Tricks Are for Kids, But Stories Are Not

We live in a world shaped not by facts, but by stories. And somewhere along the line, we made the mistake of thinking stories were just for kids.

At Gye-Nyame Journey, I’ve been saying this for years: the stories we tell ourselves shape our lives. The stories we hold about ourselves, our families, our communities, and our nation—these aren’t just words floating in our minds. These stories direct our behavior, mold our worldview, and set the parameters for what we believe is possible.

But the problem is, most of us didn’t write these stories. We inherited them. We absorbed them. We consumed them like junk food—unaware they were feeding us poison.

Narratives Are Weapons

In today’s world, narratives—or “stories” as we used to call them—are some of the most powerful tools being used against us. And what’s worse is, we let it happen.

We let others tell our stories for us. We allowed systems, media, and outside forces to define who we are, what we can be, and what we should strive for. And when someone else writes your story, trust and believe, it will not end in your victory.

False Stories, Real Damage

Right now, we’re surrounded by false narratives, crafted carefully to keep us distracted, divided, and disenfranchised:

• “We live in a meritocracy.”

• “Anyone can be rich if they just hustle hard enough.”

• “Immigrants are draining the system.”

• “Government spending is the problem.”

• “I earned my wealth. I deserve this.”

These are not truths—they’re stories. Designed and marketed to us like fairy tales for adults. But these tales are dangerous, because they justify inequality, mask injustice, and preserve the status quo.

Meanwhile, the reality is this: most of today’s wealth holders inherited it. They didn’t hustle harder. They were born on third base, thinking they hit a triple. And yet, we still praise them as if they earned it all.

History Tells a Different Story

And if they truly understood history—the real story—they’d realize that when wealth inequality grows unchecked, the system eats itself. The rich eventually war with each other, and the poor are sent to fight those wars.

It’s always the same cycle: they tell our children a story—one about duty, honor, protection of crown or land—and then send them off to die for wealth that never trickles down.

We’ve heard this one before. And it's time we stop playing the fool.

The New Story We Must Tell

We are now living in a time where we must craft new stories—our stories. Because facts and stats alone won’t win people’s hearts. Data doesn’t move the masses. Stories do.

We need stories that make it clear:

• That billionaires should not exist.

• That after a certain amount of money, the wealth stops being about comfort and starts being about control.

• That hoarding wealth is a sickness—no different from hoarding trash—and it should be treated as such.

• That wealth is a finite resource, and when a small group hoards it, everyone else suffers.

We need to tell stories that challenge the illusion of fairness, that disrupt the myth of endless opportunity, and that ignite a fire in our people to see the systems for what they really are.

Because right now, those who want to maintain power already have a compelling story—and it’s working. Just look around.

Religion, Politics & The Power of Myth

Religion itself is a story—and whether true, symbolic, or metaphorical, it forms the basis of many people’s entire worldview. So when political movements hijack these stories—wrap themselves in righteousness and tradition—they become nearly impossible to challenge with facts alone.

So what do we do?

We don’t just argue. We counter-story. We create narratives that uplift, that educate, that liberate.

Because until we reclaim the art of storytelling, we will keep losing ground to those who know exactly how to use it against us.

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“If you want to change a people, change the stories they believe about themselves.”
– Brother ha2tim

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It’s time we stop treating stories like child’s play.
Tricks are for kids. But stories? Stories are for warriors.