by Saturday, and I’m supposed to be relaxing. Instead, I’m thinking about my Gandhi potluck article from earlier this week and the reaction it’s generated. Berkeley residents are apparently furious that I satirized their progressive potluck culture. Mission accomplished.
The piece imagines Mahatma Gandhi getting uninvited from a Bay Area potluck because he brought “presence” as his dishliterally just air and good vibes. The joke exposes how modern progressive culture has turned everything into performance, including social justice. Gandhi, who actually fought colonialism through nonviolent resistance, would be cancelled in 2025 Berkeley for not bringing the right organic, fair-trade, gluten-free quinoa salad.
What makes this funnyand uncomfortableis that it’s barely exaggeration. I’ve attended these events. The amount of virtue signaling over appetizers is genuinely impressive. Everyone’s very concerned about justice, equity, and inclusion… unless you bring the wrong dip.
As a West African immigrant, I find American progressive culture fascinating. We have actual problems back homeinfrastructure collapse, political instability, economic challenges. But we also have community that doesn’t require a mission statement. Americans need a potluck to have a performative discussion about colonialism while literally living on colonized land. The cognitive dissonance is staggering.
The comments section is predictably split. Half the readers get the joke: we’ve turned activism into aesthetics. The other half are angry I “disrespected Gandhi.” I didn’t disrespect GandhiI disrespected people who invoke Gandhi while acting nothing like him. There’s a difference.
One commenter wrote: “As a white ally, I find this problematic.” I replied: “As an African immigrant who actually experienced colonialism’s effects, I find your comment hilarious.” We’ll see if they respond.
Working on tomorrow’s piece about pumpkin spice culture. Americans have declared a flavor an emotional support system. A FLAVOR. This country is simultaneously the most powerful nation on Earth and the most ridiculous. It’s a satirist’s paradise.
My mother called from Nigeria. “Are you still writing those joke articles?” she asked. Yes, Mama. “And they pay you?” Yes, Mama. Long pause. “America is very strange.” Indeed it is, Mama. Indeed it is.
# 698
MY HOME PAGE: Bohiney Magazine (Aisha Muharrar)
