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The Trap of the "Self-Made" Myth

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  The Trap of the "Self-Made" Myth https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-power-of-umoja-breaking-the-illusion-of-isolation--70376622 We’ve all heard it: “I got it out the mud all by myself.” It sounds good on a track or in a motivational speech, but is it the truth? For too long, our community has been sold a lie that glorifies extreme individualism. We are conditioned to grind alone and suffer in silence, believing that asking for help is a sign of weakness. But this mindset is exactly what feeds the heavy, quiet burdens of blame, shame, and guilt. When you isolate yourself, your struggles feel insurmountable. The reality is, our ancestors never survived by acting as islands. Their superpower was the collective. The deep, intentional work of true unity requires us to look in the mirror and then look at our community. What happens when we stop competing with our brothers and sisters and start combining our strength? The answer just might change how you approach your entire lif...
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The Locked Door with No Key: Why Ohio’s SB 153 Threatens Our Voting Rights

The Locked Door with No Key: Why Ohio’s SB 153 Threatens Our Voting Rights


Imagine being told you must enter a building to access your rights—to speak, to be counted, to shape the laws that govern your life. The door is locked, and you're told you need a key. But no one will tell you what kind of key you need.

Some folks bring house keys. Others arrive with driver’s licenses, birth certificates, even passports. They jiggle them in the lock—nothing works.

They aren’t denied because they’re unqualified.
 They’re denied because the rules changed without explanation.

This is the danger behind Ohio’s Senate Bill 153 (SB 153)—a bill that hasn’t passed yet, but is already knocking on our community’s door.

What Is SB 153?

SB 153 is a proposed law—not yet passed—currently being considered by Ohio’s state legislature. It would require all voters to prove their citizenship before casting a ballot.

That may sound fair on the surface—but the bill doesn’t define what “proof of citizenship” actually means.

It leaves the door wide open for confusion, unequal enforcement, and bureaucratic discretion.
 That’s like locking the entrance to democracy and refusing to tell folks what key opens it.

Who Gets Shut Out?

History teaches us: whenever new “requirements” are created for voting, it’s not the powerful who pay the price—it’s the people.

This law would disproportionately harm:

  • Elders, especially those born under Jim Crow, who may not have formal documents

  • Young voters unfamiliar with complicated registration systems

  • Low-income families, who can't afford to retrieve missing paperwork

  • Naturalized citizens, facing barriers tied to language and bureaucracy

  • Black and Brown communities, already burdened by structural and targeted voter suppression

This bill isn’t about safety—it’s about sidelining certain voices at the polls.

Is Voter Fraud a Real Threat?

No. The data speaks loud and clear:

  • In 2020, over 5.9 million votes were cast in Ohio.

  • Only 27 cases were flagged as potentially illegal votes by non-citizens—that’s just 0.0005%.

  • In over a decade, only nine people were indicted for voting as non-citizens—out of more than 8 million registered voters.

We’re not fixing a problem—we’re manufacturing one.

This Is Bigger Than Ohio

SB 153 is just one piece of a nationwide movement led by radical right-wing politicians and their wealthy allies.

Let’s call it what it is: a power grab.

They know their policies—from trickle-down economics to underfunded education and broken healthcare—have failed the people.
 They know public backlash is coming.
 So now, they’re trying to limit who gets to respond to that failure at the ballot box.

This is part of a larger, coordinated agenda known as Project 2025—a strategic blueprint to reshape the federal government, expand executive power, and silence dissent.
 These laws aren’t about voter fraud—they’re about future-proofing power against the will of the people.

When the people rise to push back, these laws are meant to make sure fewer of us are allowed to speak.

A Lesson from the Elders

As the Honored Ancestor Elder Tony West once reminded us:
 “Tradition is the foundation—but reason is how we build.”

Our ancestors fought, marched, and died for the right to vote.
 Now, reason calls us to defend that right—not just for ourselves, but for the generations yet to come.

What We Can Do Now

  1. Spread the Word – Share this article. Make it plain.

  2. Watch SB 153 Closely – It’s not law yet, and it can still be stopped.

  3. Check Voter Status – Visit www.voteohio.gov and encourage others to do the same.

  4. Organize & Prepare – Help your people gather documents, understand the process, and be ready for anything.

  5. Challenge the Agenda – Call out the 2025 vision for what it is: a strategy to centralize power and silence resistance.

A Personal Note…

Lately, I’ve found myself paying closer attention to moves like SB 153—not just because they affect my community, but because they’re making me reflect on my own role in all of this.

I’ve been asking myself: Is it time to get more involved in politics?
 I don’t have the full answer yet, but I know this much—we can’t afford to sit on the sidelines while others redraw the rules.

Whether it’s through organizing, educating, or stepping into the political arena myself, I’m exploring what responsibility looks like in this moment.



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