From Different Rooms, the Same Door
“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”
— Proverbs 31:25–26 (NIV)
The other night, I was on a group Zoom call with a Christian group—a men’s and women’s fellowship. It’s the first few weeks of a 12-week training session, and while I don’t fully know what their broader mission is yet, it appears to be a fellowship focused on spiritual growth and leadership. Still, I’ve sat in enough rooms with strong leaders to recognize when people are organized around a single purpose. That’s how the best teams execute.
During the session, one of the facilitators—someone I imagine has been with the fellowship for a while—asked me to introduce myself. Many others had already been called on to share who they were and what they hoped to get out of these training sessions. When it was my turn, I said, “My name is Jacqueline Session Ausby.” Then I froze. I stopped to think.
As I sat there trying to figure out what to say, I thought about everything the others had shared. Most talked about their ministries and professions and included significant titles: pastor, minister, life coach, counselor, musician, mother, married. I am none of those things. Titles don’t define who we are. Introductions are not about accolades; they should focus on who you are. Anything else is just works—external roles and actions that don’t define the soul.
If I had to say who I am—not based on what I do, but on who I am in spirit—I would say, first, that I am a child of God. Second, I would say God has given me the spirit of a writer. That has always been my destiny. Writing is always on my mind. Even when I’m not writing, I’m shaping ideas in my head. When I imagine standing before Christ, I see myself as someone He hand-selected to write. This is important to me because Jesus is the Word, and there is nothing greater than Christ. To write—wise, knowing, shaped by truth—keeps me aligned with the Word.
Somehow, what I wanted to say felt like a check—not on me, but on them. As if by naming myself first as a child of God, I was unintentionally casting judgment. No one else had said that, and I didn’t want it to seem like I was trying to trump their introductions. Still, I am those things. I am a child of God, and writing has always been my destiny. In that moment, though, I chose silence. Not because the words weren’t true, but because I wasn’t sure how they would be received.
During the Zoom call, I didn’t say any of that. I just skipped the question and moved on.
It would have been easy to say that, at my core, I am a visionary. I build bridges and execute with force and focus. I could have added that I am a mother of two, a grandmother, a widow, and an Executive Assistant at a pharmaceutical company. I could have said I worked for one of the top consulting firms in the world and that I have sat in rooms with some of the most influential CEOs, mayors, and government officials. I could have said I have a master’s degree and that I live in New Jersey. In those few seconds, I understood none of those things define who I am.
I like to paint, though I am not a painter. That comes second nature. I enjoy painting, yet it’s not who I am. I am a writer. It’s in my very nature. I remember being young and writing my name over and over: Jacqueline Marie Session. I loved the shapes, the loops, the way a fancy J curved or how an S looked like a figure-eight. That was me unknowingly connecting with my calling.
In those moments on the call, I also noticed something else—not about the group, but about myself. The vibe was different. I am not a minister. I am not a pastor. I am not religious. For a second, I felt that difference in the room. Those words are just titles and don’t carry any weight. No one person can be all of them at once. Just because I am not those things does not mean I don’t belong.
Normally, I would walk away from that kind of energy. I would have shut down and closed the door on this experience. I would have thought, “I’m not like that, and I don’t want to be.” This time, I sat still. I told myself the vibe is different, yes, yet nobody is wrong or right. We all experience life differently. We all come to God from different rooms and yet arrive at the same Door.
So I made the decision in those few seconds not to walk away. I am going to stay with these 12 weeks of training, get to know people, learn from them, and listen to their stories. Because more than anything, I am a visionary. I am a bridge. I can help get people over troubled waters.
The older I get, the more I grapple with relationships. Some relationships matter deeply. They will last until the end of time, while others were meant to last only for a season—moments in time. Then there are new relationships—the ones that develop and can be cultivated even in situations I find nearly unbearable. Instead of casting things aside, I am learning to give them a chance. I am not certain how much I can stand, yet in this moment, I am willing to try.
Most importantly, I have learned there are so many moments in life when the vibe is different—at home, at work, in a parking lot or grocery store, even in small groups like this one.
Instead of shutting down or walking away, staying the course, being open, listening, and learning might just be the way to navigate those moments. That is how we continue to grow—even when we think we are already grown. That is how we meet each other across the distance of our differences.
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© 2025 Jacqueline Session Ausby. All rights reserved.
This post and all original content published under DahTruth are the intellectual property of Jacqueline Session Ausby. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author.
The Chains of Consumerism: How China Is Winning a War Without Firing a Shot
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations... evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government...”
I declare—a revolution similar to the one that began in the 1700s is playing itself out today. But this time, it’s not about taxes on tea. It’s about influence and infiltration. Instead of redcoats storming Boston, we’ve got apps storming our phones. Instead of colonizers in uniforms, we’ve got algorithms dressed up in bargains, convincing us to surrender our values in exchange for convenience and cheap prices.
Violence was on the horizon last week. Not the kind that comes with bullets and bombs, but violence just the same. We saw it in the brutal attacks by far-right media on young Black boys. We saw it when someone set fire to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home. But the most violent act wasn’t physical. It was digital. It came through the reaction to Trump’s tariffs and how Chinese companies are using platforms like TikTok to push back.
These companies, some of which have stolen American designs and branding ideas, are using our own airwaves to sell knockoffs directly to us. They aren’t doing it out of care or concern for the American consumer. They’re doing it because they need to save their economy, even if it means damaging ours.
And people are actually going along with it. Celebrating it. Justifying it.
They hate Trump that much. Saving a dollar means more than standing up for what’s right. I get it. I get that they hate Trump. But this isn’t about him. This is about us and what we’re willing to sacrifice just to get a cheap pair of leggings.
Let me tell you something. A few weeks ago, I ordered a few things from Shein. I got pulled in by a cute outfit I saw on TikTok. The prices were low, so after being mesmerized by the spinning discount wheel, I added a few more items to my cart. Six pairs of joggers in different colors—mauve, tan, jet black—for just $12.99. You just can’t beat that price; it’s cheaper than Ross.
When they finally arrived, I was excited. You know those packages you open carefully because you’re thinking about how you can reuse the bag? Unfortunately, once I opened them, I was disappointed. The leggings turned out to be tights. The outfit was so cheaply made, I couldn’t wear it in good conscience. The quality wasn’t just low. It was insulting.
I don’t share this to shame anyone shopping at Shein or Temu. Do you. Keep buying if that’s what works for you. I’m not trying to judge. I’m sharing this because we need to talk about what’s really happening with these tariffs and the global game behind them.
Trump’s not stupid when it comes to tariffs. In 2018, he hit China with a 30% tariff on solar panels. China responded by moving manufacturing to countries like Vietnam and Indonesia to dodge the tariffs. They’d build the panels in China, ship them to those countries, slap a new label on them, and send them here. All to avoid U.S. tariffs. Their low pricing was also influencing American businesses, which couldn’t compete with the speed and scale of Chinese manufacturing.
But when the U.S. caught on, it hit those countries with tariffs too. And what did China do? They packed up, shut down the plants, and left entire economies in shambles. People in Indonesia are still unemployed from those closures.
And while all of this is happening, American media outlets are fumbling the conversation. Take MSNBC, for example. The network recently made changes, and it shows. After canceling Joy Reid’s The ReidOut, MSNBC reshuffled its 7 p.m. hour. Joy’s replacements now include hosts like Alicia Menendez, Symone Sanders-Townsend, and Michael Steele as rotating voices on a new panel format. But these new hosts, right out the gate, embarrassed themselves. They took to the platform to argue against tariffs and even asked, “How do tariffs hurt economies?” The question alone was telling. It was as if Vietnam and Indonesia hadn’t already shown us what happens. These countries were hit with U.S. tariffs—46% on Vietnamese goods and 32% on Indonesian goods—after they allowed China to dump goods in their markets and relabel them for resale in America. The result was economic disruption in both regions. To ignore this is either a sign of ignorance or an unwillingness to connect the dots.
I know people are struggling. Rent is high, groceries cost more than ever, and sometimes a $5 shirt feels like a lifeline. But what feels like survival today may be setting us up for dependence tomorrow.
China is doing everything it can to maintain its grip on the U.S. consumer. Around 12% of China’s exports go to America. That may not sound like much, but for China, it’s a lifeline. Without American demand, China’s supply chain collapses. And TikTok is now their biggest weapon.
TikTok has turned into a global flea market. Anything and everything is for sale. Over here: games, furniture, cookware, bras. Over there: fake Louis Vuitton, knockoff Gucci, and Jordans without the swoosh. It’s their product, just without the name.
But let’s be honest. A pair of Nikes without the name is just sneakers. You can buy those anywhere. So what’s the point?
China is dumping low-quality goods into our economy because they know how we move. We are over-consumers. We buy, we hoard, we sell what we don’t use, and then we buy again. We send our secondhand clothes—many still with tags—to African nations just to make room for more. TikTok isn’t just an app. It is an open-air marketplace built to feed our appetite.
And what’s worse is that we’re helping them.
We talk a lot in this country about protecting intellectual property. We praise innovation and fight over who invented what. But then we turn around and buy knockoffs without shame. A copycat catsuit, a fake Birkin, or a bootleg movie might feel like a bargain. But it’s bad business. Not just for the original creators, but for our country.
And yet China has the audacity to use the American middle class to fund their empire.
We don’t see it. We see supposed savings. But they see strategy. They know that Americans, especially working-class ones, can’t resist a discount. So they bait us with $5 shirts and $20 speakers, all while continuing to steal, repackage, and resell the very culture we create.
And where are the American corporations in all this? Many of them are partnering with or profiting from these same supply chains, outsourcing ethics for the sake of quarterly profits.
China knows we are like hungry pigs. We eat, and eat, and eat, and then we throw up our own vomit and eat that too. No wonder the Bible says not to eat pork. This cycle is disgusting.
We are being used as pawns in Xi Jinping’s tariff game. While we swipe our cards and brag about deals, we’re funding a system that is using our own people against us.
And here’s where it really gets twisted.
When I hear Jasmine Crockett talking about picking cotton to condemn slavery, and she should, I can’t help but think of the Uyghurs in China who are forced to do that very thing today. Real slave labor. Cotton picked under surveillance, in camps, under threat. This is the same person defending Gaza but ignoring what’s happening in China. It’s either hypocritical or just plain stupid. Now it is okay for the Uyghurs to pick cotton, but it is clear, according to Crockett, blacks aren’t going to pick cotton anymore.
This is not speculation. The U.N. and multiple human rights groups have confirmed the use of Uyghur labor in Chinese cotton fields, under surveillance and threat.
Because here’s the truth. Chinese manufacturing is top-tier. It’s not a joke. It’s run by machines, AI, and a perfectly engineered class system. Their upper class runs the empire. Their middle class moves the warehouses. And their lower class, including the enslaved, fuels the production. It is communism dressed as capitalism. And we are the willing customers.
America was built on slavery. We know that. We have fought wars, both literal and cultural, to prove our humanity. We’ve battled racism, endured discrimination, and demanded to be seen. And while progress is still uneven, we are here. We are American.
And we are under attack.
Not with guns or tanks. We are under attack with algorithms and influencers. We are in a new kind of war. One that is not waged on battlefields but in digital carts. Not through invasions but through app notifications.
The American Revolution started over tea and taxes. People drew a line in the sand over sugar and stamps. And today, we are standing in a similar place. The weapon isn’t taxation this time. It is exploitation.
The first revolution began with a declaration. Maybe it’s time for another—one that defends not just our borders, but our minds, our markets, and our moral compass.
If we don’t wake up, we won’t have to worry about China invading America.
They will already own it.
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This article is my original work and may not be reproduced, copied, or distributed without my explicit permission. If you would like to reference or use any part of this content, please contact me at jmbeausby@aol.com for consent.
Do You Hear What I Hear? The Dog Whistle and the Fear It Feeds
Tariffs have dominated the national conversation this past week. According to some, what Trump has done is downright awful. Disrespectful, even. And it affects everyone, from the elderly to the young. His tariff policy sent the stock market into a spiral. It was one of the worst crashes in recent American history.
For many Americans, it wasn’t just a headline. It was a hard hit. 401(k) accounts took a deep and sudden loss, one of only four times in American history that retirement savings fell so sharply, so quickly. Grocery bills spiked. The cost of buying a car jumped overnight. The fallout was immediate and personal.
While a few cautious Democrats stayed quiet, others saw the crash as their signal to take to the streets in protest. It all felt like a quiet Soros tactic. A calculated manipulation of the market, using Trump’s long-telegraphed tariff threats to trigger financial chaos. Like a Van Gogh painting, a masterpiece of disruption. That’s how Soros once scored off the British pound. With a kind of artistic precision, he broke the Bank of England. So why wouldn’t it be possible again? That’s the mainstream narrative. But no one wants to talk about how many Democrats supported tariffs in the past. How many Democrats have argued China needs to be checked and are now mad Trump has done what Obama or Biden didn’t have the courage to do.
In Democrat fashion, the streets filled quickly. Marches, signs, chants in the name of trade, jobs, and the economy.
At the same time, progressives began doubling down on their small wins, disguising political theater as revolution.
Cory Booker took a victory lap for outlasting Strom Thurmond’s filibuster, a harkening back to the era of Jim Crow, when Black Americans were openly oppressed. The comparison is unclear, as Thurmond argued against legislation while Booker argued for nothing. Especially not for the ADOS community affected by the policies of those like Strom Thurmond.
Perhaps Booker sees this symbolic gesture as paving the way for his run for president. Every Democratic politician knows they need ADOS to win. He is clearly targeting the ADOS community, as most of his recent posts are aimed in our direction, invoking the names of Ida B. Wells and Fannie Lou Hamer. It is shameful and insulting, as if we haven’t seen this same playbook used before. Whenever Democrats want to galvanize the Black community, they start whispering tales of slavery, Jim Crow, and Black Wall Street while doing nothing for the ADOS community. During the portions of his speech I listened to, Booker never once mentioned legislation that would directly affect American Black citizens. Most of his remarks centered on every other marginalized and oppressed group except for ADOS.
On the same day Booker delivered his 25-hour spectacle, Democrats celebrated a Supreme Court win in the state of Wisconsin, a victory that promises them two more seats in the House. A Republican loss, they say. A power shift, shadowed by the looming threat of impeachment.
This convergence of events — the market crash, the protests, the political theatrics — created a climate ripe for misdirection. Then, right on cue, Trump lifted the curtain on his tariff expansion, and chaos erupted. Protests branded #HandsOff2025 were suddenly everywhere. Progressive speakers, already hand-selected, had their speeches prepared. Signs were printed. The T-shirts were ready. It all unfolded with eerie precision, as if it had been scripted long before the first headline hit.
Republicans began to scramble. They could not figure out how to respond to the crash or to the outrage flooding the streets. Talking points collided. Blame was tossed back and forth. And as fear crept in, both sides rushed to their media platforms to make the case for and against tariffs.
But through all the noise, some of us stood still. Many of us understand that tariffs come with serious economic trade-offs. We know what Trump is doing will create chaos in the market, but we also know the chaos may be necessary. The hope is that things will eventually balance out, that the economy will adjust, and the playing field will shift in our favor. So, we wait. We watch. We listen.
Yet, as the tables began to wobble, the rhetoric spiraled. The far left and far right retreated into their corners. Centrists in both parties tried to stay grounded, but the middle was eroding. The eruption spread, and with it, a familiar fear. And just as expected, one side barked first. The far right blew the dog whistle.
Republicans, and I mean white and Black Republicans, quietly introduced another story into the national bloodstream. A new story wrapped in an old, dangerous narrative: the violent Black man. The story of Karmelo Anthony, a Black boy, and the seventeen-year-old white boy he stabbed to death. When it started appearing in my algorithm, I ignored it. I looked at the Black boy and everything inside me said he’s not the type. I didn’t want to hear anything else, so I kept scrolling.
But then I heard voices from our own side. Black voices like the Cartier Family Podcast, young Black men, proud Trump supporters, disparaging Karmelo Anthony without hesitation or facts. Charleston White also took to social media, furious that Karmelo had a GoFundMe. Jason Whitlock took to his podcast condemning Anthony and disparaging the Black community. It was astonishing to see. It was as if they didn’t realize they were the ones holding the water hose now, turning it back on their own people. They condemned this young Black boy and, even worse, some went as far as to suggest he deserved the death penalty.
It’s not new. During the Wilmington coup, even some Black leaders condemned Alexander Manly, the editor of The Daily Record, the Black newspaper in Wilmington. It was the Black elite who quietly placed a letter in his mailbox, urging him never to return. Such a familiar refrain.
It’s the same tactic being amplified by white conservative voices—Michael Knowles, Matt Walsh, and others—who thrive on pushing the narrative that Black youth are inherently violent and that the only solution is more policing, more punishment, more division. These figures strategize. They exploit fear. They paint themselves as patriots while refusing to confront the very systems of inequality that drive the violence they claim to despise.
