Raising Rulers vs. Raising Employees: The Silent War on Our Children's Future

The thought for this article came to me while I was washing the dishes—funny how clarity strikes in the simplest moments. My wife had just shown me a video, and after watching it, I had to sit back and reflect. The video featured Elon Musk’s son boldly telling Donald Trump that he wasn’t the president and that he needed to go away. Whether or not this was cut up for effect, the message it conveyed hit me hard.

What struck me wasn’t just the disrespect, but the underlying mindset. This is a child raised by a family that operates at the highest levels of power—where wealth and influence dictate reality. This is a child who has been taught from birth that he belongs among those who make decisions, that his voice carries weight, and that he can say and do as he pleases. This is a child raised to be a ruler.

Meanwhile, we—particularly Black families—are raising children under a different paradigm. We are raising great employees.

The Conditioning of Our Children

Think about the values and lessons that dominate our children's upbringing:

• Speak when spoken to.
• Follow directions.
• Stay in line.
• Don’t challenge authority.
• Be excellent at taking orders.

Our children are being trained to be model employees—individuals who excel at following rules but rarely question them. Meanwhile, the children of the elite are being raised with a completely different framework. They are taught that rules exist to serve them, not the other way around. They are encouraged to question, to take risks, to operate as if the world belongs to them—because in many ways, it does.

What Happens When Rulers and Employees Meet?

This brings up a crucial question: What happens when a child raised to be an obedient employee meets a child raised to be a ruler? Who do you think will come out on top?

A child raised to be a ruler walks into a room expecting to own it. They expect their voice to matter. They expect power and privilege.

A child raised to be an employee walks into the same room and waits for instructions. They are concerned with whether they’re in the right place, if they’re saying the right thing, and whether they are “good enough” to be in that space.

This difference in conditioning doesn’t just affect individual confidence—it impacts generations. It affects who controls resources, who makes decisions, and who ultimately determines the future.

The Impact on Self-Esteem and Success

We talk about self-esteem all the time in our community. We want our children to feel confident, to have high self-worth, and to succeed. But how can they, when they are constantly being conditioned to see themselves as subordinates while others are being raised to lead?

How can they feel empowered when they see peers their age wielding unimaginable influence, while they are being told to “stay humble” and “work twice as hard”?

This isn’t just about education. It’s about a mindset shift. It’s about raising our children to be creators, leaders, and decision-makers—not just passive participants in someone else’s vision.

It’s Time to Change the Narrative

We must start raising our children to be rulers—not in the sense of oppressing others, but in the sense of owning their destiny. That means:

• Teaching them to question everything—not just accept what’s given to them.
• Encouraging leadership skills—not just obedience.
• Instilling the mindset of ownership—not just employment.
• Exposing them to power, influence, and wealth-building skills early—not just survival tactics.

The game is being played whether we acknowledge it or not. The question is: Are we setting our children up to win, or are we preparing them to serve the winners?

It’s time to raise rulers, not just employees. The future depends on it.