Kamala Harris: Anointed by Identity Politics and Empty Promises

What do you do when you are the U.S. Democratic Presidential presumptive nominee with no agenda, haven’t won a single delegate, and have a vice-presidential performance so poor it can only be compared to the likes of Dan Quayle? Well, when you don’t have anything to run on and you are aiming for the highest office in the land, you pretend you have enthusiasm and momentum on your side by playing identity politics. Kamala Harris has been tossed the ball, and now she is running, rallying her most important voting bloc—the American Black community—to sweep her into the White House.

The Media Hype and the Real Kamala

Kamala Harris is being propped up by the media as the poster child of “I have a dream,” as if her legacy is comparable to Martin Luther King’s. She is a pretender, becoming whatever is necessary in the moment. Today, she is an American Black woman, cooking collard greens—as if collard greens are reserved for Blacks only. She’s been visiting jazz shops in Black neighborhoods and attending sorority meetings, perpetrating a straight fraud, telling stories reminiscent of the American Black struggle, pretending to have been there.

Her mother would never have been able to tell the story of growing up on a farm, sharecropping in Mississippi, or how our brothers and sisters went from “raggedy little begging motherfuckers” to the new kids on the block with a Glock, only to be set up and arrested by a white undercover cop. Kamala will never know what it means to walk on needles and crack vials or to see your uncle in an alley with your childhood friend, shooting up. She will never understand how one steps outside of harsh reality to sit back and watch fiends and alcoholics parade down bleak streets. She will never grasp the longing to leave a place of poverty and destitution. She will never understand.

Listening to the media, you might start to believe the hype; her campaign appears locked and loaded. The enthusiasm is intoxicating, and this rise in momentum—right over Joe Biden—can only be compared to President Barack Obama’s campaign. It’s as if they believe the ADOS community learned nothing from Obama’s presidency.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a difference between President Barack Obama and Harris: he fought for his positions. Yes, he lost a race, but he continued to fight by convincing voters. President Obama ran a grassroots foot campaign that inspired a nation. Harris, on the other hand, is unable to even convince enough CA voters to come to her side—not because she has Black skin but because she has a poor record. She is a drag.

After President Joe Biden shocked the world by announcing he would drop out of the presidential race, Harris’ campaign raised $81 million in 24 hours. In the next 48 hours, she secured 1,900 delegates to become the Democratic presumptive nominee. To celebrate, she held Zoom calls with Black Women for Kamala, racking up millions more and creating a domino effect. Then there were Zoom calls with White Women for Kamala and, lately, White Dudes for Kamala, steadily increasing her funds. Meanwhile, warships are headed to the Middle East, Iran has hit another American military base, the stock market and our economy are in shock, yet every left-leaning pundit will deny the truth of the economy and instead attempt to convince their largest voting bloc to ignore these issues because Kamala is Black.

At the same time, she is unable to draw more than 100 people to her rallies. To pretend she has the numbers on her side, after an embarrassing performance at a few events and rallies, Harris had to call out the big dogs in Atlanta, GA. She had Andre Dickens, Keisha Lance Bottoms, Raphael Warnock, Quavo was in the house and Meg the Stallion gave a performance so cringe all that can be said is—this how you go big on big—stop it!! All the grand standing and lies that floated around claiming Harris is African American was followed by another word salad speech, that lacked facts, failed to take responsibility for the current economic conditions impacting middle class and self proclamation of being a powerful Black DA capable of bringing down Donald Trump. “Say it to my face,” Harris feigned.

DEI PICK

Kamala Harris is the hand-picked representation of every negative connotation associated with the acronym DEI. She exemplifies DEI gone wrong. Her selection by Biden was a watered-down version of what DEI was designed for—to benefit ADOS. She has exploited this privilege, and it’s sad. She doesn’t represent ADOS and certainly doesn’t represent American Black women like myself. Yet, we are judged in our corporate lives by her standard.

Kamala is undoubtedly a DEI hire; her selection as VP is still used as a talking point by Joe Biden. She was chosen for her skin color, not her capabilities. The perception that all Black people are selected solely because of our skin color, regardless of qualifications or capabilities, is the fallacy she represents.

