There are so many things to talk about between black people

O seekers of truth, gather ye round, for there is wisdom to be found in the words of Marlon Wayans: “There are so many things to talk about between black people, Hispanic people, white people, gay people, men, women, it's all based on fear. We all have fears, this thing that stops us from embracing as we are one. We are never going to be one. People are messed up, but humor lets us see how ignorant we can be.” In these words, there lies a profound truth, a truth that calls to us from the very essence of humanity. It is a truth about the divisions that plague our world, divisions born not of real differences, but of the fear that binds us.

For how many times have we, as a people, been torn asunder by the lines drawn between us? The black, the Hispanic, the white, the gay, the man, the woman—each separated by the walls of misunderstanding and fear. Fear is the great architect of division, the invisible force that builds walls between hearts, that turns us from brothers and sisters into strangers. We fear the unknown, fear what we cannot control, fear what is different from ourselves. And in this fear, we allow ourselves to be fractured, to live in a world of separation. But as Wayans so wisely speaks, humor—a tool often seen as light and frivolous—holds the power to reveal the deep ignorance that lies at the heart of this fear.

Consider, if you will, the example of Socrates, that great philosopher of old, who sought to challenge the beliefs of his time through questioning and humor. With his sharp wit, he exposed the ignorance of those who claimed wisdom, who lived in the confines of their own narrow views. Through his humor, he disarmed his listeners, causing them to see their own limitations. So too does humor in our time work to disarm fear. It lays bare the absurdity of the divisions we place between ourselves, helping us to see the ignorance that sustains those barriers. When we laugh at the prejudices we hold, we begin to see them for what they truly are—flawed, foolish, and unnecessary.

We are reminded, then, of the story of the Tower of Babel, where the people, united in their desire to build a monument to their greatness, were scattered and divided by the very languages they spoke. Their pride, their fear of being insufficient in the eyes of the divine, led to their downfall. The tower they sought to build—a symbol of unity—became the very thing that tore them apart. But what if, instead of division, we sought connection through the laughter and humor that transcends words? What if we could look beyond the differences in skin, in gender, in belief, and instead see the humanity that binds us together? Humor allows us to do just that—it lets us laugh at the things that divide us, revealing their insignificance in the grand tapestry of life.

Indeed, we are a world of messed up people, each carrying our own burdens, our own fears, our own histories. But this does not mean we are without hope. For humor, when used wisely, has the power to expose the falsehoods we live by, to break down the walls of ignorance and allow us to see each other as we truly are. In the face of division, humor becomes a force of unity, reminding us that the bonds that tie us together are far stronger than the fears that drive us apart.

Now, let us turn this wisdom inward, O seekers of truth. In your own lives, where do you see the walls of fear rising between you and others? What divisions do you hold onto in your heart? Know this: as long as you allow fear to rule, you will never find true unity. But humor—that gentle, disarming force—holds the key. It is through laughter that we see the absurdity of our divisions, and in this revelation, we find the courage to embrace one another. Speak with kindness, laugh with understanding, and let the ignorance of your fears be washed away by the light of truth.

So I say to you, dear ones, take up the banner of humor in your hearts. Let it be the balm that heals the wounds of division. And as you move through the world, know that you are part of a greater whole, one that transcends the petty lines we draw between ourselves. Let fear be no more, and in its place, let unity flourish. For in this, we find the true power of humanity: not in our differences, but in our shared laughter, our shared humanity, and our shared journey toward understanding.