Duality is defined as “an instance of opposition or contrast between two concepts or two aspects of something”. It is the understanding that an existence is not definitively monolithic but, in fact, can have more than one side to it.
For the most part, this concept of duality is easily embraced by contemporary culture. Without any hesitation or reservation, we observe the nuanced distinctions of a thing (no matter how drastically dissimilar), and adjust our thinking to accept them.
When your favorite restaurant gives you subpar service, you almost instantly make up in your mind that the moment of deficiency does not define the thing and remain a committed customer. When your favorite rapper’s latest album is not as good as the last two, with no pause, you own that the recent recordings are trash & still ride with the artist, believing that they can and will be better than what they’ve been. When your preacher does not preach the most stellar sermon they’ve preached, you (well, most of you) make room for that clergyperson to be an imperfect, human being and show up next Sunday. In this civilization, our general response to the nuance we are met with in our lives more closely resembles consideration than it does condemnation.
It is not until these distinctions, these dualities, trigger our inherent biases that empathy becomes difficult to employ. When duality forces us to wrestle with that which we demonize and discriminate against, we compromise our ability to understand in the name of our understanding of the world. When duality is its most difficult, insults are hurled, shots are fired and, before you know it, our collective progress has become the casualty.
There is no more clear example of this, than in the responses to reports that Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden named Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. Almost immediately after the decision was made, public reactions were divide into two extremes: those who supported the selection citing its historical significance and potential & those who abhor the appointment, contending that her previous record on incarceration does not make her suitable for the office. Hours after Biden’s decision was announced, Senator Harris was labeled by those who hold presidential office as “too ambitious”, “too emotional” and “unqualified”. In less than a week, Senator Harris has traveled the full gamut of perception, being viewed as everything from not being ‘black’ enough to the second coming of President Barack Obama. But, in the moment we find ourselves, a moment where we are taking more serious steps toward progress, perhaps our response ought to be to consider the dual nature of progress.
Because of the freedoms we presently function in, there is a tendency to romanticize the circumstances behind the movements that allowed us to arrive where we are today. It was not the case, that everyone shared the same social, political and spiritual view (nor did they share the same gender or ethnicity). Progress was not made through the comforts of painless partnerships. Rather, it was attained through complicated connections with collaborators who wanted the same thing but differed heavily on how to get there. There are many rungs on the ladder of liberation and to believe that progress has to look one specific way, to only accept progress that fits into the boxes created by our biases, is not only ahistoric but also counterproductive to the project of freedom in this country. We undo the work done before us (and do the work of those who benefit from our oppression) when we fail to appreciate the duality of how progress is made.
This is what is so problematic about much of the critique made around Kamala Harris: the sexist, bigoted rhetoric this black woman has had endure from the constituency she is running for resembles that of the party she is running against.
As a matter of personal theology, I do not believe in endorsing political candidates for public office. My stance is not in favor (or opposition) of any political candidate. My words are not to suggest whom you should (or should not) vote for. But, as we make this move toward freedom, we need to realize that too much is at stake to not operate in duality.
I can foresee a circumstance where Senator Harris is supported in her campaign, appreciated for what her candidacy represents, held accountable for her political record & pushed to be what is needed in order to make meaningful advancements for our people. Where she is being rejected, why can’t she be respected, protected while also being corrected?
Moses was not the best candidate for the Job God had for him. Rahab was not the best woman for the job God had for her. The disciples of Jesus were not the best candidates (pun intended) for the job God had for them. Paul was not the best candidate for the job God had from him. There is no such thing as a ‘perfect’ candidate, but imperfect does not mean insufficient. If we are not careful, our current convention of cancelling people will result in the compromise of our goals.
Progress is a process and progress doesn’t always look pretty. If all it took was one move to get there, we certainly would have cleared King’s mountaintop by now. This move, this moment, is progress. And dual nature of progress is that different drivers can still lead to our destination. Get on board, brothers and sisters. We’ve got places to go!
