While the Latin America Coalition, an NCLR Affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina, is no stranger to threats and extreme xenophobic opposition, its response to a nativist Neo-Nazi/KKK rally creatively fought hate with humor.

Supporters of the Latin American Coalition and other pro-immigration organizations dressed as clowns, wore giant banana suits, and honked horns at the racist rally, easily outnumbering the KKK protesters by five to one.

Their message?  Racism is ridiculous.

For a little pick-me-up, check out this wonderful blog post by the Coalition’s Executive Director, Jess George, on how her organization deals with hate mail and the negativity they receive on a daily basis.  Sometimes you’ve just got to “Laugh to Keep from Crying.”

Laugh to Keep From Crying

Last Friday was an exciting day. We got two hate mail letters.We are no strangers to hate mail at the Latin American Coalition. In fact we often make opening hate mail a sort of office ceremony- a production where we all gather round as I read the terrible, ugly and grammatically incorrect contents.

The words are often disturbing, but we find humor in the strangest places.

For one, we laugh about the stamps. There is something funny about a letter that contains a long, racist and vitriolic rant, topped with a stamp that features a jolly Disney character or one that proclaims “Buy local produce, reuse bags!” We couldn’t stop giggling when one letter, signed by the “Arayan Nation” (sic), was mailed with a Black History month stamp. And we never tire of the beautiful yet simple irony of hate mail delivered with a heart-festooned stamp that says: “LOVE.”

The stationery can be amusing too. Recent letters have come on paper featuring a charming, autumnal motif. Others arrive folded in much the same way a middle school student might wad up a torn piece of notebook paper to be passed in class.

For a while, when we were receiving more threatening letters, I would open them wearing industrial, dish-washing gloves as to not get my fingerprints on them. This, I promise, was no easy feat. While I could have gotten some tight latex gloves to ease the letter opening process, there was something in the absurd visual of me fumbling with a letter opener- wearing floppy, yellow, rubber gloves- that made it all worthwhile.

This is not the only time we use humor to fight hate. On November 10th of last year, we organized a rally in opposition to white supremacists who were marching in downtown Charlotte. But instead of battling hate with hate- clown noses, balloons and red floppy shoes were our weapons of choice. Immigrant rights and social justice advocates came dressed as clowns, out numbering the white supremacists five to one. Our counter protest served as a mocking send-up of the real clowns- the absurd and ridiculous folks dressed in KKK robes and waving flags bearing the Nazi symbol. Our message to the neo-Nazi’s was:  “Humor: You’re doing it wrong.”

While our clowning of the white supremacists gathered a lot of positive attention- even national coverage from CNN, Huffington Post and others- we knew to expect renewed vigor from our angry pen pals. The new wave of hate has spewed our way, and although inevitable, it is a terrible reminder that there are still people in our community who react to difference with fear, hate and even violence.

As much as we may laugh, hate is serious business. And while white supremacy is a joke, it is one of the ugliest around. Did I chuckle when one hate mailer compared white people to endangered species like “polar bears and tigers?” Yes. But I was also saddened at the writer’s suggestion that I, as a white person, am working for an organization that seeks to “end your own existence.”

It is troubling to imagine people who perceive difference as a direct threat to their personal identity and culture. It is also difficult and sometimes scary to stand and face those who react to demographic shifts with fear, anger, and hate. But somehow a clown nose, a crazy wig and a willingness to laugh despite our fears make it a little easier.

Perhaps if we were all a little more willing to laugh at ourselves it wouldn’t be so hard to see beauty in both our differences and our sameness. Maybe you agree, but if you don’t, send me a letter. I’ve got some big rubber gloves and an audience.