Matt Walsh took to his podcast and condemned Black boys as hardwired for violence, making broad generalizations without facts. He spoke as if he personally knew the young man, projecting fear into fiction. He never mentioned school shootings, Dylan Roof, or the suicide epidemic plaguing white boys.
Michael Knowles went even further. He claimed Karmelo Anthony was likely raised in poverty, lacked spiritual guidance, and had probably shown violent tendencies for years. He blamed the social systems and the community around Karmelo for turning a blind eye, speaking as if his assumptions were truths. This is dangerous—not only because it's rooted in bias, but because it ignores the larger context.
Meanwhile, no one is discussing the psychological trauma many white boys endure either. Suicide rates. School shootings. Dylan Roof. Ted Bundy. These stories fade while Black youth remain the symbolic threat.
“If the white men can stand negro supremacy we neither can nor will. Tho’ I do not believe for a moment that they will submit any longer. It is time for the oft quoted shotgun to play a part, and an active one, in the elections.”
This isn’t the first time we've seen Black power provoke fear. In 1898, in Wilmington, North Carolina, a local government made up of both Black and white leaders was violently overthrown by armed white supremacists. It is still the only successful coup d’état in American history. Black residents had begun to build wealth, hold office, and publish newspapers that openly challenged white supremacy. In response, white mobs burned Black-owned businesses, killed dozens of Black citizens, and forced elected officials to resign at gunpoint. The coup destroyed what was one of the most progressive and integrated communities in the South at the time.
During the Wilmington coup, even some Black leaders condemned Alexander Manly, the editor of The Daily Record, the Black newspaper in Wilmington. It was the Black elite who quietly placed a letter in his mailbox, urging him never to return. Such a familiar refrain.
The dog whistle.
According to Jeff Metcalf, father of Austin Metcalf, Karmelo Anthony stabbed his son to death for nothing more than asking him to move. The father claimed Karmelo was under a school tent and introduced himself. First, he claimed his son grabbed Anthony and told him to move. Then, he said no—he grabbed Anthony’s backpack, and that Karmelo, unprovoked, pulled out a knife from the very same bag and stabbed his “poor boy” in the heart. The story just doesn’t add up. Like Sandra Bland—had she complied, maybe she would be alive today. Anthony should have just moved. That’s the narrative. Austin’s father stood before the camera with a fake tear falling from his eye and asked, “What kind of parents does this boy have?”
Because buried in that question is a much deeper accusation: Look at what’s happening here. These Negroes are out of control. They don’t know their place. They think they can just take shelter under our tents, walk through our spaces, and not be questioned.
The message was clear back during Jim Crow and Civil Rights and is true now: Black advancement must be stopped by any means necessary, because blacks need to be controlled. This is exactly the kind of story that speaks directly to the fear of the rigid white Republican base, the base that believes it has just won an unspoken cultural war. Not simply because of Trump’s return to the White House, but because 20 percent of Black voters backed him. And now, with Trump promising a supposed reckoning for all communities, the American Black community is starting to band together. Republicans, particularly in the South, recognize that their core voting population is shrinking. When you combine ADOS and Black immigrants with liberal and independent voters, conservatives are outnumbered. And the ADOS voting bloc stands as one of the most powerful in the nation. This truth terrifies white conservatives—especially white southerners.
Now let’s flip the coin.
There can be a case made that Karmelo Anthony sought shelter from the rain under the tent of another school and he had been attacked. Particularly by the two Metcalf boys. They approached him and tried to make him move because he didn’t belong there. Karmelo acted in self-defense and stood up for himself—and that was the crime. We have a similar story in the Ahmaud Arbery case when a man went behind a house to get water and was tracked down like an animal, gunned down by two white men. He had been labeled the aggressor until the video appeared. Perhaps this encounter between Karmelo and Metcalf had nothing to do with race and yet here we have pundits playing this story about race. The race of the Black boy and his violent nature.
Now we all know someone has crossed a line, but when we hear all the facts it seems as if Austin Metcalf and his twin brothers were aggressors in this situation. But without any other facts and just opinion, we can’t make accusations. Instead, Walsh, Knowles, and even Black boys like the Cartier brothers tell the story from their own perspective.
The crime becomes a symbol. The Black boy isn’t a teenager anymore—he’s a threat. An invader. Much worse, an invader with a knife. And the white boy becomes a martyr for a nation desperate to protect its fantasy of control. It’s the same narrative that has long painted Black men as rapists or murderers.
That’s the real message. And far white Republicans hear it loud and clear. Black Republicans only see distorted facts and, without knowledge and filled with self-hate, they sell the same fake narrative. Even as they defend the white boy, they don’t recognize they could also be in the same situation—seeking refuge from the storm, getting a drink of water, or smoking a cigarette in their own vehicle.
The only way to win is to galvanize their base and to do this they have to sound the alarm. Not with facts. Not with unity. But with fear. And that fear is delivered through a familiar tactic: a dog whistle disguised as outrage. A narrative slithered across headlines and echoed in comment sections. One that says, “Look at them. They’re out of control. They are angry, violent and vicious—inherently.”
In The Red Record by Ida B. Wells, she shares plenty of stories about the ways Black men were attacked and lynched without a shred of evidence—accused of supposedly assaulting some innocent white person. The only real difference between the 1860s and today is that Black folks are beginning to fight back. We saw that during the Montgomery brawl, after a white mob attacked a group of Black people. Yet none of these things has stopped whites from attacking Blacks and being justified for killing them.
This week, I had so many other stories to write about: Cory Booker and his performance that is supposed to be historic, and of course, Kanye West in his Klan outfit made of black leather. But I had to stop to address this story—a story I didn’t have the wherewithal to click on when it originally appeared in my algorithm but was forced to confront because so many voices were attacking all Black boys. More importantly, Democrats have still been silent—as if they quietly might agree. It is clear Republicans want this one crime to serve as an example, a justification for punishing all Black boys. This is no different than the case of the Central Park Five—falsely accused of raping a white woman.
This story is bigger than one story. It’s about the battle for our sons.
We are failing both Black and white boys in this country, but in different ways. Black boys are disproportionately affected by gun violence and homicide. In 2020, they had a firearm homicide rate more than ten times higher than their white peers. But curiously, it is Black-on-Black crime. At the same time, white boys are more likely to die by suicide and to carry out school shootings. In that same year, white youth had the highest firearm suicide rates, and white males make up the overwhelming majority of school shooters. White males attack more innocent individuals—than those who attack them.
These realities paint a bleak but honest picture. Black boys are being killed by others. White boys are dying by their own hands—or committing violence against others in planned, high-profile attacks. Both are symptoms of a larger national illness. One of neglect, cultural isolation, and an unwillingness to address the pain brewing in our communities. If we don’t face this truth head-on, we will continue to fail an entire generation of boys—and by extension, the girls and communities connected to them.
We are at a tipping point. ADOS, Black immigrants, white, Hispanic and Asian, centrists, leftists, conservatives—we all must make a choice. Not between parties, but between power and illusion. Between repeating cycles or cultivating a new American narrative. It is time for us as a country to rewrite history. This can only begin by changing the narrative and asking bigger questions.
Why would a white boy force a Black boy to get from beneath a tent that belonged to the school?
That is up to a jury to answer.
Every dog whistle carries the same message: fall in line or be punished. But the beauty of this moment is—we’re no longer deaf to it.
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P.S. I am so happy that Karmelo Anthony’s family has remained silence. While Jeff MetCalf is using his son’s death to make the rounds to the media. Everyday with a story that shifts and shape shifts into a new lie. However, we have now learned that Karmelo Anthony is an honor roll student, the captain of his football team, he saved a life at fourteen, he has never been in trouble with the law. He comes from a respectful household with a mother and father and knows right from wrong. As the right-leaning media disparages this young man’s character out of fear, one thing is clear social media seems to have gotten their facts wrong. Podcasters like Knowls and Walsh have become as vicious, vile and biased as CNN. they have argued a point based on inaccurate data. We also learned that Austin Metcalf and his twin brothers were bullies. We have heard nothing more from the pundits…
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📢 Copyright Notice:
This article is my original work and may not be reproduced, copied, or distributed without my explicit permission. If you would like to reference or use any part of this content, please contact me at jmbeausby@aol.com for consent.
Stirring Beneath the Stage Lights
These last few weeks have truly been chaotic for Americans, from the tariffs to the crashing of the stock market. Not that I have a great deal invested. I must admit, my investments are very moderate and reserved in my 401(k) account. But I did experience a loss — nothing, at least for me, to cry about. I understand that the market can sometimes be volatile, and that does impact my investments. Still, I don’t need to run and close out my account just because Trump decided to make good on his promise of tariffs.
What amazed me last week were the fear tactics the Democrats and left-leaning media used to dramatize the tariff situation. They acted as if America was actually losing in a world where we consistently win by the grace of God — as if China won’t pay when it’s checked by its biggest importer of cheap goods, and as if Trump could truly isolate the largest economy in the world. I happen to believe it is God who raises world nations, not one man. I also think it’s better to lose all monetary and worldly belongings than to lose my soul. But the Democrats were acting as if we were all going straight to hell because Trump instituted tariffs.
Meanwhile, the Senate turned into a one-man stage play starring Cory Booker, who spoke for more than 25 hours. His speech was only interrupted by fellow senators who felt more like a cast of characters than serious legislators, dropping in to ask questions disguised as long soliloquies. Democratic senators — from Rankin to Klobuchar to Schumer — chimed in with questions meant to reinforce every campaign promise they claim Trump has failed to deliver. They leaned on their usual script, invoking a watered-down version of the civil rights movement, but left out one glaring truth. They forgot ADOS. Again.
Over the last several days, Cory Booker has been flooding the airwaves with campaign ads, invoking the spirit of the Civil Rights era. He name-drops Fannie Lou Hamer, Ida B. Wells, MLK, and Malcolm X — individuals who dedicated their lives to the fight for justice for Black Americans. But let’s be clear: he is not invoking their names to continue the ADOS fight. He is using them to bolster his own fight for the White House. During his 25-hour performance, he argued for immigrant rights, spoke about LGBTQ rights and climate change — but he left out prison reform, education, and reparations. The very issues that matter most to our communities.
It is a performance. A carefully crafted image meant to stir emotion and secure votes, but not to deliver substance. We have to say no to these recycled images of so-called Black leaders like Cory Booker, who only remember our communities when it suits them — when it is politically convenient. The rest of the time, they are silent, tucked away in Senate offices, collecting checks and cozying up to progressives who would not know an ADOS issue if it walked up and introduced itself.
Booker wants to be seen as a torchbearer for our community, but he never carries the flame when it is inconvenient or controversial. That is not leadership. That is opportunism.
But there is hope. Far away from the Senate floor. If you look at what just happened in Louisiana, you see it. You see the spark of something real, something grassroots, something deeply rooted in the ADOS experience.
In the recent off-year election, Black voters in Louisiana showed up. Organizers went out knocking on doors and partnered with community leaders to get people to the polls. They rejected the governor’s extreme policies, including an effort to prosecute juveniles as adults, something that disproportionately harms our children. They said no to building bigger prisons, no to harsher taxation, and no to criminalizing Black youth. Despite the odds, and despite decades of voter fatigue, they came out. And not because they trusted Democrats, but because they cared.
They were tired. Tired of the same cycle of neglect. Tired of being the bait and the catch. The Democrats have not taught us how to fish. They have made us the fish. They reel us in every election season with promises they have no intention of keeping.
According to the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, only 36 percent of registered voters participated in the 2023 gubernatorial primary election. But among Black voters, turnout in certain parishes jumped by as much as 12 percent in response to criminal justice reform and education-related ballot measures. That is not apathy. That is strategy. That is community power being reclaimed by a spark.
It is proof that when we galvanize around issues that matter, when we organize from the ground up, we can make a difference. That is what happened in Louisiana. Not because of a party. Not because of a personality. But because of purpose.
There are other reasons to be optimistic. Black voters who had aligned with Kamala Harris are beginning to wake up. Slowly, but it’s happening surely. Even voices like Roland Martin are starting to shift. He hasn’t gone far enough to the center, but he’s beginning to admit the truth about the flaws in Harris’s run for the White House. We all need to wake up, open our eyes, and see the negative impact Democratic policies have had on our communities.
It is clear, we need leaders who will fight for ADOS. Not perform. Not pander. Not pacify. The kind of movement, rooted in economic justice, political independence, and cultural clarity, will take time.
Having seen the spark in Louisiana. Now we need the fire — a fire that burns bright through the midterms and blazes into 2028.
We need a sustained fire. A fire that fuels grassroots movements, empowers local leaders, and demands policies that invest in our communities.
Cory Booker is running about with such pride in having done absolutely nothing but solidified his own stamina. His 25-hour filibuster didn’t change hearts and minds. Didn’t open any eyes or enlighten or illuminate. His filibuster didn’t change policy or inspire new legislation. We watched 25 hours of the Harris campaign on steroids and made no difference.
If ADOS is going to win this election, then it’s going to come down to which party — Democrat or Republican — can raise up an ADOS candidate that supports our issues at the grassroots level.
Without that type of candidate, it’s clear nothing will change in a world where everything must change.
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This article is my original work and may not be reproduced, copied, or distributed without my explicit permission. If you would like to reference or use any part of this content, please contact me at jmbeausby@aol.com for consent.
Beyond the Brand – Why We Need an ADOS President Now
The future is waiting. But who will answer the call? DahTruth is, we’re not waiting for permission anymore.
The older I get, the more I realize how deeply politics have shaped not just my life, but the lives of my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and those who came before them. In America, every generation of Black people has been impacted by decisions made by two political parties that have always had something to say about our worth, our labor, our economic conditions, and our place in this country. From slavery to Jim Crow, from the Civil Rights era to the so-called War on Drugs, American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS) have been exploited in the name of progress, manipulated through policy, and offered salvation through the illusion of voting.
Voting, once seen as a hard-won right and a tool of liberation, has increasingly become a mechanism of control. The Democratic Party, in particular, has given out just enough to maintain power while delivering financial windfalls to corporations and special interests. This reality has become painfully obvious to my generation. And like the Whig Party of the 1850s, the Democratic Party is now showing signs of collapse.
The cracks began to show in 2008 with the election of Barack Obama. Many Black Americans believed he would finally deliver policies tailored to the ADOS community. Instead, his presidency prioritized military strikes, Wall Street bailouts, auto industry rescues, and broad healthcare reform. The poorest among us were handed free cell phones with limited minutes, while companies like Safelink and T-Mobile raked in more than $2.2 billion by 2012. Once the free minutes ran out, poor Black families were forced to buy $10 and $20 refill cards just to stay connected. The program became a trap in plain sight—offering a symbol of help while turning economic hardship into profit for telecom giants.
This model extended beyond phones. It applies to housing, prison systems, Section 8 contracts, and other assistance programs where corporations profit while the poor struggle. During the crack epidemic, the language around Black communities became synonymous with criminality. Terms like "crackhead," "crack baby," and "crack house" defined the narrative, while the real profiteers in suits drove luxury cars into gated communities. The same people who created policies that criminalized our pain benefited from the aftermath.
For generations, ADOS people have been used, discarded, and recycled by the Democratic Party. Obama was the last straw for many. Joe Biden won his election because many Black voters feared Donald Trump more than they trusted Biden’s agenda. That vote was made in resignation, not enthusiasm. Many people within our community have started to see that the party we once believed stood with us has, in fact, held us in place.
Black Americans now find themselves both visible and invisible in the political landscape. We are expected to show up but not speak up. We are told we are essential, yet rarely prioritized. The call to dismantle the two-party system grows louder. And this moment mirrors a familiar turning point in history. In the 1850s, the Whig Party split over the question of slavery, an issue so morally urgent and long-ignored that the party imploded. Some leaders sought to resolve it through compromises like the Fugitive Slave Act and the Compromise of 1850, believing they could silence the issue with political deals. But a country built on bondage could not run from its reckoning forever. The Free Soil Party rose from the ashes and eventually formed the core of the new Republican Party. That collapse came when the people recognized that compromise was not enough.
Like the Whigs, the Democratic Party is beginning to fracture. While the media keeps its focus on the war in Gaza, the real fault line runs through the issue of reparations. This is the defining political divide of our time. On one side are far-left progressives and Green Party advocates who claim to support reparations for ADOS. On the other side are centrist Democrats, including many Black immigrants and long-time party loyalists, who either reject reparations outright or refuse to engage with it.
Reparations must go beyond slogans and become policy. It can begin with housing. Instead of continuing to give government funds to landlords who profit from Section 8, allow ADOS women receiving vouchers the opportunity to purchase their own homes. Rather than funnel federal resources to nonprofits and so-called venture philanthropists who decide who is “worthy” of funding, give those funds directly to ADOS entrepreneurs to build their own businesses. Stop using tax dollars to build more prisons and instead invest in schools placed in communities where Black families are purchasing homes. Create neighborhoods with small businesses and schools—not to enforce forced integration, but to create natural overlap between segregated communities in ways that reflect equity and ownership, not shame or exclusion. Reparations must repair. And repair starts with power.
