Posts

Showing posts with the label John Henrik Clarke

Featured Post

Before You Build It Up, Tear It Down: A Call to Conscious Community

Image
Before You Build It Up, Tear It Down: A Call to Conscious Community I was sitting still—thinking. Letting the mind wander across proverbs , ancient texts, and what's happening now. One idea kept circling back like a hawk over fresh prey: “Before something great can be built, it must first be broken down.” You’ll find echoes of this in the Tao Te Ching , in Proverbs , and in the ancestral wisdom of Africa . “If you want to kill a fool, give them a bag full of money.” That one hit me sideways the first time I heard it. It didn’t say “fight the fool” or “educate the fool”—nope. Just bless them with abundance they ain’t ready for, and the destruction will take care of itself. And I can’t help but see that playing out in real time—in our politics, in our people, in the nation. Collapse as a Setup, Not a Setback Look, I don't usually date my writings, but let’s keep it real—it’s early November, post-election season, and a whole lot is shifting. Layoffs coming, benefit...

Carthage Must Fall: How Weaponized Culture Wins Wars—And Why We Must Learn to Play (and Change) the Game

Image
Carthage Must Fall: How Weaponized Culture Wins Wars—And Why We Must Learn to Play (and Change) the Game Greetings Fam, I was riding home today, my mind turning over thoughts while listening to In Class with Carr , and something hit me hard. A spark of memory, an echo from one of the master teachers—Dr. John Henrik Clarke. Now whether I heard it in person or on one of his lectures, I can’t say for sure, but what I can say is this: it stuck with me. Deep. Dr. Clarke was breaking down history, culture, and warfare—not just the kind with weapons, but the kind waged in the minds of people. The kind that encodes itself into the rhythm of a nation’s daily life. He mentioned something that sent me down a rabbit hole of research and reflection. He spoke about the Roman Empire—specifically how they targeted Carthage, and how a single phrase became a cultural war cry: “Carthago delenda est.” Translation: “Carthage must be destroyed.” Let that sink in. This wasn’t just some wartime speech. Th...

Uncomfortable Truths: Stop Coddling and Reclaim Your Power

Image
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...