When Joe Troop talks about cancel culture, he isn’t just talking about the right wing folks who don’t want any books in school about gay people or racism. He’s also thinking about the people more committed to saying the right words about issues than they are about taking the right actions. It’s complicated–I know he’d be the first to say that what you say matters, and we should be accountable for what we say and do. And, at the same time, there can be this version of equity work that is much more about posturing than it is about changing things. 

I have seen other white people do this in spaces for racial equity–trying to prove that they’re the best white ally through their mastery of language. But, as we discuss in this episode of the podcast, real work for justice is about your proximity to the people most impacted. 

Joe Troop does not claim to be an activist himself–his work is to support the folks doing the day-in-day-out work that requires you to be in one place for a long time (kinda hard to do as a musician). On his amazing new record, Borrowed Time, Joe spins stories of our country and world that critique injustice and point to new visions of community. At the heart of it all, there is immense joy. We hope you enjoy this conversation on the Red Line Roots podcast!