This divide reveals more than policy differences. It exposes the failure of both mainstream and fringe factions to seriously address the legacy of slavery and the economic justice owed to the descendants of those enslaved. For years, I’ve said the same thing: the only real solution is an ADOS President. No more symbolic victories. No more surface-level representation. This must be a leader who comes from the lineage, who understands the cost, and who refuses to trade justice for party politics.
And as a Black woman, I want to be clear. I believe the only hope for America lies in the leadership of a strong Black woman. We have always been the voice of reason and the foundation of our communities. We carry generations of resilience, wisdom, and clarity. But I also understand that throughout American history, every generation has benefited from the upliftment of strong Black men. When they lead with integrity, Black women follow—not in silence or submission, but in power and solidarity. The illusion of Black leadership in this country has done enough damage. A Black face in a high place does not guarantee liberation. Now is the time to uplift the right Black man, even if real Black leadership still feels like a myth in America.
This past weekend, two podcasts offered competing visions for what future leadership could look like. Both Native Land and Sabby Sabs shed light on these tensions but arrived at very different conclusions about who should lead and what issues matter most. Reparations, though barely mentioned, remains the single most important issue dividing Black voters—and the clearest marker of whether any political movement is truly serious about justice.
Native Land Podcast featured a panel hosted by Angela Rye, Tiffany Cross, and Andrew Gillum, with guests Terrance Woodbury (a Democratic pollster) and Gary Chambers (a civil rights advocate and perennial candidate). Their conversation centered on the status of Black voters following Kamala Harris’s failed presidential bid. While there were moments of clarity, the discussion ultimately avoided addressing the shifting political tide among Black voters who are increasingly turning away from the Democratic Party.
Instead of focusing on that shift, the panel propped up political figures like John Ossoff and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. They chose to spotlight these candidates over established Black leaders in Congress such as Hakeem Jeffries, Cory Booker, Hank Johnson, and Stacey Plaskett. That decision reflected a continued reliance on symbolism rather than substance.
John Ossoff has at least signed legislation into law, including reforms that impact the Black community. But he lacks the experience and longevity to present a strong presidential case. Still, Native Land presents him as a viable option because, as they put it, “he looks the part.” Meanwhile, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has the following. She’s built a brand for herself as a progressive firebrand but has delivered very little in terms of actual policy. She has introduced bills on issues like water affordability and minimum wage increases, but none have passed. Her widely promoted Green New Deal gained attention, but never gained traction.
Her most notable failures include:
The Green New Deal, which failed to pass despite national attention.
The loss of job opportunities in her own district after she opposed Amazon’s arrival, which would have created thousands of working-class jobs.
A lack of understanding of government processes, demonstrated by her public misstatements about the role of judges and courts in blocking legislation.
Her stance on reparations remains her most disappointing position. AOC does not support reparations for ADOS but fully backs continued government support for illegal immigrants. Despite this, she is being positioned by the Democratic Party as a rising leader. This approach represents a familiar pattern, merely dressed in new language.
Meanwhile, Sabby Sabs presented another version of failed politics. On her podcast, she hosted Zeynab Dey (former press aide to AOC), Jason Call (former Jill Stein campaign manager and a self-proclaimed Marxist), Jason Chukwuma (political podcaster), and Ron Placone (a comedian). These are Green Party-aligned progressives who once backed Jill Stein and now support Bruce Ware, her former VP running mate. Many in the group voted Green and continue to encourage others to abandon the two-party system. Still, they support Democratic policies with one exception: they oppose pro-Israel stances and American funding of the war in Gaza.
The panel focused on AOC and Bernie Sanders’ “oligarchy” campaign, claiming it aimed to unify working-class Democratic voters. They ultimately concluded that AOC is unfit for a presidential run, not due to her lack of experience or policy failures, but because of her position on Israel. One panelist labeled her a sellout.
The problem with this approach is that it trades one form of political delusion for another. The panel rejected AOC for being too centrist while clinging to progressive ideologies that have consistently failed to deliver results for Black communities. Their conversation prioritized ideological consistency over actual policy outcomes.
To deepen this narrative, The New York Times published a piece suggesting that AOC may be positioning herself for a 2028 presidential run. This is the same pattern that led to the Democratic Party's loss in 2024. Without a course correction, the same outcome is likely to repeat. AOC may excite certain segments of the base, but she lacks the coalition-building skills, legislative accomplishments, and executive experience necessary to lead a nation. Her rise is not a victory for marginalized communities. It is a symptom of a party more concerned with visibility than viability.
Black Americans can no longer afford to support candidates based on image alone. No ADOS Black man has ever become president. Black women face even more systemic barriers. The lack of representation is not due to a lack of talent but rather a political system that continues to push our needs to the margins.
This is a moment to demand an ADOS candidate for president. Not a Black immigrant. Not a white liberal. Not someone who lacks constitutional knowledge or a track record of legislative success. Not someone who has never run a business or served a working-class community with integrity and tangible results.
Listening to both Native Land and Sabby Sabs felt like watching two disconnected factions of the same broken party. One is trapped in loyalty without accountability. The other is buried in ideology without strategy. Neither addresses the real needs of Black Americans.
It is time for an American Descendant of Slavery to run for president. Not later. Now.
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📢 Copyright Notice:
This article is my original work and may not be reproduced, copied, or distributed without my explicit permission. If you would like to reference or use any part of this content, please contact me at jmbeausby@aol.com for consent.
When Representation Replaces Revolution
“If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”
“The revolution didn’t die—it was bought, branded, and booked for speaking engagements.”
I vividly remember turning on the television in 1991 and witnessing the brutal beating of Rodney King by the police. I was a grown woman with a son, and in that moment, I fully understood that boys with Black skin were in danger. It wasn’t just about police brutality. It was a declaration about who we were in this country. The protests, the outrage, the rebellion that followed all revealed something about power, justice, and how deeply rigged this system is against us. That moment shaped my understanding of America.
We had always heard about the violence inflicted by white Americans. From an early age, we were taught that an entire nation had classified us as animals, justifying their wickedness through law and tradition. We knew the stories—public lynchings dressed up as “picnics,” the branding of Black men as rapists, and Black women as Jezebels. To Kill a Mockingbird wasn’t fiction. It was an ongoing reality. From Emmett Till to Rodney King, the trauma was real, personal, and persistent.
We also knew the stories of resistance. We grew up on the legacy of Fred Hampton, Medgar Evers, Kwame Ture, and the Black Panther Party. They weren’t just heroes. They were blueprints. They taught us how to fight for liberation, how to organize, how to challenge injustice.
But the fire that once fueled revolution has faded into curated commentary and career-building.
The Rise of a Black Elite Without a Revolutionary Spirit
Instead of revolutionaries, we now have a class of Black professionals who speak the language of struggle while sidestepping the responsibility to fight. These are the Harvard grads, HBCU valedictorians, and rising media stars who understand the performance of activism but lack the courage or conviction to challenge power. Their role is often more about access and respectability than about change.
These modern “leaders” appear everywhere—at think tanks, on panels, and across cable news—but rarely in communities building coalitions or pushing policy that centers ADOS lives. For many, the struggle has become a talking point, not a mission.
A recent example of this transformation was on full display at Xavier University, where Joy Reid and Ta-Nehisi Coates shared the stage to discuss Coates’ latest book, The Message. Marketed as a conversation about Black culture and political direction, the event instead focused heavily on the crisis in Palestine. The needs of Black Americans were an afterthought, if they were mentioned at all.
Coates, once hailed for his powerful case for reparations and his willingness to speak hard truths, now seems more invested in being a global commentator. His priorities have shifted, and in doing so, he has distanced himself from the very struggle that gave his voice power.
Joy Reid: Platformed but Disconnected
Joy Reid’s disconnect has been even more visible. A well-known media figure, Reid has used her platform not to uplift the reparations movement, but to diminish it. She once suggested that many of the activists pushing for reparations—especially those associated with ADOS and FBA—were “Russian bots,” a dismissive and irresponsible remark that ignored the real and growing demand for economic justice.
Her background is layered. Reid is the daughter of immigrants from the Congo and Ghana. Her family lived in South Africa before coming to the United States. Despite this, her mother claimed that the racism she experienced in America was worse than apartheid—an assertion that reveals both a limited lens and a stark contrast with the lived reality of ADOS people whose ancestors endured centuries of American slavery and segregation.
Reid has at times acknowledged the cultural contributions of Black Americans, recognizing that ADOS communities have shaped Black identity globally. Yet she continues to remain silent on reparations and reluctant to advocate for policies that would address the unique harms ADOS descendants continue to face.
Her alignment with Coates during the Xavier event was not about liberation. It was about safeguarding elite status and staying within the boundaries of institutional comfort.
Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman: Selling Out Through Zeteo
Another example of symbolic leadership without substance comes from Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman, former members of the Squad who recently joined Mehdi Hasan’s new platform, Zeteo. Promoted as a space for Black thought and political dialogue, their first appearance instead centered on the Palestinian cause and their criticisms of AIPAC. Once again, Black leaders took the stage to speak about everything but the urgent needs of Black Americans.
What became clear was that Hasan, the host, was using Bush and Bowman to provide a veneer of Black legitimacy to a platform focused on international struggles. Meanwhile, issues like housing insecurity, wealth inequality, educational disparities, and reparations were entirely missing from the conversation.
This absence is especially troubling when you consider the baggage both figures bring to the table. Bowman lost his seat after drawing widespread criticism for pulling a fire alarm during a contentious House vote. Bush is reportedly under federal investigation involving her husband's role in alleged misuse of PPP funds and questionable payments for private security.
Instead of owning their records and reflecting on the shortcomings of their time in Congress, they have reemerged as talking heads—trading policy for performative solidarity. Their pivot to the Palestinian cause appears less like moral clarity and more like opportunism. They have failed to deliver for their communities, and now they hope to reinvent themselves through someone else’s struggle.
But voters remember. And the reason they lost their seats has everything to do with their failure to prioritize the people they were elected to serve.
Jasmine Crockett: A Starlet Without Substance
And speaking of the House of Representatives, we can’t forget Jasmine Crockett—the rising star many now hail as the future of the Democratic Party.
There’s no denying her beauty, charm, and presence. But based on her fiery rhetoric and online persona, I assumed she was a younger woman. I was surprised to learn she is in her early forties, unmarried, with no children, and from a well-off background. Crockett attended private schools, earned a law degree, and has served in prestigious legal roles. She did not come from the depths of the struggle she often emulates.
That does not mean she cannot advocate for the Black community. Many of us, regardless of class, carry the legacy of our people. But advocacy must be rooted in substance, not style.
Crockett often performs passion through soundbites, profanity, and made-for-viral quips. Yet when she sat down for a recent interview wearing a beautiful yellow suit, she said something that pulled back the curtain. She admitted that she has never passed any legislation and does not plan to propose any in this term. Her explanation was simple: with Trump possibly returning, it would be a waste of time.
That’s not strategy. That’s surrender.
It is disheartening to watch elected officials admit they plan to do nothing, while simultaneously occupying seats of power and praising DEI. Crockett herself has become an example of DEI gone performative—a Black woman elevated into political office, not for legislative merit, but for image and identity.
Some are already floating her name as a future presidential candidate. But what has she done to earn such a distinction? No bills, no wins, no record to run on. Her only qualification, it seems, is the color of her skin.
We must hold ourselves to a higher standard than that.
The Death of Revolutionary Thinking
We are living in a time when the loudest voices for Black America are more focused on Palestine, Elon Musk, and partisan theatrics than they are on the real issues affecting Black lives. They talk often but act rarely. They posture but do not push.
The legacy of Fred Hampton, who once said, “You can jail a revolutionary, but you can’t jail the revolution,” is fading. Today, the revolution hasn’t just been jailed—it has been replaced by branding deals, cable contracts, and curated activism.
If we are serious about building a new future, we must stop looking to media figures, social media influencers, and establishment politicians to save us. The revolution will not be televised, and it certainly won’t be hosted by MSNBC, The Atlantic, or Mehdi Hasan.
It will begin when we stop outsourcing our liberation and start demanding real accountability, bold legislation, and unapologetic advocacy for ADOS people. That means organizing at the grassroots level, supporting candidates who have the courage to act, and refusing to elevate those who merely look the part but refuse to do the work.
Because if they won’t fight for us, then we must fight for ourselves.
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📢 Copyright Notice:
This article is my original work and may not be reproduced, copied, or distributed without my explicit permission. If you would like to reference or use any part of this content, please contact me at jmbeausby@aol.com for consent.
The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Scramble for Democratic Leadership
My mother used to say all the time, “A hit dog will holler,” and I must say, she ain’t never lied. Watching Democrats and left-leaning progressives scramble these last few weeks has been mind-boggling. It reminds me of It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, that classic film where a bunch of misfits frantically search for a treasure buried beneath a giant “W.” The Democratic Party looks exactly the same, chaotic, lost, and desperately searching for a leader to save them.
Let’s start with the younger Democrats, the ones who were supposed to be the future of the party. Jasmine Crockett, Summer Lee, Ayanna Pressley, and of course, AOC were expected to bring fresh ideas and real change. With the exception of Summer Lee, who at least has a bill that became law, the rest are the epitome of performative politics. They posture, they tweet, and they make speeches, but they rarely move legislation forward in ways that materially impact the Black community. If they were serious about change, they would be focused on real policy work instead of just talking about it.
Meanwhile, Congress itself has become nothing more than a stage for grandstanding. The Squad and other left-leaning members show up in their blue suits, ready to put on a performance. There is no negotiation, no strategy, and no compromise, just more political theater. While they are busy chasing social media applause, older Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries sit back and watch, allowing the spectacle to continue. At this point, the Democratic Party is less about governance and more about who can go viral first.
Where’s the Policy?
Let’s be real. When was the last time Congress seriously tackled inflation, gun violence, prison reform, Social Security, veteran care, homelessness, or drug addiction? These issues have become nothing more than talking points, debated in hearings, thrown into campaign speeches, and then promptly forgotten when it is time to take action. Instead of addressing real concerns, the same politicians who have failed to deliver on these core issues are now gearing up to rally behind Kamala Harris or Governor JB Pritzker for president, as if either of them has the vision to fix the mess Democrats are in.
The Democratic Party is not just divided. It is fractured beyond repair. On one side, you have progressives like Sabby Sabs, Marc Lamont Hill, and Brianna Joy Gray, who are obsessed with climate change, Gaza, and Medicare for All. They are still convinced Bernie Sanders was robbed in 2020 and refuse to move on. While I align with them on reparations, their broader policy agenda is wildly unrealistic. They push for free healthcare, free housing, and free food, yet offer no real, sustainable plan to fund it without overburdening taxpayers.
On the other side, you have the Kamala Harris loyalists. Angela Rye, Tiffany Cross, and Andrew Gillum still cannot admit she was never the right candidate to begin with. Instead of facing reality, they are stuck in 2020, bitter about how things turned out and blaming everyone but the voters who rejected her.
Then you have the entertainers-turned-political-commentators like Charlamagne Tha God, who spent years cheerleading for the Democratic Party but now want to act like they have been skeptics all along. Suddenly, they want to distance themselves from the party’s failures and pretend they saw the red flags when, in reality, they helped plant them.
The Bigger Issue No One Wants to Talk About
Beyond all the noise, there is an even bigger problem that no one in the party is addressing. The Democratic Party lacks Black leadership in any meaningful position of power. Where is the Black leader who can actually win an election and command respect on a national scale? Sure, Black women in the House make noise, but where are the Black senators stepping up? Even within the House, the loudest voices are not translating their influence into real leadership.
At the end of the day, the Democratic Party is making the same mistakes they always make. They continue to ignore the real concerns of everyday Americans while pushing empty symbolism and performative activism. Nothing is going to change in politics, corporate America, the military, or healthcare if the same people keep running the same playbook.
They do not need another viral moment. They do not need another social media star. They need leaders who actually lead. Until that happens, they will keep running in circles. When 2028 rolls around, they will have no one to blame but themselves.
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This article is my original work and may not be reproduced, copied, or distributed without my explicit permission. If you would like to reference or use any part of this content, please contact me at jmbeausby@aol.com for consent.
