Complaint is often perceived as an alternative to action. Those who complain are criticized as “just complaining,” instead of “actually doing something.” But for marginalized and stigmatized groups—racial and religious minorities, women, the poor, people who lack civic rights—complaining is the first step in removing the shame from a lifetime of being told one’s problems are unimportant, nonexistent, or even a cause for gratitude. Complaining alerts the world that the problem is a problem.
