The New Math

Kansas City Celebration, Jon Stewart, and Moms For Awfulness

A fan plays football during the Super Bowl LVIII victory parade on February 14, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. Photo by Eric Thomas/Getty Images

A month ago I wanted to go to a Martin Luther King Jr. rally in downtown Oakland. I’m not always the rally type of guy, but this one was run by some good folks I know, The Anti Police-Terror Project. I said this before when I had them on my CNN show “United Shades of America” and I’ll say it again – the name may sound “scary” (or maybe like the name of a ‘90s rap group who would’ve opened for N.W.A), but A.P.T.P. are simply a group of people who care about the safety, security, and health of their community. That’s why they are against the type of terror many Black, Brown, and Indigenous people often feel from police. And if the recent news about Moms For Liberty has taught us anything, it should be that what the group is actually doing is waaaaaaay more important than what their name is. Who are the moms? White Republican Southern Evangelicals? What do they define as “liberty”? They want freedom to oppress who they want, such as people who are accessing their reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ kids, public school children, Black people, and more! While at the same time, they want to be the kind of religious people who say one thing and do another behind closed doors.

But I digest …

The rally in Oakland was purposefully set up to be family-friendly. There were even activities set up for kids. But I didn’t take my family. I went by myself. I knew there would be big crowds, and sometimes my kids don’t love that, especially if I end up getting approached by lots of people. I’m not complaining about being famous. I worked hard for this. But it can sometimes make it challenging to move through the world. I think it can be especially weird for my specific type of fame. While people often want a selfie or to thank me for my work, they often also give me homework or even more notes on my work. Either way, sometimes I find myself in office hours for a class I didn’t sign up for.

“KAMAU! I’M SO HAPPY I FINALLY RAN INTO YOU! My non-profit is having an event in 20 minutes in Laredo, Texas. We can’t pay you anything. And we can’t afford to fly you out, but we did already advertise you on the poster as being there. So, can you just follow me to my car? And while we are headed to Laredo, I can tell you about all the times I didn’t think you did a good job in the work that you do that I love so much.”

OK, I’m exaggerating… or really I’m compiling a bunch of examples. But all of that is to say that when I go out in the world with my family there is often a series of math equations that I have to complete first. Equations like, “Is this activity going to potentially ruin my ability to have a good time with my family? Are my kids going to be okay if I get stopped by supporters of my work?” Let me be clear. I do enjoy those conversations, even some of the less fun ones. I have had some incredibly direct, spontaneous discussions, specifically about my four-part docuseries, “We Need To Talk About Cosby.” I’m sure you can imagine that not all of my people were with me on that. And I would be a fool if I didn’t understand why. I just don’t always have the time or appetite for these discussions. Especially if I just ate one of these discussions right before you walked over for your turn.

I guess we are now eating in this metaphor about “office hours.” Bring your lunch.

Some versions of these encounters happened at the rally. I was correct in leaving the family at home. But there was one math equation that I didn’t do, and honestly, I probably should be doing more and more often. I didn’t do the calculation, “What do I think the chances are that we will be shot and killed by someone?” I believe I don’t do that math equation because I can’t solve the problem.

But that is an equation that I do need to do. I’m sure some of you already do that math. I was reminded of my need to do that math after the news came out about the shootings in Kansas City, Missouri at their Super Bowl victory celebration. The violence killed one person and wounded 22. Half of the wounded are under the age of 16, and three of the wounded are in critical condition. News reports are that the shootings are the results of an argument, which I think was supposed to make us all feel better. Kind of like, “Whew! It wasn’t a mass murderer! It was just an argument that got too heated!” But that doesn’t make me feel better, because the connective issue is still the same. Americans have too much access to too many guns, and that is making all the “liberty” this country brags about - and that those moms are ostensibly for - a lot harder to access.

I have talked to many gun advocates in my life. I did a whole episode of “United Shades of America” about the second amendment. I am occasionally still in touch with one of the people from that episode. We don’t agree on this issue, but I appreciate his respectful dialogue. I also know he is a responsible gun owner and hates these news stories that make it harder on responsible gun owners. I also know I hate living in a country that forces me to do this math every time my family leaves the house. I already have enough other math to do. We all do.

Jon Stewart returned to his position as host of “The Daily Show” this week. (I promise this will all come back around at the end.) As much as I wish the job had gone to my friend Hasan Minhaj, and I do think Hasan was done dirty by The New Yorker, I couldn’t help but be happy seeing Jon back in his seat. It doesn’t matter how many hosts “The Daily Show” has had. It is Jon’s job. Sort of like if Johnny Carson came back from the dead and wanted his job back as host of “The Tonight Show,” Jimmy Fallon would haaaaaaaave to step aside. Jimmy would actually make a great Ed McMahon.

