Walking the Barbell: Tradition on One Side, Revolution on the Other

I’ve been re-listening to Antifragile by Nassim Taleb—and something caught my spirit this time around: the Barbell Strategy.

Taleb breaks it down as a life design where you operate on two extremes. On one side, you’ve got extreme safety. On the other, calculated risk. And in between? Nothing. That middle space is where comfort hides and where fragility is born.

This idea got me thinking deeply about how well it aligns with the life we’re building through Gye-Nyame Journey—and how it could shape a political campaign if I—or one of y’all—ever decided to run for office.

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The Safe Side: Cultural Roots, Community Wisdom

Let’s start with the grounded side of the barbell—the side that holds our traditions, values, and cultural wisdom.

This is where we store our principles: Umoja, Kujichagulia, Nia. It’s the bedrock. It’s not glamorous, but it’s what keeps us whole. This side includes our:

• Rites of passage
  
  

• Community circles
  
  

• Daily practices
  
  

• Systems of self-mastery
  
  

This is the timeless foundation that grounds our power.

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The Risk Side: Innovation, Disruption, Bold Moves

Now flip to the other end of the barbell.

This is where the heat comes in—where we shake up the system and go after real change. It’s where we:

• Challenge billionaires and corporate overreach
  
  

• Push for radical education reform
  
  

• Explore blockchain for communal wealth
  
  

• Build schools that actually teach our children who they are
  
  

Without this side, we stagnate. We don’t grow by playing it safe all the time. But with strong roots, we can afford to take bold, calculated risks.

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The Fragile Middle: Where Politics Break Down

Let’s talk about the middle—the so-called “safe zone” where most politicians live.

This is where mainstream politics, especially the Democratic Party, camps out. They try to appeal to everyone, stay neutral, and avoid shaking things up. But in doing so, they fail to inspire anyone.

That’s why Donald Trump was able to win.

He didn’t play it safe. He took bold (often dangerous) stances and tapped into raw emotion. Whether we agree with him or not, his strategy was barbell-like—grounded in a core base, while boldly pushing extremes.

Meanwhile, the Democrats tried to hug the middle—and lost. Studies show that centrist candidates don’t energize the base. Sometimes, they even suppress it.

“Playing the middle is a losing game in a world that demands boldness.”

As Taleb says: The middle is fragile. And when pressure hits, it cracks.

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So What If I Ran for Office…?

Let’s imagine this.

If I ran for city council or state representative, my campaign would be built like a barbell:

• Safe side: Grounded in culture. Nguzo Saba in action. Elders on the council. Education rooted in tradition.
  
  

• Risk side: Bold tax reform. Reparative economic programs. Radical transparency. Tech-driven solutions.
  
  

This isn’t about being reckless. It’s about being strategically radical—pushing for deep change while staying rooted in what’s true and tested.

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Closing Thought

The Barbell Strategy is in our DNA.

Our ancestors lived it. They held on to culture while navigating the unknown. That’s how they built resilience—and it’s how we’ll build power.

Whether you’re building a tribe, leading a movement, or raising a family—you can’t afford to live in the middle.

Be grounded. Be radical. Be ready.