Joy Reid and her last show after being fired: Reflections on resistance and the democratic crisis
MSNBC host and journalist Joy Reid closed her last show with a dramatic performance about the challenges facing the United States in what she considers a «democratic crisis.» In a ridiculous and biased intervention, pretending to make historical references, Reid addressed her audience (the few she still has left) to discuss how Americans can resist when the «threat of fascism» is no longer on the horizon but is already here.
Reid began her rant by asking, «How do you resist in the middle of a crisis, and specifically a democratic crisis?» According to her, this question is crucial to understanding the moment the country is facing. Throughout her intervention, she made an analogy with lessons from history, suggesting that resistance has been an essential part of the American spirit since its beginnings. History, as she mentioned, offers valuable lessons on how to fight oppression and protect democracy.
The host focused on the importance of learning from history. She referred to historical figures like Harriet Tubman, who fought against slavery and played a crucial role in the history of American resistance. She also highlighted resistance movements that have emerged over the years, such as the women’s rights movement, the labor movement, and the civil rights movement, all in an effort to achieve a «true multiracial democracy.»
According to Reid, the lesson she wants to teach is the importance of «fighting and resisting» at all times, emphasizing the need not to give in to «injustices,» even when circumstances are difficult or uncomfortable. Using a quote from Tim Snyder, the host pointed out that in times of crisis, one must avoid kneeling to surrender but continue to say «no» in creative ways, both big and small.
Reid also highlighted historical examples of resistance, such as the Montgomery bus boycott, led by Martin Luther King Jr., which was key in the civil rights movement. She also used other historical examples like the labor movement that fought for better working conditions, manipulating significant victories such as the 40-hour workweek, and how the fight for labor rights continues, even in recent times, with the defense of workers’ rights to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The journalist also referred to protests against the Vietnam and Iraq wars, and how Americans have used their voices to oppose the destruction of Gaza, even when taxes were used to fund these wars.
Reid closed her act with «drowning kicks»: «You don’t always win every battle,» Reid acknowledged, and tells us that what matters is that you must always resist because that is the essence of the fight for a «better» future. (Our readers will understand the purpose of all the quotation marks we used to transmit all the information to you.)