Imitation of Leadership and the Black Leaders Who Abandon Their Own
"I wanted to be white because I thought it was easier." – Sarah Jane
I remember the first time I saw the movie Imitation of Life as a young girl. I couldn’t understand why the mother wouldn’t leave her daughter alone, why she couldn’t just let her be. But as I got older, as I became a mother myself, I understood. The mother, Annie Johnson, couldn’t let go, even as her daughter rejected her—choosing to pass as white in a world that was cruel, violent, and racist, offering the young girl no reward for attempting to disown her Blackness. When the mother finally agreed to step aside, it broke her heart, and she died. But in the end, the daughter, Sarah Jane, came running back, crying out, Mama! Mama!—finally admitting the truth of who she was—a Black woman in a world ruled by whites.
That movie always brings tears to my eyes—not just because the mother died, but because even on her deathbed, her faith in Jesus remained unshaken. The real tragedy was the daughter’s realization—it came too late. She had lost her most important ally on this side of Jordan. It was a moment of reckoning and self-awareness at the same time. Although the ending seemed tragic, there was hope—the young girl had finally accepted who she was. That moment of revelation is something too many people never reach.
That readiness to see the truth is almost nonexistent in today’s culture. Everything seems performative, fake. People are imitating rather than living authentically. Our so-called leaders, whether in politics, corporate America, or even the church, have become imitations of what is deemed politically correct. They align with the illusion of meritocracy rather than the real interests of the Black community. They claim to be fighting for us, but their words are empty. Their actions betray them.
We live in a time when you no longer need light skin to pass. Today, politicians, preachers, and corporate executives with Black faces are passing in a different way—imitating, pretending to be something they are not while actively working against their own community. They adopt the language of activism, wear the mask of representation, but at the first opportunity, they align themselves with those who exploit, displace, and undermine Black people. Like Sarah Jane in Imitation of Life, they are running toward a world that will never fully accept them while turning their backs on the very people they claim to serve.
I don’t propose to be an expert or a philosophical thinker like Daniel Markovits, but his critique of the myth of meritocracy echoes what I’ve witnessed firsthand. The system isn’t about rewarding the most qualified. This system, built on wealth, is maintained through systemic training designed to preserve power.
As Markovits put it:
““Meritocracy blocks Black Americans from opportunity, pretending that fair competition exists while quietly preserving privilege for those who already have it.” – Daniel Markovits (The Meritocracy Trap).”
This is exactly what we see today. The same voices who claim to uplift Black people are the ones quietly ensuring that we remain at the bottom—living in Section 8 apartments or prison wards. Black leaders who claim to fight for change have become gatekeepers for a system that was never designed to benefit us.
The Sanctuary City Hearing on Capitol Hill
The sanctuary city debate recently reached Capitol Hill, where four Democratic mayors—Eric Adams of New York, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, Michelle Wu of Boston, and Mike Johnston of Denver—were called to testify about how their cities are handling the migrant crisis. These mayors, despite previously championing sanctuary city policies, were forced to admit what many have been saying for years: the influx of illegal immigration is not sustainable, even in cities that once prided themselves on welcoming migrants.
More importantly, with the exception of Mayor Adams, they refused to acknowledge how these policies have devastated Black communities that have long struggled for resources. Instead of addressing the impact, they danced around the issue, avoiding the reality that these policies have hurt the very people they were elected to serve.
The Political Distraction Game
Of all the mayors, perhaps the worst is Brandon Johnson, and it’s no wonder he has a 6% approval rating and is knowingly on his way out of office. What makes Brandon Johnson particularly egregious is his unwavering support for immigrants in his city while showing complete disregard for the Black community that is being displaced.
Not only has he allowed illegal migrants to drain city resources at the expense of Black residents, but he has also allowed them to attend city meetings and openly disparage the Black community—as if they have the right to do so. There are reports of immigrants telling Black residents that they are taking their property and calling them lazy. This perception, of course, is often ignored, but it is far from the truth. Black people have never been lazy. Despite generations of systemic barriers, Black communities have built, contributed to, and sustained these cities long before Johnson took office. Yet, instead of standing up for the people who elected him, Brandon Johnson enables those who have illegally migrated to this country to disrespect and replace the very community he was supposed to protect—with absolutely no apology and no excuse.
He is the epitome of a turncoat, having betrayed the very community that put him in office.
The Imitation of Activism
Now to address Black congressmembers, starting with Summer Lee. Summer Lee is a Democrat who supports policies that work against the Black community and against Israel. She champions abortion rights, prioritizes migrants over American citizens, and aligns herself with far-left ideologies. To say she is not a Soros plant would be a lie. Her loyalty lies with party allegiance, not with the Black community she claims to represent.
During the hearing, Summer Lee argued in favor of sanctuary cities, framing her questions to make it clear that she believes they are necessary—without ever addressing the harm they cause.
Then there’s Ayanna Pressley. Some may have assumed she would have addressed the ways immigration has affected Black communities in her home city of Boston. But she did not.
Instead, she made it clear that rape is committed by more Americans than illegal or undocumented immigrants. The argument is absurd because most crimes are committed by familiarity. At the same time, she ignores the crimes that are committed by people who don’t belong in this nation—crimes committed against U.S. citizens.
Pressley argued to have articles entered into the record that do not address the real issues sanctuary cities create for American citizens. Like many others, she avoids uncomfortable conversations but uses rape as a distraction. She chooses instead to stay in alignment with a party that no longer prioritizes the very people it claims to represent.
Finding the Diamonds in the Rough
In the end, Imitation of Life isn’t just about a movie. It’s about how the world operates. We are all, in some way, both the mother and the daughter. We reject and embrace parts of ourselves over time, learning from experience, growing through struggle. But what we cannot afford to do is imitate leadership that does not serve us.
We need to be intentional about who represents us in politics, in corporate spaces, and in faith communities. We need to stop settling for the most palatable, politically correct versions of leadership and start seeking out the diamonds in the rough—the ones who may not fit the mold but have the real strength to fight for change.
Because if we don’t, we will lose everything. And like the daughter in Imitation of Life, we may realize the truth only when it’s too late.
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📢 Copyright Notice:
This article is my original work and may not be reproduced, copied, or distributed without my explicit permission. If you would like to reference or use any part of this content, please contact me at jmbeausby@aol.com for consent.
Joy Reid, DEI, and the Illusion of Inclusion: How Black Voices Are Sidelined
“When I liberate myself, I liberate others. If you don’t speak out ain’t nobody going to speak out for you.”
Since 2020 and the death of George Floyd, America has undergone significant changes, particularly in how corporations and media approach diversity. Many organizations restructured to make room for DEI hires, and corporate boards suddenly saw an influx of women of color. I remember interviewing with a former Black leader at Deloitte who also served on a nonprofit board. She remarked, “It’s time for Black nonprofits to seize the moment.” At the time, it felt like a shift was happening—one that would finally create space for Black professionals and leaders.
In media, the trend was just as evident. CNN spotlighted figures like Don Lemon and Laura Coates, while MSNBC, in keeping with DEI incentives, elevated Joy Reid. Corporate America and media seemed to be moving in sync, pushing a new wave of Black representation. But over time, it became clear that much of this representation did not truly reflect the interests of Black Americans—specifically, those of us who are American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS).
DEI quickly transitioned from a promising initiative—diversity, equity, and inclusion—to an empty buzzword with no real substance or impact. While corporations and media celebrated their progress, ADOS professionals and communities remained at the margins. Instead of elevating voices that authentically represented the unique struggles of Black Americans, media and corporate structures continued to sideline us in favor of individuals whose views aligned with liberal white institutions.
The result was a manufactured version of Black leadership—one that looked diverse on the surface but ultimately failed to advocate for the issues that matter most to ADOS. This piece explores how media, corporate America, and politics have elevated non-ADOS voices at the expense of genuine Black representation and why this deliberate misrepresentation has had lasting consequences.
The Media’s Selective Representation
In the aftermath of George Floyd’s tragic death, many narratives emerged, each shaped by personal experiences and perspectives. Reflecting on my own encounters in South Philadelphia—where interactions with individuals battling addiction to heroin and crack cocaine were commonplace—I found my viewpoint diverging from mainstream portrayals.
Having lived in South Philadelphia for years, I frequently witnessed individuals struggling with addiction—nodding off in bars, occupying park benches, or displaying erratic behavior during binges in stores. These encounters were both significant and alarming, often leading me to exercise caution, especially in confined spaces.
When surveillance footage from Cup Foods surfaced, showing George Floyd inside the store before the fatal incident, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to my past experiences. In the video, Floyd appeared agitated and exhibited behaviors that, based on my observations, resembled those of individuals under the influence. Had I been in that store that day, I might have instinctively chosen to leave, anticipating potential unpredictability.
That said, it’s crucial to distinguish between recognizing concerning behavior and justifying excessive use of force. While Floyd’s alleged attempt to use a counterfeit $20 bill was unlawful, this act alone did not warrant the brutal police response that led to his death. The distinction between acknowledging societal issues and condoning disproportionate violence is vital.
The incident also underscores the broader societal challenge of addressing substance abuse and its intersection with law enforcement. Individuals battling addiction often find themselves in vulnerable situations, and without appropriate support systems, these scenarios can escalate tragically.
The Shift in Corporate Focus Post-2020
George Floyd’s death sparked extensive conversations in the United States. However, while corporations and media rushed to adopt Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, there was little to no discussion about the ongoing crisis of police brutality in the Black community, the rampant gun violence affecting Black neighborhoods, or the devastating impact of drug addiction. The discourse veered away from these pressing issues—such as systemic incarceration and educational disparities—and instead fixated on corporate-driven diversity efforts that did not address the root causes of injustice.
Corporations adjusted their policies, ostensibly to support the African American cause, yet these initiatives often ended up benefiting other marginalized groups while sidelining the very community they were meant to uplift: the ADOS community.
My Personal Account: Deloitte’s DEI Paradox
My tenure at Deloitte offers a microcosmic view of this paradox. In 2020, as part of the Chief Executive Program—an initiative designed to support CEOs transitioning into their roles—I was the sole Black individual embedded within the team. Despite multiple hires, the team remained predominantly white. When three Black professionals were finally brought on, two received unfavorable reviews and were rotated off. After years of commitment and loyalty, I was not let go, but sidelined under the pretense of being “integrated” into a different program.
There was only room for a single "person of color." All others—regardless of their performance, dedication, or tenure—were removed.
Furthermore, despite corporate America's highly publicized DEI initiatives, Black employment has continued to decline, while other groups have experienced employment growth. Reports indicate that:
As of December 2024, Black unemployment remained disproportionately high, standing at 5.6% for Black men and 5.4% for Black women, compared to 3.3% and 3.4% for white men and women, respectively.
Black employees continue to be underrepresented in leadership roles, with white men still overwhelmingly holding senior management positions despite DEI programs.
These statistics contradict corporate claims of "progress" and suggest that DEI initiatives have largely failed to create lasting structural change. While companies like Deloitte tout their DEI efforts, Black professionals continue to face stagnant employment rates, limited leadership opportunities, and higher layoffs relative to other groups.
The Media’s Role in Shaping Narratives
MSNBC’s programming decisions expose how DEI actually works—Black professionals are removed while white counterparts remain in place, regardless of their rhetoric or ratings.
If MSNBC truly wanted diversity, they would have kept both Joy Reid and Rachel Maddow or replaced them all, making room for new voices. Instead, they played Black professionals against one another by replacing Reid with a show featuring two Black faces—Michael Steele, Simone Sanders-Townsend, and Alicia Menendez—as a superficial attempt to appear diverse.
The Comcast Corp.-owned channel confirmed the departure of Joy Reid and the replacement by this trio, despite the fact that her show, The ReidOut, was the second most popular show on MSNBC, with 1,690,000 viewers as of February 24, 2025. MSNBC’s audience overall had dropped 46% compared to the first ten months of 2024, yet it was Reid—one of the few Black voices—who was removed.
Meanwhile, the ratings for "The Weekend," which replaced Reid, were significantly lower:
Total viewers: 631,000 (compared to Reid’s 1.69 million)
Saturday average: 799,000 / Sunday average: 669,000
MSNBC’s December programming saw a 43% increase in total viewership compared to the new show
This move highlights a common DEI tactic—instead of fostering true diversity, corporations and media entities use Black faces as interchangeable tokens while maintaining their existing power structures.
DAHTRUTH
I have been called out for expressing my opinions about what I experienced while working for one of the largest consulting firms in the world. At first, I feared how speaking out might impact my professional career. But I have learned not to carry that fear. My talent and capabilities should sustain me long enough to retire.
I honestly believe I am speaking out for my grandchildren and my community. My voice is strong, powerful, and necessary. To be silent and afraid doesn’t run in my blood—unfortunately.
Consulting firms, in particular—those that advise corporations on business strategy, leadership, and even DEI—should be held accountable for their racist practices instead of sweeping them under the rug. These firms influence corporate policies across industries, yet they fail to implement the very diversity and equity standards they recommend to others. If they cannot uphold fairness and inclusion within their own ranks, they shouldn’t be trusted to guide others.
Real change will only happen when these institutions are forced to acknowledge their failures—not just in reports, but in their hiring, retention, and leadership decisions. Until then, DEI will remain nothing more than a corporate illusion, benefiting those in power while leaving Black professionals behind.
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© 2025 Jacqueline Session. All Rights Reserved.
This article and its contents are the intellectual property of Jacqueline Session. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or modification is prohibited without explicit permission from the author. For inquiries regarding usage, please contact jmbeausby@aol.com
CEO FOR PRESIDENT
Whenever I write, I start with where I grew up. Our stories are the foundation of who we become, shaping our perspectives, our decisions, and ultimately our legacy. Most people know that I enjoy Cam Newton’s podcast, Funky Friday, and last week’s episode was a breath of fresh air with John Hope Bryant as his guest. I couldn’t help but recognize the essence of a CEO running through every word John Hope spoke. Listening to their conversation, I was reminded of the CEO Labs at Deloitte, where I sat in rooms with executives, hearing their strategies, their story and their vision for leadership. These weren’t just business discussions; they were blueprints for success, built on ownership, calculated risks, and long-term vision.
John Hope Bryant is the epitome of a successful CEO. He is the rainbow we find after a storm—a reminder that despite setbacks, resilience and strategy can lead to something greater. As I listened to John Hope Bryant speak I realized the same framework used in executive transitions labs at use as he told us his CEO story.
John Hope Bryant started the conversation by talking about how his family built generational wealth, and that resonated with me instantly. In my late twenties, I realized the importance of owning my own home. After my grandmother passed away, I watched as her children allowed the family property to be lost. I saw firsthand the tragedy of not securing what previous generations had built. That experience shaped me more than anything. It made me determined to own my own home. By the time I was 32, I had accomplished that goal, understanding that true economic freedom starts with ownership.
But what I’ve come to realize is that, for most of my life, I never truly had economic freedom. That realization didn’t hit me until after my husband passed. And even now, to say I am “free” wouldn’t be entirely true. But as Bryant alluded to in his conversation, freedom isn’t just about having money. It’s about understanding that life isn’t meant to be lived passively. You have to be intentional every day, preparing for the future and ensuring your legacy isn’t left in financial ruin. Before my husband’s death, I never fully thought about these things. Now, I see that true freedom isn’t about accumulating wealth or chasing status. It’s about laying a foundation that will outlive you.
Listening to Cam Newton’s podcast with John Hope Bryant, I kept thinking about what makes a leader. Bryant’s words had the cadence of a CEO, and when I heard him speak, it gave me goosebumps. I appreciated the way he articulated his plan and how he weaves it all together with his story. As I reflected on the way executives shaped their stories into movements, I noticed without a doubt Bryant was doing the same thing. The question is—how far will he take it?
Bryant was introspective as he reflected on his upbringing, speaking about the language of his community and the struggles of being an American Descendant of Slavery (ADOS). He acknowledged that wealth in America has historically been out of reach for Black people, yet his grandparents and ancestors still found ways to build businesses against all odds. His mother owned seven properties. Now, he owns 700. That is generational wealth in action, proof that economic power is built over time, not overnight.
After reflecting on his past, he shifted to his strengths and the opportunities that shaped his journey. He spoke about the risks of capitalism, the fear of failure, and the courage it takes to build wealth. He emphasized the importance of time, how Americans, especially in the Black community, often waste time instead of using it as a tool for growth. He framed wealth-building as a strategic use of time and resources, something many people fail to recognize.
Then he moved into priorities, not just for himself but for the Black community as a whole. He introduced his “Silver Plan,” which focuses on building Black wealth, supporting Black businesses, and creating economic opportunities within the community. He acknowledged how the illegal economy, particularly drug dealing, is a form of capitalism, but one that ultimately traps Black men in a system designed to break them. He challenged us to think about how to redirect that entrepreneurial talent toward legitimate business success.
He also spoke about racism, not as an obstacle, but as a reality that must be navigated. Racism exists, but it cannot be the excuse that stops us from building. Success comes from recognizing the system, finding ways around it, and capitalizing on opportunities despite it.
As I listened to him, I was struck by his clarity, his confidence, and his vision. He spoke about leadership, the relationships he’s built, and his commitment to changing the financial trajectory of Black America. And then I started to wonder. Was this man positioning himself to run for President? If he is, and if he runs, he has my vote.