Overall the reviews have been great. And more importantly, the ratings (which now include all the streaming metrics and social media impressions) were YUGE! But I did see some democrats upset with the target of his opening monologue: the advanced ages of both President Joe Biden and twice-impeached, four-time-criminally-indicted, 83.3-million-dollar-owing insurrectionist Donald Trump. Some of those people felt like Jon should just focus on Trump. And while I understand that, I understood Jon to be feeling what I’m feeling. Or maybe what I am asking myself. As fucked up as things are in this country, is Joe Biden up to the challenge ahead of us the next four years? I feel old…No… I AM OLD. And I’m 30 years younger than him. For me it feels like the whole country is at stake. And primarily it feels that way because somehow our country feels like allowing a twice-impeached, four-time-criminally-indicted, 83.3-million-dollar-owing insurrectionist running for president is okay, because… he’s popular… also because he is (perceived to be) a rich, white man.

When I see that people are mad at Jon Stewart for bringing up Joe Biden’s age, what I hear is their own fear that they, themselves, may not be up for the challenge of the next four years. I wish they would just say that, because that’s how I feel. I wish they would just say,

“I just want to believe that Joe Biden is healthy and strong and has done that thing that the weird rich guy is doing with his son’s blood. And I want to believe that Joe Biden only makes gaffes in public because he has a dark sense of humor. AND I WANT TO BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE AFTER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS I AM NOT SURE I CAN KEEP FREAKING OUT AT THE SAME HIGH LEVEL I’VE BEEN FREAKING OUT AT!”

That I could 1000% relate to. I don’t in any way think Jon Stewart or any comedian currently walking the planet could make it all make sense. And what’s worse, it is certainly clear that at least half our politicians in Washington, DC aren’t up for that challenge. They are busy trying to have a sequel to their guy’s impeachment. This is definitely more of a Jaws 2 sequel than a Godfather 2 sequel.

But here we are. We all have to do the math to get through every day, the upcoming election, and the rest of our lives. And we all want to be safe, secure, and healthy. And we should want the same for everyone in our communities. (Especially if you’re a mom.) I don’t know exactly how to make that happen, but I can connect you with people I know who are working on those issues:

LiveFree
Brady Foundation
Anti Police-Terror Project

And for no other reason other than the fact that I need it, here’s Tracy Chapman again. But this time it is from a celebration for Nelson Mandela in 1988 at Wembley Stadium. Before she was a big star. Before Fast Car was a hit. Before the crowd knew all the words. She looks unsure of her future, too. It gives me a little hope. 

What’s your emotional support song/meme/TikTok these days? Share it in the comments. Don’t hold out on us.

You’re With Me!

Here are a few more updates and bright spots for the week:

• February Office Hours: This month, to kick off our first Office Hours for paid subscribers, we’re doing a good old fashioned Ask Me Anything. We can talk about anything from your favorite United Shades of America episodes, to my return to TV on What Would You Do?, to my favorite ramen order, or <sigh> the election. It’s going to happen on FRIDAY 2/23 from 11am - 12pm PST / 2pm - 3pm EST. Put it on your calendar. Tell your friends. Pretend you’re in a meeting. It’ll be fun.  Want to make sure you get the kickoff email in your inbox that morning? Become a paid subscriber:

• The Donors Choose fundraisers we shared last week got funded! Ms. Atkins and Mrs. Vazquez got the supplies they needed. Nice work, everybody. Can we do it again? Ms. Diaz teaches at an early childhood development center in Camden, NJ and needs sweatshirts and sweatpants to keep in her classroom for kids who need a change of clothes or an extra layer throughout the day. Donate here to help keep her students clean and dry! Or you can donate here to help high school students stay hydrated in Jackson, MS, where kids don’t have consistent access to CLEAN WATER. It’s frustrating that in American we have teachers raising money to provide drinking water for their students, so let’s make sure this one gets covered ASAP.
  

• My friend, the comedian and writer Moshe Kasher, has a new book out! It’s called Subculture Vulture: A Memoir in Six Scenes. Like all of Moshe’s work, it’s smart and funny and meaningful. I bet you’ll like it.

  

• The new season of “What Would You Do?” premieres on Sunday 2/18 at 10/9c on ABC and Hulu. I’ll be popping in for the first time in episode two, airing on Sunday 2/25.

• Do you live in Portland?! I’m going to be there Saturday 3/16 to help Live Wire celebrate their 20th Anniversary. I’ll be in the company of writer Cheryl Strayed, comedian Mohaned Elsheiky, soul-band Ural Thomas & The Pain, and MORE! Get your tickets before they sell out: