious gift, and actually a beautifully made hat.

Fast forward to 2021. For several years now a red hat has symbolized something quite different than “swarming D.” From my perspective it symbolizes a fear of change, a fear of difference, a fear of justice, and much more. Perhaps I am being generous when I say “fear” but I do believe that is what underlies much of the MAGA mindset, though I also believe that is not the whole story. And I am always curious about the word “again.” It seems abundantly clear that for some percentage of red hat folks “again” means a time when anyone who isn’t white “knew their place.” A time when LGBT folks were closeted. A time before feminism. A time before the ADA. A time before Roe v Wade.

One of the current manifestations of the red hat mindset is to try to control the discourse on race and racism. They seem to be vehemently opposed to any examination of how racism has been embedded in our systems from day one, with opposition to things such as the 1619 Project and Critical Race Theory. I’ll stick with the latter. The core idea of Critical Race Theory is that racism is a social construct, and that it is not merely the product of individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal systems and policies, as well as other societal systems such as education, housing, healthcare, etc. I’m not really clear on why this is controversial. Systemic racism (and other oppressions) is controversial?! Seems like there is ample evidence to support this truth, such as:

• Black men are sentenced to 20 percent longer sentences than white men who commit the same crime and have the same criminal history.
• White people use illegal drugs more often than Black Americans. White people sell more drugs than Black Americans. In every year from 1980 to 2007, Black people “were arrested nationwide on drug charges at rates relative to population that were 2.8 to 5.5 times higher than white arrest rates,” according to Human Rights Watch.

• The average non-white school district receives $2,226 less per student than a majority white school district.

• Blacks have less access to clean water and air.

• Black children are punished more often and receive harsher punishments than white kids “regardless of the type of disciplinary action, level of school poverty or type of public school attended.” (these statistics are being quoted from The Root)

And that is just a tip of the iceberg systemic racism.

Here is another part of what I don’t understand. Many red hat folks and their ilk seem to think they own patriotism and how it manifests. For example, so many of the red hats seem to be upset about a peaceful protest of kneeling during the national anthem because it is “disrespectful” to the flag. Yet at the same time, they seem to have no issue with things such as tattered flags being flown off the back of a truck or with people wearing flag shorts. If they really wanted to respect the flag, they might consider reviewing Section 8 of the U.S. Flag Code – Respect for Flag. Section 8 of the U.S. Flag Code, amongst other things says:

• The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery.

• The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

• The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

I’m not a big flag person, but I am big on not being a hypocrite. If you demand respect for the flag, please don’t wear a pair of shorts in which you sweat and pass gas and tell me you love the flag.

I love my country, though not in opposition to other countries. I’m also well aware of many problematic aspects of our history and our current reality. Many, not all. My white cishet male lenses catch only so much, and I continue to seek out more information to help adjust those lenses. This is my work, this is my life.

Bill is right in one realm. I do have a swarming D. I will continue to have a swarming defense, a defense of health, safety, and justice. I look forward to connecting with you for dialogue that allows us all to learn, grow, and create action to transform our world.