Then I saw his interview with Roland Martin, and there he gave the same speech. That gave me even more hope because it means he is making the rounds. The same story with the same framework, but it was reshaped to fit Roland's liberal audience. While Cam’s audience is probably more mature and aware, able to digest some hard truths, namely, “You want to kill DEI, kill it. It has been made political and is dead. I love diversity and math. They don’t have opinions, and now, for the first time, the U.S. can't succeed without all of us.” Meaning, minorities nearly outnumber whites.
And isn’t that exactly what great leaders do? CEOs, politicians, and movement builders craft a message and take it on the road, ensuring it resonates with different audiences. And here you have John Hope Bryant delivering his stump speech, refining his vision with each appearance. If that’s the case, then what’s next? Is he laying the foundation for something bigger?
I thought about what leadership truly means. We don’t need entertainers or sports commentators making empty political promises. We need someone who understands business, strategy, and the American economy, someone who genuinely believes in elevating the Black community. John Hope Bryant articulated a vision that felt real, that felt possible. His words reignited something in me, a sense of urgency, a sense of purpose.
But then I questioned myself. Was this just a podcast moment? Was he selling a story, or was he making a proclamation? Because if he’s serious, he needs to say it loud and clear. Democrats have two years until the next election, and a potential strong presidential candidate in four years is critical before the midterms. There is no time to waste. If he’s ready to lead, he needs to declare it. Speak your truth, stand on your record, and make your intentions known.
Right now, we need leadership that understands business, legacy, and economic power. Leaders who are unafraid to challenge the status quo and create real, lasting change. Bryant speaks the language of wealth and opportunity, and his message is timely. But leadership isn’t just about having the right words. It’s about action, risk, and unwavering commitment to a cause greater than yourself.
The question isn’t whether he can lead. It’s whether he will. And if we are waiting for leadership, maybe it’s time we demand it.
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© 2025 Jacqueline Session. All Rights Reserved.
This article and its contents are the intellectual property of Jacqueline Session. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or modification is prohibited without explicit permission from the author. For inquiries regarding usage, please contact jmbeausby@aol.com
AMERICA AT THE CROSSROADS
Last week was symbolic for the Black community on many levels. It began with Kendrick Lamar’s powerful Super Bowl halftime performance and ended with JD Vance addressing the European Union in Munich on the dangers of multiculturalism. The reality is that when migrants invade any land and attempt to dismantle its traditions, culture, and foundational beliefs, they can tear the fabric of society apart. That is exactly what is happening in Europe, and to a lesser extent, it is occurring right here in America as well.
All one needs to do is listen to podcasts like IlmFeed to understand that Europe has been overrun with Islamic ideology—it has embedded itself and is attempting to change the culture to align with Muslim beliefs. It has festered and now deeply influences the UK in negative ways. The worst part is that those who believe in freedom of expression, the right to vote, and democracy itself are being overshadowed by Islamic interpretations of these very concepts. In Islam, followers adhere to Allah’s traditions, which include the oppression of women and children and the belief that those who do not subscribe to their religion are outsiders, if not enemies.
the Fragile State of WESTERN VALUES
When JD Vance stepped up to the podium in Munich, few expected much beyond typical political rhetoric. Instead, he made a bold move, declaring, “There’s a new sheriff in town,” making it clear that America’s priorities under the Trump administration’s influence would shift dramatically. His speech was a warning to Western nations, particularly those struggling with the consequences of mass immigration and cultural shifts. It resonated because it addressed a reality too many refuse to acknowledge: unchecked immigration and cultural shifts are reshaping nations at an alarming rate.
Europe, in particular, has become a cautionary tale. Migrants from various regions have arrived not to assimilate but to dismantle and reshape foundational traditions. While America maintains a constitutional separation of church and state, its foundations rest on Christian values. That’s what America was built on—Christian tradition. And now, the very fabric of that foundation is being disrupted by individuals coming from other nations to take advantage of the American system or bringing ideologies that threaten our way of life.
Yet, Democrats continue to ignore these warnings. They dismiss Vance’s speech as fearmongering while failing to recognize that cultural erosion leads to societal collapse. America was built on slavery, yet the nation has continually failed to acknowledge the full weight of Black contributions. Now, with new demographic shifts, the same government that refuses to honor its debt to ADOS is bending over backward to accommodate others.
the ADOS Legacy AS TOLD BY KENDRICK LAMAR
In contrast to Vance’s speech, Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance was a cultural event that centered on the Black experience. His set was filled with symbolism that resonated deeply with the ADOS community, highlighting our legacy of struggle, resilience, and cultural impact.
From music to sports to literature, American Black culture has been a global commodity since 1619. We have gone from being called animals and sold on butcher blocks to now gaining momentum on the topic of reparations for American Blacks—the descendants of slaves. We have always managed to overcome degradation and struggle. American Blacks have set the trends in music, art, literature, and sports. Recently, I read "The Message" by Ta-Nehisi Coates, and in his essay, he discusses a woman he met in Senegal—an ocean away from America—who had been studying his work. This indicates that American Black culture and intellect are global.
Music and rap are just a few of the industries where American Blacks have established trends that have gained global recognition. No other industry has evolved as extensively through pure, organic influence as the Black music industry. The same can be said for Black contributions to sports, fashion, and education. Black Americans have shaped this country in undeniable ways, yet we are still overlooked and treated as if we don’t matter. Just when Lamar made that message clear, Democrats swooped in, attempting to capitalize on the moment.
Ayanna Pressley and Summer Lee, both left-leaning Democrats, held a press conference the following day to push the same tired, useless reparations bill that was tossed to Pressley from Sheryl Lee Jackson after her death. H.R. 40 was officially introduced in 1989. The bill, titled the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act, is the same legislation that has baited ADOS communities for nearly 30 years.
With tears flowing from her eyes, Pressley discussed her heartfelt commitment to pushing forward the same tired bill—to study reparations. Knowing how badly the Democrats lost in the last election, they took this moment to gaslight the Black community: We can’t promise much, but we promise you, African Americans—which is not specific to ADOS—that we will continue to push forward the bill to study reparations.
As if there is anything left to study when it comes to slavery, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement, prison reform, or any other government policy that has held the ADOS community back. The oppression of American Blacks is well-documented. America never paid what was owed to the descendants of slavery. We don’t need a study—we need action.
Matt Walsh & the Whitewashing of History
Last week also saw the voices of individuals like, Matt Walsh who took to his Podcast podium to make the claim that America was not built on slavery, but was built solely by white men, conveniently erasing the labor, ingenuity, and suffering of Black Americans. This type of revisionist history is not just misleading—it’s dangerous. It allows those in power to justify denying reparations, refusing economic redress, and dismissing the centuries of forced labor that made America the global superpower it is today.
In 1860, just five years before the Civil War ended, there were 4 million enslaved Africans in America, contributing directly to the nation's agricultural and industrial wealth. Their labor created generational wealth for white families while Black Americans were left with nothing. Even after slavery, policies like Jim Crow laws, redlining, and mass incarceration ensured that Black Americans remained systematically disenfranchised.
Yet, people like Walsh continue to push a sanitized version of history, where Black labor, Black pain, and Black contributions are mere footnotes. His refusal to acknowledge this reality isn’t just ignorance—it’s an intentional effort to maintain racial and economic inequality. Meanwhile, as ADOS calls for reparations, the same government that built its wealth on Black labor is now prioritizing new groups, offering resources, opportunities, and protections that were never extended to the descendants of slavery.
The Absence of an ADOS Champion
The biggest issue facing the Black community isn’t just systemic racism—it’s the lack of authentic leadership. The so-called Black leaders propped up by the Democratic Party—Jamal Bryant, Al Sharpton, Ayanna Pressley, Hakeem Jeffries—have repeatedly failed ADOS.
Jamal Bryant preaches a prosperity gospel while using his pulpit to push leftist politics, often aligning with movements that do not prioritize the specific needs of ADOS. Instead of fostering genuine progress, he operates his ministry as a business, profiting off his congregation while failing to deliver meaningful change. Bryant frequently uses out-of-context scripture to support his political stances, whether on the Harris campaign, abortion rights, or his attempts to apologize to the LGBTQ+ community for the Black church’s past positions. However, his actions often appear performative rather than rooted in genuine conviction, casting doubt on his authenticity as a leader.
Al Sharpton has built an entire career on performative activism, accepting political donations and backroom deals while delivering nothing tangible for the Black community. His recent failed attempt to promote a 'buy-in' at Costco in response to a diversity scandal proved how out of touch he really is. The $25 gift cards, promised to those who participated in a 'buy-in' rather than a boycott, weren’t enough—Black customers left without buying anything. And when they refused to return and make purchases, Sharpton and his team tried to guilt them into going back, revealing how little real influence he has over Black consumer power.
Sharpton also seems to believe that the Black community has forgotten about Tawana Brawley and the controversy that exposed his willingness to exploit racial tensions for personal gain. The truth is, many in the Black community do not trust him. He is no leader to our community, yet he continuously inserts himself into every cultural event that impacts us, as though he still holds the moral authority to speak on our behalf.
Then there’s Hakeem Jeffries, the supposed “head” of the Democratic Party. Once a Pan-Africanist, he now prioritizes his allegiance to AIPAC over the Black voters who put him in office. Rather than advocating for reparations or pushing meaningful economic policies that could empower ADOS, he aligns himself with mainstream Democratic talking points, sidestepping the pressing need for Black economic advancement.
He, along with others, has mastered the art of political theater—showing up for photo ops, making empty promises, and delivering little in return. Jeffries wants the Black community to believe he is their advocate, but his actions suggest otherwise. His loyalty lies with corporate donors and political elites, not the ADOS community. He is quick to lecture on democracy and equity but slow to act when it comes to meaningful policies that would close the racial wealth gap.
Jeffries' record reflects a pattern of appeasement and political convenience rather than bold leadership, proving that his political survival outweighs the interests of those who elected him. Circling back to what happened in Munich, JD Vance delivered a message to majority-white nations—one that resonated deeply with the Republican base. Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar took the stage at the Super Bowl, amplifying a message that spoke directly to the American Black community, highlighting the struggle, resilience, and impact of ADOS. The difference? One side has leaders willing to act. The other relies on symbolism and empty gestures.
While Vance and Trump continue to solidify their support, the Democratic Party remains leaderless, unable to craft a message or policy that aligns with ADOS interests. The problem isn’t just poor messaging—it’s the absence of leadership with the will to act. Without a true advocate for ADOS, Black voters are left questioning their political home. If Democrats do not step up and deliver for the Black community, they will lose more than just an election—they will lose the very people who built this nation.
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© 2025 Jacqueline Session. All Rights Reserved.
This article and its contents are the intellectual property of Jacqueline Session. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or modification is prohibited without explicit permission from the author. For inquiries regarding usage, please contact jmbeausby@aol.com
China: The Electric City on the Hill
I want to start by saying you don't need to know what is happening in the world to understand that it's happening. One clear indication of this is when Drake rapped about blue text messages. There was a clear understanding that there was a difference between iPhone and Samsung.
Years ago, I had an interview, and the hiring manager asked me what kind of phone I had. I thought it was an odd question, but when I answered, “Apple,” his expression told me everything I needed to know—I wasn’t getting the job. As I left the hospital where the interview was held, a thought swept through my mind: what other phone truly compared to the iPhone? Not Samsung, not Mortola, there wasn’t even one to compare with a phone that held all my music—that was certain.
Over the last year, I’ve been listening to podcasts about China and President Xi Jinping. In my opinion, he carries himself as if he has everything under control—he’s a cool breeze seriously. This reminds me of an incident during the BRICS Summit in 2023. As President Xi Jinping entered the venue, one of his bodyguards was momentarily blocked by security. Xi didn't miss a beat; he continued walking without hesitation. It was a small moment, but it spoke volumes about China's relentless forward march, undeterred by obstacles, no matter how personal or immediate.
There is that quiet cool. But, I wonder is there something beneath the surface. Is China really the powerhouse they purport to be. Cracks are forming—bad construction projects, economic slowdowns, and a growing sense that China’s progress isn’t as seamless as it appears. And yet, the country continues to push forward with a singular vision, one built entirely on electric power and absolute control.
China is constructing an empire where everything runs on electricity. It controls the railways, the cars on the road, the delivery trucks, and even the way people live their lives. There’s something about this shiny, electric city on a hill that seems impressive at first glance. But the more I think about it, the more uneasy I become. A city like that dependent entirely on the grid, feels oppressive. And what happens when that grid is turned off?
There’s something unsettling about a future where everything is controlled by a single switch. No gas-powered cars to escape, no independence from the system, just a world where those in power can dictate what stays on and what goes dark. China’s rise isn’t just about technology—it’s about controlling the global supply chains that make this vision possible. The cobalt mines in Congo fuel this electric dream, but at what cost? Men, women, and children are digging in the dirt, trapped in a cycle of exploitation to power devices they will never own. And while the United States has its own history of resource exploitation, there’s been a growing effort to step back, reassess, and find a better way.
As an American citizen, it’s easy to push these things to the back of our minds. We can ignore the world around us as we scroll, post, and swipe left. But then there’s reality. And sometimes, I wonder if a woman in the Congo feels the same way—her son is in the mines, working like a slave, but at least they get to eat another day.
I know that sounds shallow, but the truth is, until we find another way, Congolese men will still be in the mines. Why can’t these places be managed like any other business? Why is there so much corruption? I don’t have the answer.
But that’s the difference. China seems content to keep relying on the Congolese, keeping them in the dirt while reaping the benefits of the EV revolution. The U.S., for all its flaws, at least acknowledges the issue. While we are still reliant on cobalt from the DRC, there is an effort to step back and look for alternatives—whether through domestic mining, battery recycling, or partnerships that ensure workers in the Congo are treated with dignity.
Maybe stepping back isn’t about losing. Maybe it’s about realizing that not all progress is good progress. There is something liberating about rejecting a world where everything is connected to a single grid. While China is digging deep into the earth, America is reaching for the stars. It was incredible to watch SpaceX catch a rocket in midair, a moment that captured the pioneering spirit America was built on. Meanwhile, China is drilling toward the center of the earth, chasing fire.
For all the challenges we face, I still believe America leads in the areas that matter most—AI, space exploration, and technological innovation. But there is a sense of scrambling. Trump calling for aid, the frantic push to dominate AI, the tension between freedom and government intervention. Sometimes it feels as if we are no longer leading, as if we are playing defense, reacting to China’s moves. I believe we still have the same pioneering spirit, but we are trying to break out of the box in a way that China isn’t.
I am a believer in Jesus Christ, and I see so much vanity in the world. We chase progress but forget the greater promise—the coming of a new heaven and a new earth. But in this life, one truth remains: mankind will always pioneer. We will always find ways to invent and reinvent. And if I have to choose, I would much rather be in the United States.
America has its flaws. We’ve made mistakes, taken missteps, and sometimes the pendulum swings too far in one direction. But at least it swings. At least there is room for change, for pushback, for the possibility of something better. China, by contrast, moves in one direction—forward, but only on its own terms. There is no room to challenge, no room to question, just a carefully controlled march toward a future where everything is connected but nothing is truly free.
China’s vision of progress is built on control—control of resources, control of labor, control of digital spaces. But what happens when the lights go out? What happens when the switch is flipped? That is the bigger question.
Is China’s model the future—a world where everything is connected but every connection is monitored, regulated, and controlled? Or does America’s messy, unpredictable, often frustrating system still hold an edge? Because for all our flaws, we still have the ability to resist, to push back, to fight for something different.
And that, is what separates freedom from control.
America, stop gazing at that shiny city on the hill!!
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Resources:
Europe's difficult path on China's EVs is a lesson for North America
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This content is the intellectual property of Jacqueline Session Ausby and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used in any form without my express written permission. For inquiries or permission requests, please contact me at Jmbeausby@aol.com.
DEI: THE ILLUSION OF EQUALITY
Last week, DEI was the buzzword of the moment, dominating left-leaning media outlets and podcasts. Now that Trump is issuing executive orders, the term has become a key talking point for the Democraticy Party to highlight supposed progress while avoiding discussions of real structural failures, including corporate policies that have failed to uplift ADOS.
But the conversation took an unexpected turn when Donald Trump made a bold distinction between American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS) and Black immigrants. His statement forced an uncomfortable but necessary question:
Who actually benefits from diversity initiatives?
As we witness the dismantling of programs that supposedly cater to ADOS, the reality remains unchanged: these policies have historically offered ADOS the least benefits (Brookings, 2023).
Mainstream media figures like CNN’s Abby Phillip framed DEI discussions in ways that obscure the real impact of DEI policies. In a recent discussion, Phillip posed the question:
What if Trump supporters are scapegoating the Black community?