Her campaign should have countered the DEI perceptions by highlighting her qualifications. However, the problem they found is that all she has to offer America is a dismal record as District Attorney of San Francisco and California Attorney General. She rose through the ranks due to skin color, favoritism, Willie Brown, and the backs of Black folk. To present herself as a tough prosecutor, she treated Black people as pawns, imprisoned women, and kept men in jail. Harris doesn’t align with my ideas, beliefs, or heritage.

Poor Performance and Perceptions

Over the last three years, Kamala Harris has kept her promise to focus on immigration, but she has made no attempt to define any ADOS initiative. The left-leaning media attempts to obscure this truth, claiming, “She was not the immigration czar,” despite her two responsibilities as Vice President: to mislead the American public about the economy and to empower communities in other nations, while avoiding the topic of generational wealth for the American Black community.

The obvious result is failed immigration policies and an economy on the brink of collapse, a direct consequence of poor energy policies and Bidenomics. Our stock market crashed on Friday, August 3, due to inflation and a poor jobs report; Bidenomics highlights the failure of the Biden/Harris presidency. Even if you ignore facts about her race, you can’t ignore her failures. She has ignored the border, our allies, and our communities. She has lied about student loan debt, Medicare for All, Bidenomics, and even Biden’s mental state.

Trump doesn’t have to play identity politics with Harris. She has a record. The media will tell you that Harris’s enthusiasm is generated because she’s Black, but her public record is being swept clean. You can barely find an article critical of Harris, but we remember. How many times is Joy Reid going to dismiss those of us who disagree with this notion that Harris is Black and claim those of us that believe that she’s not are ridiculous? We have to listen to this nonsense repeatedly in the media, as if we are so blind and dumb we will believe any narrative coming from the donkey’s ass.

All the shouting from the left and their emphasis on polls favorable to Kamala Harris, while downplaying more reputable pollsters for positive headlines, is a strategy. It is quite obvious there are cracks in that foundation.

As an American Black woman, I would love nothing more than to see a qualified ADOS Black woman run for president and win. Heck, when I knew very little about Kamala, I rooted for her when she came on the scene in 2017. Not knowing better, I believed she was the only ADOS female senator at that time—now I know she’s not ADOS. Back then I was hyped for her, but then came the Brett Kavanaugh Senate confirmation hearings—and her ridiculous performance. When I listened to Harris, I felt dumb because nothing she said made sense. I got lost in the fog of words, clichés, and veiled threats. It was all a staged game she was playing, and we know the result: Kavanaugh was confirmed.

Identity Politics infused in Media Narratives

MSNBC is pandering and playing identity politics with loud-mouthed pundits like Joy Reid, but CNN is playing the same game. Every host echoes the same narrative: Kamala Harris will be the first Black female vice president, a Howard graduate with a Jamaican father.

Even American Black podcasters are contributing to the ambiguity surrounding Kamala Harris’s racial identity. Mark Lamont Hill says Harris is Black but stops short of calling her African American, showing a bit of integrity in handling the issue. On the other hand, Don Lemon, who argued in 2020 that Harris was not American Black, has now reversed his stance and claims she is Black. This flip-flopping, without defining what “Black” means, is sheer conflation. It highlights how race is used ambiguously and strategically in politics, demonstrating that Harris is using identity tactics to boost her campaign.

Democrats have had the media referring to certain whites as nationalists, white supremacists, and deplorables since 2012. They have referred to Trump as a criminal, a rapist, a racist, and have made allegation after allegation for the last three years. Some privileged American Black women have even called out, on media platforms, the fact that Trump cheated on Melania with a porn star while Melania was pregnant—as if Melania Trump is not a woman. It’s as if cheating with a porn star is worse than a 30-year-old woman selling her body to an old married man for a DA seat. We all have skeletons in the closet. Yet, the Trump campaign, according to the media, is accused of playing dirty politics.

