“The most urgent, the most disgraceful, the most shameful and the most tragic problem is silence.”

Dr. Joachim Prinz
March on Washington
August 28, 1963

Dr. Joachim Prinz was among the leaders of the March on Washington. His speech, alerting Americans to the disgrace of silence in the face of injustice, preceded that of his friend Martin Luther King, Jr.

While Dr. Prinz refers to silence here as the unwillingness of witnesses and citizens to speak up or act against adversity and oppression, his words and this work are relevant for somewhat different reasons today. 

Silence today has been redefined. Silence is no longer the absence of sound or action. It is also the mindless repetition of talking points that are as unheard as the hum of a fluorescent lightbulb: Talking points promoted on social media platforms by partisan punditry and wealthy charismatic influencers who seek and sow social and political division for personal gain (or the ridiculous notion of “winning” over truth). 

These talking points are simply repeated without thought or understanding by ignorant followers who repost pictures of hateful rhetoric accompanied by catchy images that appeal more to them than actual understanding or factual research. 

And they often result in long threads of so-called conversations or debates, which, in reality, are nothing of the sort. They are the noisiest sort of silence because no one is listening, thinking, or acting.

When conversations and debates involve waiting to talk in lieu of listening, both sides become essentially silent because neither side is heard. As this behavior continues to grow, the world becomes unable to function in peace and stability or with empathy and charity. 

Silence today is loud. And while the representation of Silence has changed over the past 60 years, the same problem with Silence exists. It remains tragic. It remains disgraceful and shameful.

The Tragedy of Silence concludes optimistically with quotes from Odetta’s and Joan Baez’s performances of the spiritual Oh, Freedom at the March on Washington and over the years since. It is my hope that voices like these, who listen and communicate with empathy, grace, and thoughtfulness with continue to inspire acts of kindness, peace, and justice.

The Tragedy of Silence is an invitation for reflection on the importance of Not Being Silent in the face of injustice and adversity.

The Tragedy of Silence was commissioned in 2023 by the Thompson-Kasler Duo (Bobbi Thompson, saxophone, and Ariel Kasler, electric guitar) with generous assistance from The University of Western Ontario.

Click here for a transcript of Dr. Joachim Prinz’s speech at The March on Washington.