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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 ...

Black Power ≠ Black Supremacy: Shifting the Conversation from Distraction to Definition

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Black Power ≠ Black Supremacy: Shifting the Conversation from Distraction to Definition Great Day, Family. This morning hit me with a wave of insight. What you’re about to read is one of three articles that came to me before breakfast. The ideas were flowing so strong, I had to stop, reflect, and bring them to you straight—unfiltered, but focused. Let’s talk about something I heard in a study group that made me pause: “When we talk about Black Power… shouldn’t we be worried about Black Supremacy?” That was the question posed. And I sat with it, not because it was a deep question—but because it’s a familiar one. One of those questions that burns up energy and resources trying to respond to it. And that, right there, is part of the problem. Let’s break it down. The Art of the Goalpost Shuffle Sometimes, people ask questions they haven’t even fully thought through. Other times, they’re intentionally vague— questions designed not to discover truth, but to derail it. The probl...

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...