Hijacking the Narrative

It is rare that Rhode Island makes the national news. As the smallest state in the union, lots of people think it is part of Massachusetts. Many people just have no idea where Rhode Island is located.

This past week, however, Rhode Island made several national news outlets when it’s iconic donut shop, Allie’s, stopped offering a courtesy discount to police and military personnel. Matt Drescher, owner of Allie’s donuts, made a decision to stop offering a complementary service provided as a courtesy. It was his decision to begin offering the discount and his decision to end it.

In a statement earlier last week, the donut shop owner said he wanted everyone to be treated equally and offering privilege to one group and not another did not treat all people equally. Since the announcement of the new policy, employees have received threats and many do not feel safe working there in the current backlash. Drescher is currently the only person working at the shop and is holding the positions of all employees open. Apparently his show of solidarity in the fight against police and military brutality is a little too much for some people.

In a widely released statement Drescher wrote, “We’re fed up. Until local police take action to solve problems with racism and injustice, Allie’s Donuts will choose to stand with the people of our great state.” The statement quickly went viral and received widespread support from Black Lives Matter activists as well as others. A line out the door was evident in the aftermath of the announcement. It seems there is as much support for the decision as against it.

What was most troubling was how the narrative quickly became a commentary about disrespecting the military, not honoring the sacrifice of military families and not supporting the police in their work. It was like a rebellion against God, mom and apple pie.

The same thing happened when Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem as a way of protesting policy brutality against unarmed black men. It’s repeated when people utter the mantra, “All lives matter” in response to “Black Lives Matter.”

There are several things wrong with these scenarios. In each of these situations the narrative is hijacked with a different narrative. First, the message of the protest ceases to be decided by those protesting. Second, privilege and the status quo are maintained. Third, by widening the point to all lives matter, the succinctness of Black Lives Matter is diluted.

Privilege always protects the dominant cultural voice for its own agenda and purpose.  It’s unfortunate that many people don’t realize they are being played.

It’s time to pay attention. When a narrative is hijacked with a different message, pay attention to what is being reinforced. Police and military are no more entitled to discounts than anyone else. Colin Kaepernick is free to use his notoriety to speak a message people don’t want to hear. Black lives matter amplifies the voice of a racist society that is too willing to keep the structures and systems of disenfranchisement firmly in place.

We need to stop taking the bait. We are perfectly good Americans when we stand with those who have less power and whose voices are systematically silenced in favor of the status quo. In fact, we are better Americans when we stop using our privilege to redefine the narrative in ways that stabilize the status quo. Systemic change begins when privilege is challenged.

No one deserves a donut discount. If you live in Rhode Island, go buy a donut or a dozen. Give them to people who need to hear the message. Petition the NFL to give Kaepernick a contract.  Challenge the retort of “All Lives Matter” for what it is—a nod to the status quo that needs to change.