I will say that what happened on January 6 was maddening—that is no lie. For a moment, I thought America was on the brink of civil war, but the way the judicial and legislative branches of government checked Trump and upheld the Constitution was inspiring. It demonstrated that when tested, Trump had no power. If he wanted to serve as President for another term after Biden/Harris won the White House, he would have to do it the democratic way—by running again and winning.

The Hypocrisy

As soon as Trump and JD Vance use terms like “cat ladies,” “DEI hires,” or “immigration czar,” the media cries foul, accusing them of using language that belittles women and reflects disdain for people of color. Both sides engage in name-calling and ad hominem attacks.

The left is using language to throw bricks—but even light punches seem like knockouts to them. The outrage is almost comical. It’s unfortunate that if you lack a record, no voter support, and have been handed the ball and patted on the back by a nice white man, all that’s left to do is play the race card and name-call.

Harris has no clear agenda. In contrast, Trump has a defined agenda—whether you agree with it or not, he has one. Yet, Joy Reid and other MSNBC hosts, along with media pundits, are creating fear around Project 2025 as if it’s Trump’s agenda and as if Harris has a more appealing agenda of her own. If you visit her website, all you find is jargon and empty space.

During her 2020 run for president, Harris exploited the ADOS community by going on speaking tours and appearing on Black platforms, offering free incentives to our community, like crack. Today, she continues the same strategy—attending Black national sorority conventions, speaking at Black funerals, and campaigning in African American communities to portray herself as one of us. The American Black church will be next—just watch.

Her affiliation with AKA (Alpha Kappa Alpha) is used as proof that she is ADOS. I was never an AKA, nor did I attend an HBCU—does that mean I am not Black? These liberal pundits even reference the one-drop rule, echoing sentiments from the Jim Crow era, where whites hoped to preserve purity in their bloodlines by classifying even a drop of Black blood as tainted—it is absurd. Now we are running around saying that even a drop of Black blood makes you Black. Perhaps that is true, but I don’t know the measure of what constitutes Blackness. However, having a drop of Black blood does not make you ADOS. Peep the difference.

Harris’s 2020 campaign championed abortion and promised a monthly stipend to poor communities, I.e. the American black community, she exploits vulnerabilities within our community to attract support. Since becoming VP, she has not fulfilled these promises; instead, she continued to advocate for abortion and has remained silent on reparations for the American Black community.

Although she has not explicitly acknowledged her inability to restore Roe v. Wade, it is clear that overturning the Dobbs decision would be a significant challenge, especially given that it took 75 years for Roe v. Wade to be decided and then returned to the states. Now, she claims she can overturn Dobbs in just four years without the support of the Supreme Court.

To achieve this, Biden and Harris have proposed introducing policies to impose term limits on Supreme Court Justices. This move is ironic, considering that the rule change made by Senate Democrats in 2013—eliminating the filibuster for most judicial nominees—set the stage for the current makeup of the Supreme Court.

Flip flop

Harris’s shifting positions on various issues highlight her inconsistency and lack of genuine commitment. A prime example is her Middle Eastern foreign policy. She was once a supporter of Palestinians, calling for a ceasefire. However, as the Democratic presumptive nominee, she now aligns with Israel and is even considering a Jewish white man as her VP candidate.

She briefly supported Palestinians, even traveling to Israel to hold secret meetings with Benny Gantz, a former member of Netanyahu’s war cabinet, seemingly to mediate the conflict in Gaza. Recently, after becoming the Presidential nominee, Harris gave a speech expressing unwavering support for Israel and echoing Joe Biden’s talking points. Clearly, there is no distinction between her policy views and Biden’s, so it’s no surprise if Biden’s 2024 agenda becomes her de facto agenda.

Today, Nate Silver predicts that Kamala Harris has a path to the White House, claiming she will win all four Rust Belt states and Georgia. It’s troubling to think she could actually win. President Obama and Biden carried Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. Harris would also need Georgia to win.

Trump needs only one of the Rust Belt states, and with JD Vance, he could clinch a win in Pennsylvania. We have been surprised before, and Kamala knows she needs all four states to have even a semblance of hope.

