Practice for your protection. Role play for the revolution. Let me elaborate on this strategy.
Every single day dozens of folks tag me or comment, or approach me in person, to let me know that they successfully have, or have tried to opt out of biometric theft and facial recognition at borders, venues, or the airport, and I’m so proud of them.
A lot of people also let me know how helpful it has been to watch the videos I share of myself opting out over the past 10 years. Before I opted out of facial recognition and biometrics 10 years ago, during the 10 years before that I had already been a public speaker and was opting out of other things, so I had related practice. Role playing practice.
Some people even let me know that they watch the videos over and over before going to the airport or venues. That’s practice. That’s studying.
In oppressive societal culture, we have to practice interacting with authority because in oppression, authority is wielded through fear. This is different from many Indigenous communities, for instance, where authority, more regarded as respect, comes through wisdom.
In oppressive societies like the U.S. Empires, unless you’ve had specific conducive conditions to do so, there is no reason one would already know how to confront authority. Because again, if more risk is put on you by that authority, then you are told that you cannot confront that authority.
So we must practice.
Those who grew up with relative privilege, including men, white people, and the wealthy, go through their entire lives with opportunities to practice. They were able to witness it being modeled through their parents, relatives, colleagues, and classmates. So when in those positions of privilege, you are already taught to speak to the manager. You’re already taught to interact with and confront authority, not as something to fear, but to get something you want.
Confronting authority is a practice. Many people with privilege have had that practice throughout their entire lives.
It is important to keep in mind that there are very real risks put on people that white, cis, het, colonial, capitalist, ableist culture does not want to exist. It is a practice to distinguish between risk and fear.
My opt-out videos, this website I put up for opting out rights, ICE and police Know Your Rights sites, and trainings, those are all portals for practice. Role play interacting with authority. ICE, police, agents, CEOs, politicians, the president. Download the opt-out and know your rights guides and practice.
Practice in the mirror, role play with your friends, do it at dinner parties. Practice in person, over video, over the phone. Role play scenarios. One person play the ICE agent at the door, while another plays the bystander, and a third plays the person in their home. One person play a cop and the other plays a driver getting pulled over. Practice in the mirror. Role play asking to speak with the manager. Role play telling your boss your boundaries.
Run your lines, practice the roles, dress up, wear a costume, or get into character. Role play. Practice what you will do when you are confronted with authority.
Rehearse, role play, and practice.
Practice with each other, practice for each other, practice for your protection, practice for our protection. Role play for the revolution y’all.
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