Crime, Identity Politics, & Philosophy w/ Words of a Warrior — Daryl Chambers
The 2nd Bonus Episode of the Nuance II podcast & video series

Welcome to the podcast (video & podcast at bottom) about looking for the other side of the argument, bringing in the science, and chipping away at group-think, biases, prejudices, and the limitations of perspective.
This episode is a discussion between Michael Wood Jr. and Words of a Warrior podcast’s, Daryl Chambers. The two discuss an array of justice topics which personally affect us all.
We were just brought in by Lady J and The Useful Idiots as they performed at the music festival, Rally in the Valley, 2018 in Maryland. We will also be lead out by Lady J, so stick around to the end of the podcast. I do not know about you, but I think that Lady J is a pretty darn good singer. I do not believe it is my bias, though I will confess to it.
I wanted to make sure I added in some music because music is essential to many of us and becomes ingrained in who we are. Music is a version of the perspectives which form our worldviews and maybe even frames our minds possibilities like spoken language does. I often discuss with people the lyrics of Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley, due in part to the perspective of watching people’s reactions while growing up listening to some Marilyn Manson in the 90s and aughts. I mean, they were trying to blame the Columbine mass shooting on Manson. Supposedly due to his lyrics and the perpetrators alleged fandom, but here is my point…
A line from the Elvis classic that those critics would prefer we follow…
Sad Sacker Sid was on a block of stone
With Opel in the corner weeping all alone
The warden said, “Hey man, don’t you be no square
If you can’t find a partner use a wooden chair.”
Number forty-seven said to number three
“Well, you’re the cutest jailbird I ever did see
I sure would be delighted with your company
Come on and do the Jailhouse Rock with me.”Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin’ to the Jailhouse Rock
Everybody in the whole cell block…rock!!!
It sounds terrible on the surface. Once you actually read the words. But let’s interpret:
The burglar, Sad Sid, loudly announced the events, while a scared inmate, Opel, tried to hide.
The warden ordered Opel to participate or use a chair to do it to himself.
Inmate number 47 then found a weaker inmate, number 3, and threatened him to submit to sodomy or be beaten and likely assaulted anyway. (This is possible to be Sad Sid and OpelAll of the other inmates and guards cheered it on and partied, some masturbating to it and other finding victims of their own.
Manson stands against violence, and his own stage name is a dig at the glorification of people like Charles Manson as if they were sexy Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe. We see a lot of this in culture today, and I suppose it is only reasonable to assume that I will watch my friends do the same things to future generations. Hypocrisy, willful ignorance, and using power to oppress seems to be the trademark of the contemporary elders.
The songs of Manson that people were harping over were Lunchbox, a song about defending yourself against bullies with a metal lunch pail instead of a gun and Get Your Gunn, a song about how it is mentally weak to abuse people and use guns to hold power over them. Well, those seem like reasonably principled and helpful messages, but instead, there is a near gaslighting attempt at turning logic upside down as the “respected” in our society tell us that an even better message is Elvis’ eloquent words of kindness.
Maybe wish I would not have used the term gaslighting as I find to be childishly overused, but moving on…
This episode of Nuance is another bonus episode, as Roberto and I just keep getting caught up in dealing with life, but we will get back on track. But bonus episodes are fun, and this one is with Daryl Chambers who hosts the podcast, Words of a Warrior. This podcast of his interviews modern day warriors ranging from athletes to academics, but who all embrace the fights in life with certainty and confidence and rise to the occasion each time. What allows them to block out naysayers and defy all of the odds?
As I say that I am not quite so sure that I have blocked out the naysayers and defied the odds. I am not even sure what I have accomplished or what battle I won. Hell, I am not so sure what the fight is about at this stage. I need people like you and Daryl to remind me of that and engage the hard topics, and Daryl seems to have no desire to shy away from anything, so I am optimistic about the future of our discussions.
The Words of a Warrior podcast can be found on iTunes Podchaser, YouTube and more. Also, please follow Daryl on Instagram @inpoweruk.
It is good to have these types of conversations and this on hits on some controversial issues, but I do feel it is preaching to the choir a bit still. I wish we could be talking to others and on podcasts where people are entirely different from us. I feel as though Daryl and I are quite similar at the core or hell, I guess all of us are. What I mean to say is Daryl and I speak the same language, so we are able to quickly get on and stay on the core of the issue.