Out of her six VP choices, it’s likely she will pick Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, believing he can help her win blue-collar voters and stop Trump. This choice reflects her disregard for the American Black community, as she wouldn’t consider selecting an ADOS candidate for the White House. Now, she’s promoting fracking when she previously supported the Green New Deal—a clear contradiction.

She has flipped from being an Indian-Jamaican-American, a Palestinian supporter, and a believer in abortion and climate change to presenting herself as a Black woman who supports drilling and Israel. Yet, she still argues that American Black women should have the right to terminate pregnancies, which undermines our legacy, while pretending that some states don’t respect that right.

Threat to America

“Trump is a threat to democracy,” says a candidate who has received zero delegates, bypassed a primary election, and has done nothing for America.

I want to mention JD Vance for a moment. He’s from the rust belt, he grew up poor, his mother suffered from addiction, raised by his grandmother, went to Yale and served in the military and somehow Harris had the audacity to question what Vance has done for America. What has she done for America beside suck up DEI benefits.

She states Vance is an Hypocrite hypocrite hypocrite because, like many Americans, he once despised Trump based on the Democratic narrative. But I despise Trump less than I despise the Democrats for their policies that continue to destroy our community.

I resent the way Democrats use “free for all” to keep us dependent, drunk, and stupid. Free healthcare, free college, food stamps, and rental stipends—they give a crumb here and a crumb there for us to nibble on, keeping us quiet until we cast that vote. Then they cut us off—one month of food stamps and access to abortion clinics is all we will get from Biden/Harris.

Harris has nothing more to say about the Trump/Vance ticket except to claim they are “weird.” For an entire week, there was serious wordsmithing around a five-letter word. “Weird” became a national buzzword. When she referred to Trump/Vance as “weird” during her campaign rally in GA, I realized she was responsible for pundits going on a media blitz, calling Trump and his campaign “weird.” All week long, her surrogates have been like marionettes, repeating the same talking point.

Dahtruth

Examining Harris’s performance as Vice President reveals a lack of significant initiatives or policies. Her handling of the border crisis has been abysmal, with record numbers of illegal immigrants entering the United States under her watch. The administration now pretends as if she wasn’t in charge of the border, claiming numbers are dropping and pointing out the border bill that failed because of Trump. Of course, he was not in office but they blame him for disrupting the law-abiding bodies—and the Biden/Harris administration could do nothing to stop it.

I think it’s fair for any American to consider who we vote into office. In 2020, I voted for Biden out of fear of another Trump presidency. But look at our world today: Iran and Israel’s war in Gaza, Russia’s attempted annexation of Ukraine, our failed policies in Africa, the destruction in Haiti, our failed border crisis, inflation, rising gas and food prices, and soaring electric costs. I could go on and on—but I won’t.

In the end, Kamala Harris’s lackluster performance, empty promises, and reliance on identity politics reveal a candidate who is not fit for the highest office. She has no substantive agenda or real policies to offer the American people. Despite the media hype and her attempts to play the race card, the fact remains: her record as Vice President is underwhelming, and her campaign is devoid of genuine substance. Voting for her simply because of her skin color is not a viable option. We deserve a leader with clear principles, a robust track record, and a vision that truly addresses the needs of our country. Harris fails on all counts, and we cannot settle for less when the future of America is at stake.

"Justice for Sonya Massey: A Reflection on ModeRn Racism and Accountability

What an exhausting week last week was for America. There is so much to talk about, from the rise of Kamala Harris to the out-of-hand killings in Philadelphia. There was the embarrassment of America as we received Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, one of our greatest allies. Our leadership was completely absent. The President was licking his wombs in Delaware and Harris was at a sorority meeting, pretending to be ADOS. That was a disgrace, and super disrespectful. Unfortunately, the most devastating thing we witnessed last week was the killing of Sonya Massey. Words can’t explain.

Sonya Massey’s unfortunate killing in cold blood is devastating. I am convinced that without the body camera, the story of what happened in that house would have forever been covered in lies and distractions. Thanks to video cameras, we can all attest to a crime that was not just tragic; it was downright evil.

