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Conservatism, Reaction, and the Elder's Responsibility: A Message to My Age Grade

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Conservatism, Reaction, and the Elder's Responsibility: A Message to My Age Grade Great Day, Fam. This one right here? It’s not for everyone. If you’re not at or approaching Eldership—defined in our tribe as about 55 years old and up—you might not feel all of this. But if you’re curious, or if you’re one of those younger souls already walking with wisdom, you’re welcome to keep reading. This message is for the Elders. For those of us who should know better. And yes—I’m including myself. Let’s Start With the Mirror I’ve got to confess something. I’ve been guilty. Guilty of being reactionary. Guilty of falling into the trap of conservatism. Guilty of romanticizing the past. Guilty of looking at our young people and calling them “soft”—as if we were born warriors, as if we didn’t have to become who we are through fire, failure, and guidance. Many of us Elders are stuck in a loop. We remember only the highlights of our youth—the toughest times we survived, the boldest moments ...

Principles Ain’t Protection: Why Black America Must Rethink Loyalty in a Rising Dictatorship

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 Principles Ain’t Protection: Why Black America Must Rethink Loyalty in a Rising Dictatorship Family, we need to talk. Something's shifting beneath our feet, and if we don't stop milling around in a dream, our children will be the ones left to wake up in a nightmare. Let’s stop sugarcoating it: America might have already crossed the threshold—from a quasi-democracy to a full-fledged dictatorship. I’m not trying to be hyperbolic, but when truth feels more like a whisper and power moves unchecked, what else can you call it? And here’s the kicker: for Black folks, this so-called “American experiment” never really prioritized us in the first place. We Gotta Get Specific About Our Struggle One of the biggest mistakes we’ve made—and continue to make—is assuming that everyone operates by our principles. We've been extending kindness, fairness, justice… to people who don't respect or reflect those values back. That’s why I push for specificity. Let’s call anti-Blackness w...

Uncomfortable Truths: Stop Coddling and Reclaim Your Power

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Uncomfortable Truths: Stop Coddling and Reclaim Your Power Walking across a parking lot, shifting from a vehicle to the school, I couldn’t help but notice the discomfort lurking beneath our everyday interactions. Even while I was in the midst of my Ramadan fast—a practice that sharpens the mind and spirit—I felt compelled to address a deeply ingrained issue in our society: the idea that we must make everyone feel comfortable at all times. The Comfort Conundrum We’ve been conditioned to believe that ensuring everyone’s comfort is not just desirable but essential. However, when it comes to confronting anti-blackness and reclaiming our space, this comfort becomes a barrier rather than a bridge. Too often, we allow those who would undermine our strength to settle in too easily, softening our resolve. It’s time to shed the notion that we owe anyone an easy ride. The Unyielding Call for Accountability There’s a powerful message echoing from the words of John Henry Clark: we owe nothing b...

Einstein, Socialism, and the Predator Mindset in Education

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Einstein, Socialism, and the Predator Mindset in Education Peace Fam, Let’s be clear from the start: Einstein was no revolutionary socialist thinker. He didn’t offer any groundbreaking theories on the subject, nor did he possess a deep ideological framework for socialism. However, what made Einstein’s contribution significant was his willingness to take responsibility as a human being and speak out against the shortcomings of capitalism. He understood that his status as one of the world’s most respected physicists gave him a social credit that he could use to elevate critical discussions. This is similar to the work of Paul Robeson , another brilliant mind who, despite being primarily known as a singer, actor, and athlete, used his platform to challenge oppression and advocate for socialism. Like Robeson, Einstein recognized that capitalism was fundamentally flawed—especially in how it shaped education and social behavior. Capitalism: A System That Trains Predators In his 1949 ...