Too fool for school: A Special Issue

Hi! This is a special issue because this is a special time.

😎 Too fool for school.

I think I’m cool. Always thought so.

Even without really knowing what cool meant or how to articulate it, I assumed I was cool.

And I performed “cool rituals” in veneration of the idol of cool.

Like when I was 12, my mum, rightly suspicious of my motives, removed the Sunday-best outfit I wore to impress the girls at the end-of-year party and sent me to the party in a white T-shirt, dark brown above-the-knee shorts, white knee-length socks, and a well-worn pair of white canvas shoes. The T-shirt—and my hopes of looking desirable—tucked away in my shorts.

I was devastated.

But at school, during “slow-dance with your crush” time, I adorned my head with a bandana and shades borrowed from that rich kid who just had nice things but didn’t think anything of it, untucked my shirt and baptized myself the kind of cool I thought my crush wanted. And we danced. And it was nice. And I was happy.

Then there was the cool that prevented me from raising my hand in class even though I knew the answer because—you can’t be a keener. And also, you assume someone else will answer. Even when the teacher stares at you, the way primary teachers betray their biased investment in top performers—nope.

Or that time my classmates ganged up on the quiet kid in class and called him names, but I didn’t say anything because I wanted to be down.

By doing nothing, I could remain friends with both of them, and I did.

Or the time I figured out my work supervisor gave me preferential treatment at the expense of my colleagues. My colleagues didn’t know it, but I did. And I said nothing because, well, I could ruin things for myself.

One of my favorite things about this newsletter is that, for the most part, I don’t know who reads it.

I know about 500 people read it every week, but save for those who reply when something resonates or my friends who message me after they read, I don’t know who you are. And we probably haven’t met. This wall between us permits me to write without pandering to you.

But…I know at least one of the loyal subscribers to this newsletter won’t read this issue.

Not because she’s too busy or because the red notification bubble perched on the mail icon on her phone is threatening to burst.

No. Faiza won’t read this because she’s in jail.

Because she peacefully protested against the wanton corruption of the Ugandan government.

You’ve missed many opportunities to stand for something because you thought you were doing the right thing. Because you were scared. Because you thought someone else would take responsibility. Because you benefited from doing nothing.

But when you do nothing, you take a side. You side with the status quo—good or bad.

The Uganda Police arrested Faiza and over 100 other Ugandans this week, and you can take a side.

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Have a great weekend,

— Shem