Sixty-Two and the Cycles of Time (Or, How I’m Still Figuring Things Out)
This week marks my 62nd birthday, a milestone that feels both surreal and somehow inevitable. It’s hard to reconcile the number with how I feel—mostly, my knees remind me of the passage of time! But I also recognize that I’ve lived long enough to witness cultural and sociopolitical patterns begin to repeat themselves. I was born a few months before the famous 1963 March On Washington (my Mom left me in my dad’s care for the first time to attend the march). And I realize that I’ve seen a lot. This week I have been thinking about the arc of time and some particular aspects of it that seem to be coming full circle.
Echoes of the Civil Rights Era
Growing up as an interracial child during the Civil Rights era, race, politics, and civil rights weren’t abstract concepts; they were the main courses at every dinner table. My dad, a Black man from the South, and my mom, a white woman from Berkeley, ensured I understood the weight of history, the ongoing struggle for equality. I also was instilled with a belief in the MLK dream…that I would be judged on the content of my character rather than the color of my skin.
Or what I wear.
Like a hoodie.
The Weight of a Hoodie
The hoodie, especially, has taken on a powerful and painful meaning. Once just athletic wear, it became a staple of street style and youthful defiance. But after Trayvon Martin was killed, it was twisted into something else—a so-called threat, an excuse for racial profiling and violence. A simple piece of clothing revealed deep-seated bias, where what you wear could mean the difference between safety and suspicion. Trayvon’s hoodie became more than just his—it became a symbol of injustice and, just as importantly, of resistance. Now, when people pull their hoodies up in protest, they send a clear message: we see the injustice, and we won’t look away.
So, when I see a young Black man in a hoodie, it’s never just a fashion statement. It’s a loaded image, one that triggers a visceral reaction, a connection to a past that still shapes our present.
The Revelation of Josh Johnson
Lately, the person who presented that image to me the most has been Josh Johnson. You know, the “correspondent” from “The Daily Show” who’s been blowing up on YouTube. Over the last six months, I’ve begun watching his stuff religiously (he posts at LEAST one full standup set per week), and it’s not just the humor that grabs me. It’s the way he breaks down our complicated world with this laid-back, almost conversational style. He feels like a friend, just musing on life, but then he hits you with these sharp observations that make you think, really think. And, yes, he often wears a hoodie.
Trayvon Martin and the “What Ifs”
It wasn’t until this past week that it truly hit me. I was watching Josh, hoodie and all, delivering one of his brilliant breakdowns of current events, and suddenly, it clicked. His youthful appearance, the casual hoodie – he made me think of Trayvon Martin. I then remembered why Trayvon was on my mind. I had seen a headline noting that this week, Trayvon would have turned 30. Thirty. It was a gut punch, a stark reminder of the potential stolen, the life never lived. It wasn’t just a fleeting thought; it was an epiphany. Josh could be Trayvon. Looking at pictures of the two of them side by side, you can see it – not a perfect match, perhaps, but they could easily be brothers. He could be who Trayvon might have become, if… if things were different.
It’s more than just a fleeting visual similarity, though. It’s about the gnawing “what ifs.” What if Trayvon had been given the chance? What if he’d had the opportunity to develop his talents, to share his perspective with the world? Maybe he’d have been a comedian, too. Maybe he’d have found his voice like Josh, using humor and insight to illuminate the world around him. The resemblance, both physical and in the potential they represent, is a stark reminder of what we lost.
Josh Johnson’s Depth and Historical Insight
What truly sets Josh apart for me, though, is his depth. It’s not just surface-level commentary. He weaves in historical context, pulling from the Civil Rights struggle, classic philosophy, even ancient history, to illuminate his points. He understands the legacies that still haunt us, the patterns that repeat themselves. It’s rare to see that level of intellectual curiosity and historical perspective in stand-up. It’s like he’s saying, “Look, this isn’t just happening now. We’ve been here before, and we need to understand why.”
That’s something my parents instilled in me: the importance of understanding history to navigate the present. And Josh, in his own way, is doing that. He’s reminding us that the fight for equality isn’t over. He’s challenging us to see beyond the surface, to question the narratives we’re fed.
Hope in a Hoodie
And so, I’ll keep watching Josh, keep listening to his insights, keep laughing at his jokes. Because in a world that often feels bleak, he’s a reminder that even in a hoodie, hope can shine through. He reminds me of the importance of the conversations my parents had at the dinner table, and that those conversations are more important than ever.
But more than that, I hope his comedy sparks new conversations at other tables, in living rooms, in classrooms, in spaces where understanding can grow. His humor doesn’t just entertain—it disarms, making space for truths that might otherwise be too heavy to hold. Maybe, as more people laugh with him, they’ll also reflect, question, and push our discourse forward, even just a little.
At the end of the day, though, it isn’t really about Josh, or any one comedian, pundit, commentator, or talking head. It’s about us—how we listen, how we think, and how we choose to communicate about the kind of society we want to build. Change doesn’t come from one voice; it comes from all of us, engaging, questioning, and deciding, together, what kind of future we’re willing to fight for.
As always, your mileage may vary…