This framing diverts attention from a critical truth: ADOS (American Descendants of Slavery) have historically received the least benefits from DEI initiatives. Rather than acknowledging these structural failures, Phillip’s approach shifts the conversation away from the corporations that implement these policies and their ineffectiveness.
DEI’s Corporate Illusion
Where ADOS excel? In arts, entertainment, sports, and fashion—we do so through talent and resilience, not corporate handouts.
Yet, Phillip’s framing reinforces a misleading narrative, stoking fears instead of addressing the fundamental shortcomings of DEI itself. The real issue isn’t whether Black communities are being scapegoated—it’s that these policies have failed to create the opportunities they claim to provide.
A 2023 report by Revelio Labs found that DEI positions have been cut at a rate faster than any other sector, with major firms like Meta, Amazon, and Twitter slashing entire DEI teams (Revelio Labs, 2023).
It is also important to recognize that many organizations that promote DEI have a track record of being on the wrong side of history—whether in their response to Black Lives Matter after George Floyd, their stance on abortion, or their implementation of DEI itself.
When corporations claim to champion diversity while pushing policies that contradict the needs of the very communities they claim to serve, it raises serious concerns about their true intentions.
The Reality of Corporate Climbing
At seventeen, I took my first job at First Fidelity Bank, working in the basement counting checks after school. My manager, a Black woman with a firm but loving spirit, ran the department with excellence. Many of my colleagues in that basement were Black women, but there were white women as well—some of whom I got along with.
I was even invited once to a white co-worker’s house party, an experience that opened my eyes to cultural differences and racial realities between blacks and whites.
That night, I heard the word crank for the first time. Drugs were a big part of my upbringing—I knew many who used them—but I had never seen them, nor used them and they were certainly not allowed in our apartment. The experience of going into a home for a party and seeing people openly using drugs was jarring.
But more than anything, it opened my eyes. Drugs were no respecter of person. White or Black, the reality was the same. That night, I realized two things:
✔ That co-worker was not my friend.
✔ I didn’t want to work in a basement at the bank forever.
I left that job for a better one, pursued my college degree, and steadily climbed the corporate ladder. Affirmative Action was never my safety net. I had skills, worked hard, and sought out opportunities. I saw countless Black professionals like me doing the same—pushing forward despite systemic barriers. We weren’t looking for handouts. We were simply working harder, overcoming challenges, and finding our way.
Yet, there was always a quiet stigma attached to Black professionals who attended elite universities like Harvard or Columbia. The assumption was that their success came from Affirmative Action, not their hard work. While everyone believed all whites were in the positions they deserved. For whites merit meant everything.
The higher I climbed, the fewer Black faces I saw. As I gained more experience, honed my skills, and expanded my knowledge, the pattern became clear—there was a bottleneck at the top. Plenty of Black employees were stuck in entry-level or mid-level roles, but leadership remained overwhelmingly white.
I worked at First Fidelity Bank, where I learned hard lessons, and later transitioned to major corporations. Over the years, as I moved through roles in banking and corporate settings, I saw how limited the opportunities were for ADOS professionals—especially in leadership positions.
For years, we were led to believe that Affirmative Action was opening doors for Black professionals, but in reality, it wasn’t lifting ADOS up. Instead, DEI programs expanded beyond Black Americans to include other minorities—many of whom had not faced the same generational barriers in this country.
The idea of “helping Black people” became so broad that it diluted any specific focus on the unique struggles of ADOS.
Misinformation on Reparations
Meanwhile, conservative figures like Charlie Kirk push the falsehood that ADOS have already received reparations through social programs like housing assistance, food stamps, and Section 8.
This claim is deliberately misleading. Social programs provide temporary assistance but do not build generational wealth. Also, there is something he leaves out: social programs benefit poor whites and farmers just as much as they benefit poor Blacks. Reparations must involve direct economic compensation for stolen labor, not short-term aid that ultimately benefits white landlords, financial institutions, and corporations more than the Black community
The real beneficiaries of public assistance programs are often white developers, social service agencies, and government institutions—not Black families. These programs have allowed corporations and white property owners to profit, while ADOS remain at the bottom of every economic index.
Where Do We Go From Here?
If Affirmative Action didn’t significantly improve economic outcomes for ADOS, and DEI has been more symbolic than transformative, what should our next move be?
Corporate America isn’t going to hand us a seat at the table. Instead, we must take control of our own economic destiny.
✔ Invest in ADOS-owned businesses—direct funding and mentorship for Black entrepreneurs.
✔ Push for policy changes—enforce economic protections and demand transparency in DEI spending.
✔ Expand reparations advocacy—support national efforts to demand federal recognition of past injustices.
ADOS do not need handouts. We need access, ownership, and economic control.
The dismantling of DEI could be a setback, or it could be a wake-up call.
The choice is ours.
LOCKED OUT THE DEI DOOR
The Constitution, not DEI, protects my rights. No executive order, corporate restructuring, or shifting political winds can take that away. True progress will never come from performative policies, but from genuine accountability, systemic change, and our unwavering determination to stand on our own.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have become a controversial topic in recent years, with the term itself evolving from a hopeful vision to a divisive and polarizing concept. Today, the word "DEI" often evokes more contention than consensus. It’s like standing before a tall, imposing door and hoping it opens—the door a symbol of opportunity for some, but an insurmountable barrier for others. To understand how we arrived here, it’s worth reflecting on the historical, cultural, and political shifts that shaped this narrative. To do this, we must revisit a time when the American spirit shaped by both war and peace drove our nation.
After 9/11 (2001), this nation was united in a way that transcended race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. America had faced a common enemy—extreme Islamic terrorists—and for a fleeting moment, the melting pot ideal seemed real to our nation. ADOS, White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans stood together in solidarity, mourning the lives lost during the terrorist’s attacks against our nation and we rallied behind a shared sense of patriotism. This unity was reflected in the collective determination to protect the nation, as young men and women from diverse backgrounds joined the military or contributed to the war effort in other ways. The focus in America became external—on wars overseas and the threat posed by figures like Osama bin Laden. This unity continued throughout the early 2000s, but as the years past, domestic challenges mounted and the historical cracks in the sense of togetherness in American began to reappear.
The years following 9/11 were defined by war, economic upheaval, and shifting national priorities. As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan drained resources and morale, the country faced another crisis this time on the home front. Late 2007 marked the beginning of the great recission, banks began to fail. By 2008, the U.S. economy was unraveling. The collapse of the mortgage industry triggered a financial meltdown that devastated millions, disproportionately impacting Black communities. Generations of hard-won progress in homeownership were wiped out almost overnight, echoing the devastation of the 1929 stock market crash. At the same time, the auto industry, long a pillar of American economic strength teetered on the edge of collapse, further deepening the crisis. Families lost homes, jobs, and any sense of financial security, widening the economic divide in ways that would take years to repair.
Then, in 2011, the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden marked a turning point. For many Americans, it was a moment of closure a symbolic victory after a decade of war. Yet, as the country exhaled, its focus turned inward. The wars had already taken a toll, and now economic, cultural, and political tensions were boiling over. The sense of unity that briefly followed 9/11 had eroded, exposing deep divisions that had been simmering beneath the surface.
In truth, this dynamic began to shift with the election of President Barack Obama. His victory was celebrated as a historic milestone, a symbol of progress and the breaking of racial barriers. At first, Black Americans seemed unified in their support, but as questions about his identity surfaced, a different narrative began to take shape. President Obama leveraged the ADOS story to get elected, but once in office, it became clear that American Blacks, descendants of slaves, were not his priority. Many within the Black community quickly realized that we couldn’t depend on Obama to shift the existing tides that shaped our reality.
Black Americans have long understood that our rights were protected under the Constitution and that legal segregation was a thing of the past. While racial barriers remained, they were no longer enforced through overt acts of violence by white mobs. Instead, systemic challenges persisted in more insidious ways. Policies like affirmative action were intended to level the playing field, fostering a cautious optimism about the nation’s progress. However, the realities of economic disparity, disenfranchisement, and underrepresentation in key industries revealed that true equality was still far from being realized.
However, Obama’s presidency did reignite racial tensions in ways few had anticipated. His very presence in the White House challenged longstanding power structures, forcing issues of race, privilege, and systemic inequities back into the national conversation. The celebration of his election was accompanied by an undercurrent of resistance, as debates over race and identity took center stage in American politics once again.
This period also coincided with the rise of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as a formalized concept in corporate and institutional settings. While President Obama may not have coined the term, the broader adoption of DEI initiatives gained significant momentum during his presidency. His administration’s focus on addressing systemic inequities and fostering inclusivity likely contributed to the increased prominence of these efforts. While DEI was designed to address historical inequities and foster inclusivity, it has become a lightning rod for criticism. For some, DEI represents a necessary reckoning with systemic racism and a pathway toward justice. For others, it is viewed as divisive, a symbol of overreach that prioritizes identity politics over merit. The polarization surrounding DEI can be traced, in part, to the cultural and political shifts that unfolded in the years following Obama’s presidency.
It’s important to consider the historical context leading up to this moment. During the George H.W. Bush era, the appointment of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court in 1991 marked a significant milestone for Black representation in the judiciary. His confirmation sparked intense debates about race, identity, sex, and qualifications, underscoring the complex dynamics of race in America at the time. At the same time, systemic racism was still a pervasive issue, but there was a sense of progress within Black communities.
The unity forged after 9/11 was a temporary reprieve from these ongoing struggles. During this period, many of us were focused on building lives and pursuing dreams. I remember buying my first home during President Obama’s presidency, as a single parent, working at a bank in Philadelphia. Back then, the cost of living was manageable, and the city was a place of opportunity. But as time passed, gentrification transformed Philadelphia, turning it into a hub for corporate interests with beer gardens and upscale restaurants replacing familiar landmarks. The sense of community and affordability I once knew was gradually eroded.
The housing crisis during President Obama’s tenure added another layer of complexity. Leading up to his election, Black homeownership had reached significant levels. Many of us had worked hard to achieve the American dream of owning property. But with the collapse of the auto and mortgage industries, this progress was undone almost overnight. Entire communities were devastated as people lost jobs, cars and homes. The divide between those who could hold on and those who could not widened drastically.
Around the same time, the resurgence of drugs in Black communities further stalled progress. The crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s had already inflicted deep wounds, and its aftershocks were still being felt. There was no Black person who didn’t know someone impacted by crack addiction. Our communities recognized that a dangerous underworld—an insidious system—was deliberately targeting us. Films like Five on the Black Hand Side gave way to New Jack City, reflecting the stark realities of this underworld. Many in our communities stepped right into the belly of the beast, drawn by the allure of love, status, or survival.
By 2016, when Donald Trump took office, crack had become even deadlier, now mixed with prescription medications—Percocet, Valium, and eventually fentanyl—wiping out Black families and homes in mass numbers.
These shifts—cultural, economic, and political—set the stage for the contentious debates surrounding DEI. Today, DEI has become an extreme push away from the Constitution, expanding in ways that often feel disconnected and, ultimately, unfair. This disconnect has led many to question its effectiveness, particularly within corporate structures. Corporations often receive incentives and accolades for implementing DEI initiatives, while simultaneously ignoring the systemic racism that persists within their organizations. A 2022 study by McKinsey found that while 87% of companies reported having DEI initiatives, only 37% had implemented clear accountability metrics, leaving systemic inequities unaddressed at the leadership level. These efforts are performative, focusing narrowly on race, disability, gender, or sex, and introducing terms like "intersectionality" to highlight every perceived difference or disadvantage. Meanwhile, these same organizations perpetuate inequities in hiring, promotions, and leadership representation. For example, Black professionals hold only 8% of managerial positions and less than 1% of Fortune 500 CEO roles, despite making up nearly 13% of the U.S. population, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Black talent in organizations, lawyers, doctors, entertainers and athletes, often face the brunt of these inequities. Black talent in various industries remains controlled by White executives, handlers, and power brokers. In sports, Black athletes generate millions for organizations, yet these organizations are rarely held accountable for providing long-term care for these players who sacrificed their bodies. Why can’t these organizations be forced to provide lifetime care for their players, especially after using every ounce of the bodies of these men for trophies? This systemic cycle underscores the need for real change, beyond the surface-level initiatives DEI currently offers.
Over the last few days, the Black community has been unsettled by fear tactics surrounding the idea of DEI. President Trump has issued executive orders rolling back many of the DEI initiatives put in place under Joe Biden, including overturning key diversity-focused policies. These moves have forced many to confront the effectiveness of DEI as it stands today. Voices like Sabby Sabs, Native Land Podcast, and Dr. Umar Johnson, along with some pastors from the pulpit, have shared their perspectives on DEI. While some argue that DEI has done little to benefit the Black community and is not worth the fear or outrage, others, like Tiffany Cross and Andrew Gillium, from Native Land, have expressed anger and disappointment at the rollbacks.
This division reflects a deeper misunderstanding of DEI’s purpose and implementation. For some, it is seen as a necessary acknowledgment of historical inequities; for others, it has become a surface-level approach to addressing systemic issues. This tension has manifested in protests, boycotts, and calls to action—with companies like Target and Walmart facing backlash for eliminating DEI initiatives. These boycotts highlight how deeply intertwined DEI has become with public perception, yet studies indicate that 70% of corporate DEI initiatives fail due to a lack of commitment from leadership. The palpable fear from some stems from the idea that dismantling DEI is equivalent to removing protections for marginalized groups. However, this perspective often overlooks the constitutional protections already in place. The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments guarantee American Blacks their rights and affirm their place as equal citizens of this country. While DEI attempts to address disparities, it cannot replace the foundational guarantees enshrined in the Constitution.
I will say that I myself have faced racism in the workplace. My story illustrates how DEI truly operates:
After years of excelling in my role at a top American organization, after I was recognized, by my only Black female manager, as the crème de la crème—meaning I was performing at the highest level. Eventually, my performance solidified a broader role, I accepted a lateral move into a prestigious team of highly effective influencers, believing this would be my opportunity to grow into a managerial role. I outperformed expectations, yet I was significantly underpaid. Despite my success, as a Black woman, I still wasn’t given a promotion, yet I continued to perform above par.
Countless White colleagues were hired and promoted, yet I remained in the same lateral position. I finally decided to fight for my own advancement. I built a business case, presented my performance reviews, and had respected colleagues and leaders advocate on my behalf. After years of proving myself, I was finally promoted. But the moment I received my promotion; I suddenly became a problem that needed to be managed out.
Not even two months after my promotion was officially announced, my role was quietly removed without transparency, my support system dismantled, and I was reassigned to another team under the guise of ‘growth’ in my professional development. In reality, I had been demoted—pushed three steps down. Complaints to team members and leaders were met with silent hostility. I was expected to be grateful just to have a job—even though it was beneath my capabilities—and told there was nothing I could do.
Calls to the DEI hotline and internal inquiries only made matters worse. White DEI representatives conducted so-called investigations, and, without a single report of their findings, not a shred of real evidence or accountability, unsurprisingly determined that my claims had ‘no merit.’
Forced into a lower role on a new team, I soon discovered that certain managerial and senior managerial positions were only available to a select few ‘professionally trained’ members of that team—very few were Black. Within a month, four White colleagues were promoted into senior roles, bypassing me entirely. When I asked where the job postings for these positions were, I was told, ‘Aren’t they on the job board?’ My new manager and I pulled up the board together—and there was exactly one listing, located in India.
Then, one of my White colleagues on my new team, who had just been promoted to a senior managerial role, casually greeted me and revealed that we had essentially switched places. He had been given my former responsibilities, while I was placed in his old, lower role. Leadership on the team justified this by claiming that I ‘needed to learn the lower process’ before being considered for advancement—yet my White colleague was promoted without that same requirement. He was given the benefit of the doubt. He had not performed at the high-executive level I had been performing. Nor was he required to do so to be promoted. I, on the other hand, had to pay this poll-tax in order to advance. I was treated as an out-of-place Black woman who somehow lacked professional experience—despite my record of success and years of loyalty to the team I supported and the organization.
Insulted but determined, I braced myself, leveraged my skills, and found another role at a different organization—on my own terms.
I never stopped calling out the racism—I never stopped exposing the hypocrisy. But just to add insult to injury, the day before I left, my former team held a grand sendoff over Teams. They spoke highly of my contributions over the years, reflected on the ways I had stepped in to manage, and acknowledged that I had been not just the glue of the team, but its most trusted member. Yet, every single person on that call—all White—remained silent about what they knew had happened to me. The only other Black person on the team didn’t dare show her face, unwilling to stand in solidarity with someone deemed ‘a problem.’ This organization required employees to complete endless trainings on how to ‘recognize and report racism,’ yet when the moment came to act, not one of the employees called out the racism.
They watched as I was systematically sidelined. Not one of them dared jeopardize their own position by picking up the phone and calling the integrity hotline. Every year, we sat through hours of DEI training—yet when it mattered, when it was happening right in front of them, they chose silence. They chose self-preservation. They chose complicity.
