Modern WisdomSargon Of Akkad | Why Are We Facing A Crisis In 2020?
At a glance
WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT
Sargon of Akkad warns 2020 unrest mirrors a soft cultural revolution
- Carl Benjamin (Sargon of Akkad) and Chris Williamson discuss 2020 as an inflection point, arguing Western institutions are in a late-imperial style crisis driven by radical ideology and social media dynamics.
- Benjamin describes his experience of demonetization and algorithmic throttling as part of a broader clampdown on heterodox voices by “corporate” or “approved” media and tech platforms.
- He frames Black Lives Matter, intersectionality, and contemporary activism as a quasi‑communist moral crusade that pathologizes Western individualism and capitalism as "whiteness," and increasingly dominates institutions and culture.
- Both wrestle with how to communicate honestly in a climate of performative virtue, cancel culture, polarized information ecosystems, and heightened social anxiety from COVID and the U.S. election cycle.
IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING
5 ideasExpect platform risk and build independent infrastructure.
Benjamin’s repeated demonetizations and throttling on YouTube and other services lead him to build his own website and diversify away from any single host, highlighting the need for creators to own distribution channels.
Recognize that ‘mainstream media’ now means ‘approved media’, not reach.
They argue that legacy outlets retain institutional status and political access despite often smaller audiences than large podcasts, suggesting ‘mainstream’ is about being ratified by power structures rather than view counts.
Understand the ideological framing behind contemporary activism.
Benjamin contends that elements of Black Lives Matter and intersectional theory are explicitly anti-capitalist and anti-liberal, treating individualism and meritocracy as forms of ‘whiteness’ that must be dismantled, which changes how policy demands (e.g., ‘defund the police’) should be interpreted.
Avoid purely performative communication—substance and sincerity matter.
Both criticize corporations and public figures who issue formulaic statements and overcorrect in fear of backlash, arguing this erodes trust, obscures who genuinely cares, and makes nuanced dialogue about race and justice nearly impossible.
Deliberately expose yourself to competing narratives and facts.
To counter self‑radicalization and echo chambers, Benjamin recommends systematically consuming media from opposing sides (e.g., Fox vs. MSNBC, left‑ and right‑wing commentators) to see what each side omits and reconstruct a fuller picture.
WORDS WORTH SAVING
5 quotesIt’s totally valid to feel like we’re in sort of Fall of the Republic territory here, because we are.
— Carl Benjamin (Sargon of Akkad)
We can say things that they can’t say. We can challenge narratives they don’t dare challenge. And they’ll punish us for it.
— Carl Benjamin (Sargon of Akkad)
None of that stuff sounds to me like the best way to progress black people in this world.
— Chris Williamson
Communication should be honest, not performative, because as soon as you start to do that, you can’t tell where the truth’s coming from, who actually cares, who doesn’t care.
— Chris Williamson
While you can raise yourself up by doing nothing else than tearing other people down, you’re never going to be safe.
— Carl Benjamin (Sargon of Akkad)
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