During Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special, the long-running “Black Jeopardy!” skit returned, featuring legendary Black cast members like Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Leslie Jones, and Tracy Morgan.
Tom Hanks also reprised his role as Doug, the working-class white American in a red MAGA hat. As in past appearances, Doug initially seems out of place—but it quickly becomes clear that he shares common ground with his fellow contestants.
At one point, Doug says, “If more folks went to church, we [Americans] wouldn’t be in this mess we’re in now,” referring to the country’s deep political divisions and eroding trust in institutions. Host Darnell Hayes, played by Kenan Thompson, agrees.
Doug’s not wrong.
The Decline of Social Capital
Harvard professor Robert Putnam saw this coming. In his 2000 book Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, Putnam documented the steady decline of participation in clubs—everything from bowling leagues to Boy Scouts to church groups.
This decline in social engagement, he argued, would have serious consequences for American democracy. Why? Because participation in these groups builds social capital—the networks of relationships that foster trust, cooperation, and civic engagement. Without social capital, democracy weakens.
Back then, Putnam warned:
“By virtually every conceivable measure, social capital has eroded steadily and sometimes dramatically over the past two generations.”
He predicted that if this trend continued, America would face a political landscape marked by distrust, division, and dysfunction.
Putnam’s Predictions Came True
A quarter-century later, we’re living in the world Putnam described. Just last night, Judy Woodruff of PBS NewsHour interviewed Putnam about how his predictions have played out. You can watch that interview here:
Join or Die
Putnam’s work also inspired a documentary, Join or Die, directed by Rebecca and Pete Davis. It explores the decline of social capital and what we can do to rebuild it. The film debuted on Netflix last fall:
How Do We Fix This?
We rebuild social capital. We create spaces where people can connect, engage, and form real communities.
Last August, Rebecca Davis and Robert Putnam joined me for a panel discussion hosted by Paragon on how public media stations can play a role in community building. You can watch it here:
Take Action
If you’re looking at today’s political climate and feeling powerless, know that you can make a difference. Whether you relate more to Doug or Darnell, here’s where to start:
- Watch Join or Die. Better yet, invite people over and watch it together.
- Join a club. Any club. Just get involved.
- Build community around your organization. If you don’t know where to begin, check out my mini-course: Create Your Community Roadmap.
The solution to America’s divisions isn’t more shouting. It’s more gathering.
Let’s build community.
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