This experience was both humiliating and humbling. It took a mental toll on my well-being. As a Black woman and a widow, financial strain was a reality, and the fear of losing it all—or being forced into a role far beneath my capabilities—became a pressing question I had to answer. Fear brought tears, uncertainty, and overwhelming anxiety.
At first, I doubted myself. But then I learned something. The individual who was promoted to the role I had rightfully earned had been working in a bookstore in 2018. He had no professional experience at all, and his degree was a Master’s in Divinity. My professional experience far surpassed his. Looking for the difference between us, there was only one: he was White, and I was Black. Then, I saw it for what it was—racism at its finest.
There was no need to continue sitting and waiting, hoping that someone would recognize my situation and step in to bring about change. Though I wasted many weeks speaking with leaders, they eventually made it clear: no one is going to magically take you from way down there and put you back up there. Here was my opportunity to prove my worth—not through DEI, not through corporate performative allyship, but through my own skills, perseverance, and resilience.
I hustled, put in the work, interviewed, and landed another role—not by chance, but by my own strength. Not because of some arbitrary DEI effort, but because of my own capabilities and merit.
If we want to fix DEI—lateral moves at any organization should be reevaluated. Research suggests that lateral career opportunities can be valuable for skill development and retention, yet Black professionals often take these roles with hopes of proving themselves, only to find that when they take the leap, no real opportunities await them. While lateral moves may benefit some, systemic barriers often prevent Black employees from advancing beyond them.
Despite this, you should still speak out against inequities. DEI investigations should be documented, and conversations confirmed. Remember, DEI or Integrity hotlines often prioritize protecting the organization over addressing legitimate concerns. If you suspect misconduct, consider documenting your experiences thoroughly and seeking support from trusted professionals, advocates, or external resources to ensure your voice is heard.
No Black person is exempt from the systemic challenges present in many organizations. Talented individuals are often sidelined or displaced before they can find new opportunities. This not only stifles individual growth but also diminishes the acknowledgment of ADOS contributions to America. From building wealth with our hands and minds to farming lands to leading in military roles, ADOS contributions have been vital in shaping this nation. Yet, these contributions are frequently undervalued, and we are too often relegated to lesser roles because of persistent misconceptions about our capabilities.
That was what it felt like for me. I have sat at tables with influential executives. I put in the work, showed up, and demonstrated my talent. Yet, in the end—I lost. But what I gained, I carry with me—proud and strong, ready to take the leap again. I am not in position because of DEI, but because of my strength and resilience. This realization continues to empower me as I navigate these systems and seek to build a future where these dynamics no longer hold us back.
When the ADOS community considers DEI and wonders how this will impact our lives, we should have confidence in our own capabilities. We don’t need to seek validation or recognition from those outside our community; instead, we must stand on our own strength. Have no fear that DEI is no longer here—we never needed the expansive extension of these benefits anyhow. DEI is nothing more than a corporate policy framework and offers no legal protection. My rights are protected by the Constitution, and that will never be taken away by an executive order or a shift in corporate thinking.
I say to White people—if you are curious about my hair, please ask—I will not be offended. I am glad I no longer have to pretend during ‘Say This, Not That’ trainings. These superficial attempts at inclusion missed the deeper realities of systemic inequities. True progress comes from authentic dialogue, from recognizing our own worth, and from moving forward without reliance on performative initiatives.
As we enter the next four years and witness Trump issue executive orders that will have dire consequences for communities across the world, it’s essential that we trust ourselves and embrace our communities so we remain unified. To get there, we must ask hard questions about how we’ve arrived at this point and where we go from here.
Ultimately, will we confront the systemic issues that persist, or will we continue to let unity slip through our fingers, as it has so many times before?
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This content is the intellectual property of Jacqueline Session Ausby and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used in any form without my express written permission. For inquiries or permission requests, please contact me at Jmbeausby@aol.com.
Wake-Up for Unity
In a time when division threatens to fracture the Black community, the urgent need for unity has never been clearer. Whether confronting systemic racism embedded in prisons, education, and corporations, or bridging the gaps between ADOS and immigrant Black communities, our strength lies in solidarity. School Daze reminds us of the mission designed by God—to create pathways for the oppressed and rise above shallow judgments. Now is the time to wake up, refocus, and work together to secure a future of dignity, equality, and progress for all.
“Wannabee | A person who tries to be like someone else or to fit in with a particular group of people—
Jigaboo | A derogatory term historically used to demean and dehumanize darker-skinned African Americans, labeled simply as “offensive” in most references.”
I must state that I am deeply disturbed by the growing divide within the Black community—between Black elites and entertainers, between ADOS (American Descendants of Slavery) and Black immigrants, and even more starkly, between pastors who dare to support ministries that align with Donald Trump and those who reject him outright. These divisions feel like a betrayal of the unity our community has long sought, and they raise painful questions about our collective identity and the cost of political loyalty. These rifts are more than disagreements—they are fractures in the foundation of a people who share a history of struggle and resilience, bound by the fight for equality and restitution, not merely corporate promises of equity.
The Divide Today
The movie School Daze by Spike Lee, released in 1988, struck a powerful chord within the American Black community, particularly in the North, because it brought these terms—Wannabee and Jigaboo—to the forefront. The "Wannabees" were light-skinned, upwardly mobile Black individuals striving for acceptance in elite circles, while the "Jigaboos" were darker-skinned, often excluded, and dismissed. What made the movie so impactful, though, wasn’t just its exploration of colorism and class. It was the deeper truth that both groups, despite their differences, were chasing the same thing: freedom.
The tension Spike Lee highlighted felt real and familiar. At the time, many Black Americans were stepping out of apartment buildings and into the broader world, ready to claim their place in the American economy. But that journey wasn’t the same for everyone. Those with lighter skin found doors slightly more open, while darker-skinned individuals faced greater hurdles. Yet, despite these differences, the lesson was clear: we were all united by the same blood, the same history, and the same struggle for dignity and progress.
Spike Lee didn’t stop at showcasing these divisions—he challenged us to move beyond them. The ringing of the bell at the end of School Daze wasn’t just cinematic; it was a demand to wake up. It was a reminder that as a community, Black Americans have a mission—one designed by God—to create pathways for the oppressed, to unite in purpose, and to deliver those still bound by systemic chains.
The Evolving Face of Racism
Today, one of the most significant internal divides within the Black community lies in the distinction between American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS) and Black immigrants who migrated to the United States after 1965. Recognizing this distinction is essential because it shapes the unique experiences, histories, and challenges faced by these groups. ADOS have a lineage rooted in this country, shaped by centuries of enslavement and systemic oppression, while many Black immigrants hold ties to their native lands and often aspire to replicate their cultural lives here in America. For ADOS, however, America is home. It’s the land our ancestors built, and it’s where our fight for justice and equality must take place. This isn’t shade to Africa—it’s simply the reality of our unique lineage, one that was severed from its roots but cultivated here through resilience and determination.
In many ways, we are no longer fighting the overt racism of the past. There are no police officers setting attack dogs on peaceful protesters or water hoses spraying people in the streets without consequences. However, racism has not disappeared—it has become more insidious, deeply embedded in our institutions. It lingers in our prison systems, where sentencing disparities persist; in our educational structures, which often fail to provide Black children with equitable opportunities; and in our corporate organizations, where advancement is often hindered by systemic bias. It hides behind a facade of progress, masked by well-meaning efforts like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives that may look good on paper but often fail to create meaningful change.
DuBois, Washington, and Education
The divide between W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington continues to echo through our community. DuBois believed education would empower the “Talented Tenth” to lead the race to progress, while Washington emphasized practical skills like farming and trade as the foundation of independence. But somewhere along the way, education turned into programming, and the value of hard work was replaced by jails and prison cells.
The prison system, which disproportionately incarcerates Black men and women, has become a modern-day tool of oppression, deliberately reinforcing cycles of poverty and exclusion. These systems are not broken—they are operating as they were designed, targeting individuals who have already been failed by an education system that offers no real pathway to success. Instead of rehabilitation, the prison system prioritizes punishment, destroying families in the process. It creates single-parent households, leaving mothers to struggle alone, often with no choice but to rely on welfare and public housing subsidies, which only further entrench them in poverty.
In the past, television series like Good Times, The Jeffersons, A Different World, Living Single, and Martin reflected Black love, family, and ambition. These shows were aspirational and authentic, portraying the richness and resilience of Black life in ways that resonated deeply with the community. However, over time, media representation has grown and shifted. Today, instead of celebrating the diversity and complexity of Black experiences, we are often presented with shallow caricatures that reduce Black life to stereotypes.
This shift extends beyond media to music, which frequently glorifies violence and materialism, shaping a culture that equates success with becoming "Mainstream"—whether through music, podcasting, acting, or landing corporate jobs to live a cushy lifestyle. Yet, these corporate spaces are often another battleground for systemic racism. The barriers manifest in specific schools for recruiting or growth opportunities only offered to certain career levels. Tokenism is often displayed by uplifting one Black "star" while tearing down others to preserve the unspoken "one-rule" image of diversity. On so many occasions, Black professionals are not treated as individuals but as exceptions, symbolic representatives of their entire race. These systems prioritize optics over actual change, leaving most Black professionals without the mentorship, resources, or opportunities needed to truly thrive.
Unity: A Principle We’ve Forgotten
Back in the 1960s and 70s, Black Americans worked together to achieve common goals. What happened to us? Heroin, crack, greed, and a relentless pursuit to “be the GOAT” have fractured our unity. Prisons became glorified warehouses for talented Black young men, robbing our communities of their potential and turning promise into punishment. Corporate spaces turned into barriers instead of ladders, and media reduced our stories to shallow entertainment. We’ve grown more focused on individual status than on building the solidarity that once strengthened our community.
Unity in practice begins with acknowledging that ADOS have a unique identity, shaped by our specific history in America. We must respect that lineage while also working to bridge gaps with immigrant Black communities. Together, we can find strength in our differences, recognizing that progress for one group uplifts the collective.
Wake Up: A Call to Action
At its core, School Daze reminds us that the "Jigaboos" and the "Wannabees" were after the same thing: freedom. Both groups yearned to rise above their circumstances, to claim their dignity and worth. Spike Lee’s ringing of the bell at the end was a wake-up call—a reminder that Black Americans have a mission designed by God to create pathways for the oppressed. But we cannot fulfill that mission if we remain divided, consumed by envy, self-interest, and shallow judgments.
I don’t have all the answers. My hope is that our community leaders, political representatives, and church leaders can come together in unity before God to make feasible, lasting changes in the Black community. We need to wake up, and we need to do it quickly. In four years, there will be another election upon us, and the stakes have never been higher. Our unity is not optional; it is essential.
This content is the intellectual property of Jacqueline Session Ausby and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used in any form without my express written permission. For inquiries or permission requests, please contact me at Jmbeausby@aol.com.
Fragments of Hope through a new lens
The tools and strategies of the Civil Rights Movement taught us the power of collective action, but the times demand we wield that power in new ways. As we look through the lens of today’s challenges, we must reimagine how we fight for justice while holding onto the principles that led us forward in the past.
"The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression."
– W.E.B. Du Bois
Since Donald Trump’s presidential election, I’ve been amazed at how often I hear the claim that Black people are at risk of returning to slavery. While the idea of a literal return to chattel slavery may sound extreme, it reflects a deeper fear rooted in our collective history. This fear persists because slavery, far from being a relic of the past, has evolved into modern forms of exploitation. Across the globe, it exists in stark realities—from the mines of the Congo to the trafficking networks in Mauritania. In the United States, it thrives in more insidious ways. Our prison system incarcerates extraordinary numbers of Black men, exploiting their labor while sustaining a multibillion-dollar industry built on punishment and profit.
Recently, I listened to a podcast about Anthony Johnson, a Black man described as “probably” the first slave owner in America. This narrative is sometimes wielded to justify centuries of enslavement, as though one man’s actions could absolve a nation of its systemic oppression. It reminded me of Edward P. Jones’ The Known World, a haunting depiction of a Black slave owner in the antebellum South. Both the podcast and the novel underscore an unsettling truth: racism and exploitation are systems, not isolated acts of prejudice. They endure because they are deeply ingrained in policies, structures, and institutions designed to uphold inequality.
Racism impacts every class of American Blacks. From those living in public housing to those who own homes and land—even those who have achieved financial success and social status—it is clear that no ADOS Black is immune. Smaller organizations profit from low wages, while larger corporations hold back ADOS talent, subjecting them to unfair standards and imposing moral expectations rooted in white cultural norms. The closer one is to what is deemed socially white and acceptable, the better their chances of success.
Meanwhile, the prison system sees young Black boys as pawns in its machinery. Like crude oil, they are extracted, exploited, and used to fuel an industry built on oppression. Both corporate America and the prison-industrial complex reflect a society that thrives on using Black lives as resources while denying their humanity. Just as the prison system profits off incarcerated labor, corporations exploit talent while maintaining a veneer of equity. Together, these systems form an intricate web that sustains systemic racism.
Racism as a Systemic Issue
Racism isn’t just about personal prejudice or isolated events—it’s a system that touches every part of society, from our streets to our workplaces. This systemic nature makes racism harder to see, especially when its mechanisms are disguised as policies, traditions, or even well-meaning initiatives. By understanding racism as a structural force, we can shift the focus away from blaming individuals and toward confronting the systems that sustain oppression.
Yet, confronting these systems requires courage. Silence is not always golden; in fact, silence can be complicity. Too often, we sit quietly, watching another Black colleague face unfair scrutiny, labeled as "unfit," "unprofessional," or "defensive" simply for standing up for themselves. Meanwhile, those who remain submissive are rewarded with survival, a stark reminder of the cost of resistance. This complicity echoes across history—from those who turned a blind eye during slavery, prioritizing profit over humanity, to today’s corporate structures that demand silence in exchange for perceived security.
Specific Examples of Systemic Racism
Sandra Bland’s tragic death is a stark example of how systemic racism intersects with gender. A Black woman with a fiery disposition encountered a white male racist, and the result was explosive—oil and water do not mix. Sandra’s strength and defiance were viewed as threats rather than traits of humanity. Her death in a jail cell is a modern echo of Fannie Lou Hamer, another Black woman with a big voice and an imposing presence. Hamer’s outspokenness intimidated white men so profoundly they saw no humanity as they beat her nearly to death.
But this systemic scrutiny isn’t reserved for the outspoken. It happens even to those who are soft-spoken. We want so desperately to believe the world has changed, but in many ways, it remains the same. This harsh truth should not deter us from standing up for ourselves. Silence is not safety—it is complicity. Pretending racism isn’t happening because it’s not happening to you only allows it to persist. We must reject complacency and speak out, even when it feels like the odds are stacked against us.
The Role of Allies
W.E.B. Du Bois wrote in The Souls of Black Folk about the paradox of white support. While some genuinely sought progress for Black people, others acted out of a need to preserve their own moral image. This distinction remains relevant today. There are allies who genuinely believe in Black talent and work to dismantle oppressive systems, mirroring the white supporters of the Civil Rights Movement. However, allyship can be complicated, as seen in the YSL RICO case. The white defense lawyers seemed to respect their clients in a way that stood in sharp contrast to the Black prosecutors, including Mrs. Love and Mrs. Hylton, who led the prosecution under a Black district attorney. The dynamic underscored a troubling reality: even within systems designed to uphold justice, biases and hierarchies persist, often creating tension among those tasked with navigating these roles.
True allyship demands more than good intentions—it requires action, accountability, and an understanding that privilege can be used as a tool for collective liberation. Allies must move beyond silence and stand beside those who are fighting for equity, even when it is uncomfortable.
Taking a Stand: Courage in Action
Courage can dismantle systems of oppression. The YSL RICO case in Atlanta offers a powerful example. Six defendants stood firm, refusing to accept plea deals that would harm their co-defendants. Their collective resistance ultimately led to not-guilty verdicts for two defendants facing murder charges. To be clear, even the last two defendants had other charges to face, but at least the murder charges were behind them. Their refusal to accept unjust pleas highlighted the power of unity in resisting systemic biases within the justice system.
In organizations, we can take similar action. When we see discrimination, we must document it, call it out, and use the same policies that organizations use against us to hold them accountable. Flooding the system with truth—standing up for ourselves and others—can disrupt the structures that sustain systemic racism.
Circling Back: The Lessons of Anthony Johnson
As I think back to the story of Anthony Johnson, I’m reminded of how narratives shape systems. His story has been manipulated to deflect responsibility for centuries of oppression. But the lesson isn’t about one man’s actions—it’s about the systems that have used stories like his to perpetuate inequality.
If we’ve learned anything, it’s that change requires collective courage, relentless truth-telling, and the refusal to let systems of oppression define us. Whether it’s in prisons, boardrooms, or communities, the roots of racism run deep—but so do the branches of hope.
