Posts

Showing posts with the label gye nyame journey

Featured Post

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

Image
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” ac...

CANEI: Constant and Never-Ending Improvement

Image
CANEI: Constant and Never-Ending Improvement Great Day, Family. This reflection is for the Elders, Warriors, and Nation Builders out there who understand that growth doesn't stop at a certain age or title. This one is personal—and tribal. Because I’m walking this path, just like you. Today’s theme? CANEI : Constant and Never-Ending Improvement. From Kanai to CANEI: How the Journey Began Long before it was a concept, CANEI was my life. Back in the early days of Gye Nyame, I had the honor—and the challenge—of raising my sons. I was blessed with a contract through a program called Kanai that allowed me to work with African American boys many deemed “difficult.” But what they called “difficult,” I called “diamonds in the dirt.” These young men became the Gye Nyame Boys , and we birthed what would become the Gye Nyame House . Through that sacred work, I realized something powerful: self-improvement wasn’t enough. We had to aim for self-mastery. That shift in perspective laid th...

It’s Not Too Late: Breaking Free from Self-Imposed Limitations

Image
It’s Not Too Late: Breaking Free from Self-Imposed Limitations Great Day, Fam. This one’s from the heart. From me, to you. Especially if you’re an Elder, a late bloomer, or someone who’s looked in the mirror and asked, “Why am I not where I thought I’d be by now?” Let me tell you something right now: It’s not too late. It’s not over. There’s still more in you. The Weight of “Not Enough” Somewhere along the way, many of us internalized the belief that if we didn’t “make it” by a certain age, we missed our chance. We look at our lives, our bank accounts, our titles, and we start feeling like failures—not because we failed, but because society told us we were supposed to be more. And even worse? We start believing that lie. I’ve been there. I’ve lived it. I’ve sat with those feelings. But I came to a powerful realization: most of those limitations weren’t real. They were self-imposed. Age Ain’t the Enemy—Inertia Is When I was young, I was often told I was too young to know ...

Who Really Pays the Most? Taxation, Wealth, and the Middle-Class Disappearing Act

Image
Who Really Pays the Most? Taxation, Wealth, and the Middle-Class Disappearing Act Great Day, Fam. Let’s talk about one of the most dangerous illusions being pushed in this system: who really pays the most in taxes? I was watching a video by Brother Gary from Gary Economics , and he sparked a thought that just kept spiraling into truth. We need to sit down and break down this mind game—the kind of psychological hustle that makes us defend the wealthy while struggling to pay our own bills. Rich vs. Wealthy: Know the Difference Let’s start here: Rich folks make a lot of money. They may be bringing in six to seven figures, but they’re still trading time for money . Their lifestyle depends on continued effort. No work, no check. Wealthy folks live off their assets. They don’t have to work because their money makes more money—for generations. We often lump rich and wealthy together, but that’s part of the deception. These categories play by completely different rules . The...

We Don’t All Come from Kings and Queens: Leadership, Lies, and the Power of Collective Purpose

Image
We Don’t All Come from Kings and Queens: Leadership, Lies, and the Power of Collective Purpose Great Day, Fam. Let’s get into it. This one’s gonna push some buttons—and that’s exactly the point. I'm not writing for comfort. I'm writing for clarity . And today, I want to address one of the most repeated mantras in our community: “We all come from Kings and Queens.” It sounds good. It feels empowering. But family—it’s not the whole truth . Who Took the Trash Out? If everyone was a king or queen… Who held the sick? Who built the temples? Who mastered the mathematics? Who cooked the food? Who cleaned the streets? Who protected the realm? We all didn’t come from the throne. And that's not a bad thing. The idea that only royalty holds value is a lie designed to inflate egos—and egos that believe they’re at the center of the universe cannot be led. Leadership isn’t about title or self-importance. It’s about service, wisdom, and knowing when to follow. The False ...

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

Image
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

Image
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...

Out the Mud? Nah. The Myth of Capitalist Merit and the Power of Perspective

Image
Out the Mud? Nah. The Myth of Capitalist Merit and the Power of Perspective Great Day, Family! This is Brother Ha2tim coming through with another blog—not just any blog, but one born from lived experience, cultural awareness, and unapologetic truth-telling. I'm experimenting with a powerful technique, and I invite you to take notes. What you’re about to read started while I was ironing clothes and recording my thoughts. Through technology, my words were transcribed, refined with the help of Baba AI (a digital extension of the Gye-Nyame mindset), and shaped into this message for the Journey. Let’s get into it. The Tool Is Not the Threat—Your Lack of Use Is People keep asking, “Are robots or AI going to take my job?” Family, the truth is deeper: you won’t lose your job to AI—you’ll lose it to the person who knows how to use AI . The tool isn't your enemy. Your resistance to using it is. I’m pushing out more content than ever because I’ve embraced the tools of the age. This ...

In Between the Opposites: Mastery, Principles, and the Gye-Nyame Way

Image
In Between the Opposites: Mastery, Principles, and the Gye-Nyame Way By ha2tim | Gye-Nyame Journey There’s a thought that’s been sitting with me lately—something that blossomed during a morning meditation, rooted in reflection, and now ready to be shared with the Family. We talk about mastery a lot in Gye-Nyame Journey— self-mastery, family mastery, tribal mastery, community mastery . And I’m beginning to understand that this isn’t just a sequence—it’s a cycle , a spiral, always turning, always returning, always evolving. At any given time, you’re working on all of them. Getting yourself together while trying to help your family grow. Building family while refining your tribe. Tending to tribe while holding space for community. It's not linear. It’s layered. But here’s the key: your frame matters . The way you view the world determines how you move in it. Sin, Harmony, and the Space In Between In "African Openness to the Tree of Life," there’s a framework that shi...

Ujima + Imani: Cultivating Responsible Faith

Image
  Greetings Tribe and Extended Family, Today, we find ourselves on the day of Ujima in the week of Imani, a potent blend of principles that carries immense potential for personal and collective growth. We've been exploring the dynamic combinations of principles that make up our cultural framework, and today, we'll dive deep into the concepts of Ujima and Imani and how they can be applied responsibly for our collective success. Ujima, the third principle of Kwanzaa, translates to "Collective Work and Responsibility". It's an invitation to come together, to share the work, the struggles, and the triumphs. It encourages us to understand that our actions or inactions affect the entire community. By embracing Ujima, we accept our responsibility to work towards the betterment of our community, our tribe. It's about understanding that our strength lies in unity, and together, we can build a prosperous and harmonious tribe. Imani, the seventh principle of Kwanzaa, sig...