Reading books is cool.
Taking pictures and only sharing them with a couple people is cool. Physical photo albums: cool!
Generosity is cool.
Saying no is cool.
Sometimes saying yes is cool, but more often saying no is cool. It’s harder to say no.
San Francisco, 1959, was probably cool. Some of the Beats were cool.
Jazz is cool. Early hip hop is cool.
The Breaks by Kurtis Blow is cool.
—
Adam Sandler in baggy shorts, oversized t-shirt, scruffy face, and sunglasses is cool.
Taylor Swift and what’s-his-face having their wedding officiated by Adam Sandler and then getting absolutely ragged on for it because Adam Sandler is a Jew: is definitely not cool! But is completely expected.
Standing up against the mob is cool.
Resisting injustice is cool.
Burying your father who was gunned down for defying the KKK is not cool. It is tragic and heartbreaking and a great loss. But self sacrifice is the ultimate cool.
James Baldwin: cool.
Peaceful resistance is cool.
Nonviolent resistance is cool.
Is violent resistance cool?
The American Revolutionary War was violent resistance, insurrection against established order, and we revere that as good and just. When is revolution good and just and when is it is treacherous and treasonous? Depends on who won, maybe. Who gets to claim the great American spirit of resistance?
Picking a side and then compromising to fit in with that side’s narrow dictates isn’t cool. Shutting your eyes and ears to your own side’s injustice isn’t cool.
Punching down isn’t cool. Not when their guy does it. Not when your gal does it. That’s not strength, it’s uncool weakness.
But picnics are cool. Leafy afternoons are cool.
Rediscovering lost treasures and dreams and hopes is cool.
Naomi is cool. Marion is cool. King is cool. Jack is cool.
And I’m Matt.