Generally, it feels as though anyone who is ready to engage in dialogue will have no problem understanding that these discussions have no desire to offend anyone or judge anyone. They are about exploring and testing our philosophies and out digging in to say what are we really saying and doing with something or some idea. Not what we wish it were or hope it is doing, what is really going on?
The most common one lately is the race is not real topic, which we do get into. Ultimately, I am not sure it matters that it is not real. The main problem with its use is that it is a label. Whenever you categorize people into labels, not only are you setting the stage for discrimination and prejudice, you assure its existence.
My wife and I were having a discussion where another version of this came up. The category was the well-meaning labeling of disabled. Now, it is very good and helpful that those labeled special needs often get societal assistance. But, as soon as you group people abled and disabled, not only are you setting the stage for disability discrimination and prejudice, you assure it is continued and create an outgroup, abled-bodied who will also be discriminated against. Then, you will get internal labeling and discrimination into mental illnesses, amputations, hormonal imbalances and on and on.
The same is true of race. The moment you call yourself white or allow others to group you as white, be it through your actions or lack of actions, you set the stage for and necessarily create discrimination against yourself and to be prejudice against others. If you are this label, say white, or black, or brown, then everyone else is othered. Then you will get further internal division. Black begins to divide on the lightness and darkness and colorism add a new layer to the prejudice, bias, and tribalism.
All of this is what stands in my way of having broad public discussion about police reform. Despite what many think, there is not much left for me to do until the public discussion shifts. So, I have been thinking of something tangible and practical I could do to try and make a difference, and I will talk about that for a bit for those interested after the main presentation with the Words of a Warrior podcast and Daryl Chambers. Enjoy.
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I hope we can do some follow up episodes with Daryl as I really enjoyed that conversation and always appreciate it when someone respects their own interview enough to have background and context on their guest. I can not begin to explain how rude I find it when people like Rogan and Aubrey Marcus would interview me not having read anything with idea that it would just flow? That does not make any sense to me, it just screams I am too lazy to actually give a crap about my audience and this conversation. So, in general, let’s all try to not act like that. I do not believe that people are their actions, so I do my best to separate that. I am not saying screw those people, but I am saying, it is a shame to possess that little regard for the quality of your work.
Before the main presentation, I alluded to my change in plans to do something practical because I feel as though I am just the wrong messenger for the times. Our labels and culture have lead us to a place where being a so-called cisgender white male means I am an enemy, have nothing of value, and need just to go away.
So, what can I do? I will have as many discussions and produce as many podcasts as I can, but there is no reason to believe there is a large audience for that. I will keep writing and keep doing the science to write peer-reviewed papers.
What I found was that there is a scholarship at Arizona State University Law School which I should be able to get and then I will go to law school and become a public defender. Since either, I am not the right tool, or the time has not yet come, I can make a real difference in a few people’s lives right here at home. I can fight some small battles while the war against injustice takes its time to wind up.
I think I need something like that psychologically as well. I know no one wants to hear me complain, but I do struggle quite a bit with understanding my purpose and if I belong anywhere.
Do not forget; we are played out to another song by Lady J and The Useful Idiots.
nu·ance — noun: (1) a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound. (2) a current events podcast with a focus on issues related to police, violence, and society; featuring a U.S. Marine, a lawyer, a Baltimore police sergeant, a religion scholar, an author, a police management scholar, and a journalist but only two hosts.
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Michael Wood Jr. is a police management scholar who after spending a career in the USMC and Baltimore Police Department, took to dismantling the blue wall of silence and creating the pathway to reform; a model called Civilian-Led Policing. His fight for justice has included leading the historic Veterans for Standing Rock action in December of 2016, listening to the front lines of Black Lives Matter, opposing money in politics, and elevating the voices of others. You can find Michael in hundreds of media appearances, from HBO’s Fixing the System documentary with President Obama, to The Joe Rogan Experience, to published opinion pieces in The Guardian and Baltimore Sun, and everything in-between, where he furthers the discussion on criminal justice systems and institutions, and the needs of society.