We have the power to stand, speak, and dismantle. The question is: will we?
Reflections from a Quiet Room
There are moments when I sit alone in my room, basking in a fleeting sense of peace, only to have a thought intrude—a tinge of guilt, a reminder of those far away. I imagine the refugee camps in Sudan, dust-laden fields stretching endlessly under a harsh sun. Women with their heads covered, feet bare, children clinging to their backs, their cries a constant, haunting melody. The wars in Ukraine, the unrest through the Middle East—the faces of women flicker through my mind.
In these quiet moments, I find the strength to keep moving. If they must journey across desolate lands in herds, then I have no choice but to press forward here. Anything less would feel like a betrayal of their resilience. I hold onto simple joys—taking my grandchildren to the mall, watching them pretend to be grown or risk it all in a game of chess. These moments remind me of my responsibility.
Perhaps they, too, carry their children, only to be met with the news that their sons have fallen on distant battlefields, victims of bloodshed at the hands of some unseen force. I see the camps so clearly—fields of dust, the air thick with despair. The faces of women, etched with hardship, bear the weight of their children and their futures. Above them, drones drift like silent predators, unseen yet ever-present, delivering death with chilling precision. They are the snipers of the sky, casting shadows over lives that have never known peace.
Forever refugees—across Sudan, Ukraine, the volatile Middle East. Each place burns in its own way, a center of the world where every eye watches, waiting for Christ. We fix our gaze on Jerusalem, knowing that the story there is far from over. Sometimes, I wonder: If America had been the land that birthed the Son of God, would life be different? Perhaps not. But one day, our worlds will collide, and I might find myself over there instead of here. Would God vanish in that moment? No, He’s always been present, both here and there.
There’s no need for empty promises or quick fixes. The world is as it is—full of struggle, love, pain, and rare moments of peace. Yet, in the midst of it all, there’s a breath, a heartbeat that keeps us moving forward. Perhaps, for now, that is enough.
WOMEN AT THE WELL
Recently, I watched an episode of Freaky Fridays, a podcast featuring Cam Newton. Cam hosted two Atlanta adult entertainers, India and Diamond. Both women were prominent dancers at the iconic Magic City nightclub, making substantial money without, as they put it, “selling their souls.” There names were featured in prominent Rappers lyrics and their shared stories navigated a space steeped in judgment while maintaining boundaries, even as others around them crossed lines. Listening to them, I was struck by the complexities of their experiences and found myself grappling with what it truly means to be a woman in a world that defines us so narrowly—by our choices, our bodies, and our perceived morality.
Their stories lingered in my mind, stirring reflections that reached far deeper than the surface. What does it mean to be seen? To be valued? Since the days of Adam and Eve, womanhood has often been framed through the lenses of sin and sexuality. Biblical narratives have repeatedly painted women as bearers of both temptation and redemption, creating a tension that has shaped societal expectations for generations.
The story of the Samaritan woman at the well embodies this tension. Standing before Jesus, she brings with her all the weight of her past, her troubles, and her sacrifices. And yet, Jesus sees her. Not just her sin, but her humanity. He acknowledges her pain, her longing, and offers her the ultimate gift of redemption. Isn’t that who we all are? Women, carrying our stories, our burdens, and our hopes, longing to be fully seen and understood.
India and Diamond’s stories remind me of the Samaritan woman in many ways. They too navigate the complexities of judgment and redemption. They’ve carved out freedom for themselves in a system that often exploits the very essence of who they are. And yet, even as they’ve stepped away from dancing, they still hire women to perform at their parties—a nod to their past, but also a reinforcement of the very system they once sought to escape. Is this empowerment, or is it another layer of entrapment?
There’s a paradox in breaking free from something and yet continuing to contribute to it. It’s as if, in escaping the cage, you still find yourself drawn back to its bars. For India and Diamond, this complicity feels like both a reflection of their journey and a reminder of how hard it is to leave certain systems behind.
Cam Newton’s perspective added another layer to this complexity. As he spoke about strip clubs—his money thrown around, the naked women dancing before him—there was a hint of glorification in his tone. For him, these spaces are arenas for power and performance, a place to display wealth and indulge in the spectacle. But for the women in those spaces, it is something far more intimate. It’s their essence, the sacredness of their bodies on display, reduced to a transaction. This tension—between what women give and what men take—remains at the heart of the conversation.
In moments like these, I think about the blood. Between women and men, between exploitation and liberation, there is always the blood. Biblically, blood signifies life, the ultimate symbol of humanity and sacrifice. For women, it is deeply tied to identity—the blood of creation, the blood of pain, the blood that sustains life itself.
When men like Cam get so close to the essence of who women are, it is the blood that still separates them. It is the unbridgeable gap between seeing a woman as a whole being and reducing her to an object of desire. The blood demands reverence, but too often, it is ignored in favor of the spectacle.
India and Diamond’s stories resonate deeply with me because they are part of my generation—the Hip Hop generation. We were shaped by the beats, the lyrics, and the culture that celebrated both triumph and struggle. It was a world where survival meant finding your voice, your hustle, and your way forward, even when the odds were stacked against you.
Their paths and mine are vastly different, but what strikes me is how, in the end, our roads often cross and recross. No matter where we started or how far we’ve come, we all find ourselves in the same place: searching for redemption, for love, and for the assurance that we are seen. We carry our baggage—some visible, some buried deep—and yet, like the Samaritan woman, we stand before God, hoping He sees beyond our mistakes and choices. We pray that He sees our hearts, our sacrifices, and our humanity.
What I see in India and Diamond’s stories is a reflection of this generation’s longing. We all want to be seen, not for what we’ve done but for who we are. Their stories remind me that the road to freedom and redemption is not a straight path. It loops back on itself, weaving through moments of empowerment, complicity, and, sometimes, painful realizations about the systems we thought we had escaped.
But through it all, we keep praying. We keep hoping. And we keep trying to find our way back to ourselves, back to love, and back to the God who has seen us all along.
The Shades of Exploitation: Lessons from Jay-Z, P. Diddy, and Our Cultural Conditioning
No more Black monsters—no more narratives that vilify our men without cause. Our stories are powerful, and they deserve to be told on our own terms, in our own voices, for the future we want to build—not the one handed to us.
Lessons from the Kaleidoscope of Black and White
Growing up, my world was a kaleidoscope of black and white—a moral dichotomy where right was right, and wrong was wrong, with no room for shades in between. My mother raised us to embrace the light and shun the darkness. She worked tirelessly—three jobs at times—as a warehouse worker during the week and a house cleaner on weekends. She provided food, shelter, and even the small luxuries of television, books, and games, ensuring her children could walk the “right” path. Her lessons, though steeped in love, were shaped by a world that dictated “appropriate” behavior through the narrow lens of movies, media, and societal expectations.
I learned early on that the lighter hues—metaphorically and literally—were deemed more acceptable, while the darker ones were cast as inappropriate, even dangerous. The cultural conditioning was relentless, teaching us to strive for the “right” side of things as defined by forces outside our community. My mother reinforced these lessons not out of malice but out of survival—understanding that stepping out of line could mean dire consequences.
And yet, as I reflect on those lessons, I see the contradictions we’ve been fed. Stories of success, especially for Black men like Jay-Z and P. Diddy, tell us to celebrate the climb. But the reality is much more complicated. These men climbed through the cracks of a system that both enabled and scrutinized them. For decades, they symbolized success, breaking through spaces that historically shut Black men out. But as they climbed, they entered a world that demanded something in return—a world where scrutiny is masked as praise, and the same people who build you up are just as quick to tear you down.
Take P. Diddy. He’s now at the center of sprawling allegations—allegations so wild they feel more like a spectacle than reality. I don’t know if he’s guilty. I’m not here to judge. But it’s hard not to notice how the system plays its game. Build someone up. Strip them of value. Repeat. It’s an endless cycle, and every time it happens, I can’t help but see the reflection of a long history of exploitation in America.
The Exploitation of Black Success
Growing up, my community was taught to question ourselves and place our trust in American systems—systems that dangled visions of success before our eyes, fully aware they never intended to include us. I’ll be the first to admit: I prefer living low. I see beauty in the struggle, in the way families once helped one another. Back then, one community shared a common goal—freedom. But at some point, we were sold a lie: “Moving on up” meant leaving behind those who couldn’t.
This mindset of “every man for himself” has fractured our communities. We’ve been told that eating with plastic spoons and paper plates is for barbecues, not everyday life. That pig feet are out of style and corn cakes should be swapped for scones. We’re told to escape liquor stores and failing schools by moving to the other side of the tracks—as if success is found in distance, not in our roots.
The same systems that gave us these messages haven’t stopped there. Nonprofits swoop into Black communities, scouting for talent with promises of bright futures. But their bright futures often come at a cost—removing young people from the only places they’ve ever known and planting them in spaces they barely recognize. Add in the distractions—groupies, easy access to drugs, and money that feels like it’ll never stop flowing—and it’s no wonder many find themselves trapped. These setups aren’t accidents; they’re calculated moves designed to keep Black men in the guise of success, all while under control.
I think of O.J. Simpson as a cautionary example. He left his roots, trying to be something the world deemed better, only to find himself lost in a system that used him as much as it praised him. His name became synonymous with scandal, and while his choices were his own, they were made within a world that seemed ready to pounce at the first sign of weakness. It’s a story that’s replayed over and over, from sports to music to Hollywood. The higher they climb, the sharper the knives waiting to cut them down.
The Responsibility to Reclaim Our Narrative
Over the last several years, Jay-Z and Beyoncé have become more than artists—they’ve become symbols. A Black family, polished and pristine, like a modern-day Adam and Eve. Of course, no one can rise that high without whispers. Illuminati this. Dark magic that. I’ve heard it all. Do I believe it? Not really. But what I do know is that their perfection seems to invite something darker—this unrelenting hunger to expose them, to dig up dirt that doesn’t exist.
Jay-Z’s name is now being dragged into lawsuits dating back decades. Executives and lawyers with reputations to build know that blood in the water will draw the vultures. Allegations swirl with no proof, and suddenly, the whispers become louder. It’s not new. We’ve seen this with others, from P. Diddy to Michael Jackson. The stories start small and grow until the court of public opinion has already decided guilt.
I don’t know if Jay-Z is innocent. That’s not for me to say. But what I do respect is when someone stands tall, refuses to bow to the chaos, and shifts the narrative. Not every Black man fits the stereotypes imposed on him. Some fight for truth, even when the odds are stacked against them. Jay-Z’s case may prove him foolish or fearless, but what matters is the responsibility that comes with his platform.
As a community, we must reclaim our stories. For too long, success has been defined by how far we move away from our roots. It’s time to reverse that thinking. Our brilliance doesn’t need validation from a system that wasn’t built for us. We can support one another, create spaces for our stories, and celebrate our culture without apology. Jay-Z’s truth, whether it stands or falls, reminds us of the stakes—and the cost of silence.
We need to come together and learn from the mistakes of our African ancestors, who sold their futures to possess what white men owned. History has shown us the cost of division and complacency. Let’s demand accountability—not just for Jay-Z or P. Diddy, but for all of us. If Jay-Z is guilty, let the evidence speak—show the DNA and prove it. But if not, we cannot sit back and watch as another Black man is cast as a monster without proof, scapegoated by a system that thrives on tearing us apart.
It’s time to break free from these cycles of exploitation and destruction. No more Black monsters—no more narratives that vilify our men without cause. We must reclaim our stories, support one another, and reject the narratives designed to diminish us. Our stories are powerful. They deserve to be told on our own terms, in our own voices, for the future we want to build—not the one handed to us.
Beyond the Rap Battle: Navigating the Divide in Black Identity
Growing up, I never knew I was anything different from my cousins, family, and neighborhood friends. We were all Black. We shared the same stories: descendants of slaves who managed to escape the legacy of oppression. Though we were poor, we held a dignity that could not be denied. This was the sound of the American Black story, one of resilience. Figures like Billie Holiday, who fell victim to heroin, and others like Mary J. Blige and Lauryn Hill, who rose to prominence, were a testament to our collective journey.
Rap music became the heartbeat of our culture, the fuel that powered the Hip Hop Generation. MTV and shows like The Cosby Show and Living Single educated us on the value of hard work, perseverance, and education. Rappers like Rakim and Tupac told the stories of our struggle: the harsh realities of drugs, crime, and violence, and how we tried to overcome them. These stories resonated deeply with us, showing a path forward despite adversity. By 2008, the narrative shifted, and suddenly, Blackness was inflated to include everyone who wasn’t white. As our struggles were subsumed under the broader banner of “people of color,” the issues uniquely affecting American Blacks began to get lost. The same trend became evident in corporate and political spaces, where Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts often overlooked the lived experiences of ADOS (American Descendants of Slavery) Black Americans in favor of a more generalized approach to “diversity.”
This shift has been especially noticeable in our entertainment industry, where the depiction of Blackness has been commodified and altered to fit mainstream, global tastes. The recent Drake-Kendrick Lamar rap battle is a microcosm of this larger issue. On the surface, it may seem like just another rap beef, but in reality, it highlights the growing divide between ADOS Blacks and immigrant Blacks in the public sphere.
The Cultural Divide: Rap as a Reflection of Black Identity
The Kendrick Lamar-Drake debate is more than just two artists vying for supremacy; it’s about contrasting visions of Black identity. Kendrick Lamar, with his deep lyrical introspection and social commentary, represents the lived experience of American Black life. His lyrics are a window into the struggles and triumphs of ADOS Black Americans—resilient, proud, and shaped by a history that cannot be ignored.
Drake, though half-Black, was raised in a very different cultural context. Growing up in Canada, he doesn’t share the same generational struggle that American Blacks face. Despite his Black heritage, his upbringing in a predominantly white, middle-class setting places him in a position more akin to an immigrant, disconnected from the historical depth of American Black identity. His music, often more aligned with mainstream pop culture, lacks the rawness and authenticity that Kendrick Lamar’s does. This distinction—between the commercial appeal of Drake’s music and the deep, often painful truths in Kendrick’s—is what sets them apart. While both are successful, their version of Blackness reflects very different narratives: one shaped by a specific, localized struggle in America, the other by a more globalized, palatable version of Blackness.
The Problem With the “All Blackness Is the Same” Narrative
The unfortunate reality is that, while ADOS Black Americans fight to reclaim their narrative, immigrant Blacks often align themselves with white social norms, distancing themselves from the authentic experiences of those who’ve built the culture they now thrive in. Take figures like Denzel Washington, who, despite his significant credibility in the Black community, is increasingly being pushed into roles that feel disconnected from the true essence of Black identity. Denzel, known for avoiding trite roles and instead taking on powerful, meaningful characters in films like Fences, has been a beacon of Black excellence. But lately, there’s a shift, and it raises the question: Is he being molded into something he’s not, or is the industry now dictating what it means to be Black in America?
What’s happening with Denzel is part of a broader trend that the entertainment industry is pushing forward: the erasure of the nuances of Black identity. The problem lies in the insistence that all Black experiences are the same, even when they are not. Figures like Joy Reid, an immigrant Black woman, continue to represent this narrative by suggesting that figures like Kamala Harris are authentically Black, despite their disconnection from the struggles that define American Black identity. This narrative distorts the real experiences of ADOS Blacks, creating confusion about what it means to be Black in America.
A New Paradigm: Understanding the Different Struggles
The question now becomes: when will we, as ADOS Blacks, begin to confront this myth that all Black people are the same? This idea needs to be challenged, because it’s ultimately harming the fight for our own justice. We must acknowledge that the wounds we carry as ADOS Blacks are deep, stemming from the brutal legacy of slavery, systemic racism, and centuries of disenfranchisement. Immigrant Blacks may share some experiences of marginalization, but their wounds are less visible, often subtler, as they don’t bear the same history that ADOS Blacks do.
This divide between ADOS and immigrant Blacks is becoming more pronounced, and it’s time to recognize it. Until we can address the complexities of our respective struggles, we will continue to be divided. The rap battle between Kendrick and Drake is just one example of how this divide plays out in the public sphere. The entertainment industry—and society as a whole—must recognize that the Black experience in America is not a monolith. Only then can we move forward together as a unified bloc, advocating for change in a way that genuinely reflects our distinct histories, struggles, and identities.
Conclusion
As ADOS Blacks, we must reclaim the narrative that has been stolen from us for far too long. Our story is one of resilience, defiance, and strength, and it deserves to be told authentically. We cannot afford to let our struggles be subsumed under a false, universal version of Blackness that erases the real experiences of those who have lived through slavery, Jim Crow, and the ongoing fight for equality. If we are to build a future that truly honors our past, we must first confront the uncomfortable truths about how Blackness is represented in our culture, both in entertainment and beyond. The battle is not just about who’s winning in the rap game—it’s about who gets to define what it means to be Black in America.