Are you radical enough?

I have often asked myself whether I was too radical. But rarely have I considered that I might not be radical enough. Being “too” radical would certainly close some doors, discredit me in mainstream discourse, block access to important sources of funding/income, and even cast me as threatening or dangerous. Not being radical enough, on the other hand, would not have nearly as many negative consequences because those in positions of power, including funding bodies, mainstream media and politics, demand that we remain compliant with the system in place. Imperialist patriarchal capitalism thrives on people, ideas and perspectives seen as “moderate” and “reasonable”, as opposed to what radical typically stands for: unrealistic and unreasonable.

The power to define “radical” and its connotations rests largely with those who hold political and economic authority—especially mainstream media, which often serves as a gatekeeper of acceptable discourse.