The police in Illinois were called by Sonya Massey because she believed she had heard a prowler. When the police officers arrived, Sonya came outside and stood with them. She was acting strangely, as if she was afraid, and she invoked the name of Jesus repeatedly as she spoke with the police. The police seemed to reassure her that she was safe. They let her know they had searched the property and found no one there. Despite this, they stepped inside to get her ID for the report.

Once inside, Sonya couldn’t find her ID, and a pot had been boiling on the stove. One of the officers pointed out the pot—you could see the steam rising in the video. Sonya got up to turn off the pot, and this is where the friction escalated. As Sonya took the pot from the stove, she turned and headed toward the police—it appeared she may have been going to pour the water into the sink. As she turned, she asked the officers why they were backing up. One of the officers said, “That’s a hot pot.” The two officers laughed a little, and then she said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” That’s when one of the officers became enraged. He yelled, “I’ll shoot you in your fucking face: She screamed, “I am sorry, I am sorry,” as she knelt down beneath a counter. Then, just like that, the officer shot her three times, killing her instantly.

To be honest, the police had no real reason to enter her home. Had she been in her right mind, she probably would not have allowed them in. She had called for help; they helped her and should have left. Both officers seemed pretty calm, but once inside, you could sense growing frustration as Sonya searched for her ID. She even asked at one point for one of the officers to hand her a Bible.

The officer, Sean Grayson, only seemed to be slightly annoyed, but as she turned with that pot, both officers stepped back. They both had the same fear that she was going to throw the water at them.

But she did not.

What’s unclear is if she had the pot in her hand when she dropped down. Nevertheless, when she said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” it seemed to trigger Officer Sean Grayson. A rage took over, and he shot and killed Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old woman suffering mentally in that moment.

Intertwined within all this is the experience no Black American ever wants to encounter. There was a longer thread of racism ever-present in that house. The towering white men looking over a Black, feeble person clearly in need of medical assistance, failed to see her humanity because of that thin thread. There was the whimpering and the pleading for a second chance from Sonya’s bowed-down frame.

A testimony in video. Watching, my mind went back to August 1964 when Fannie Lou Hamer gave her testimony at the Democratic National Committee after being arrested and beaten in Winona, Mississippi, for exercising her right to vote. There was no video, only her words that told the story of the abuse she suffered at the hands of the police. We had to use our imagination to think of the way evil manifested inside the cell. Then there was Sandra Bland—whose arrest had been videotaped, but her death behind bars wasn’t captured by a single camera.

In Fannie Lou’s case, there were no convictions for that crime. In Sandra’s case, there was a cover-up and no charges for the crime. But with Sonya Massey, we have the video camera; we see what occurred, and justice will be served. To think this will never happen again is a fallacy. The thought that it could have been me or you is visceral and real. Perhaps the officer wasn’t a racist; perhaps he never saw her as human—but we witnessed the event, and what happened can’t be denied or reshaped or reframed. Grayson was fired immediately and charged. His audacity is just the same as those officers that beat Fannie Lou, as he has pled not guilty. But we wait for the jury to decide.

I will say, just off-topic, there are two people running for the presidency, and only one supports cameras for police officers, and that is Donald Trump.

What is also shameful is how one family’s tragedy becomes another man’s pursuit. Right after hearing about Sonya Massey’s death, I watched her family hold a press conference with Benjamin Crump himself, the money man. Crump exudes payday. He is like that eel lingering below the surface, waiting on another senseless death of a Black person to build on his wealth. Talk about a walking, talking ambulance chaser pretending to be an advocate for justice.

Every single court case he fights comes to an end, and he disappears back into the depths of darkness only to arise again at another death or police shooting. If the case involves a cop and a Black person, Crump suddenly appears with a big smile, trying to articulate the matter with some random slogan. George Floyd’s death was “get off my neck.” I suppose Sonya’s may be: “She called for help and got a bullet to the head.” It doesn’t even register with any impact because we are sick of slogans.

I am sick of the story of a white cop killing a Black person being told as if every individual in an entire police force is corrupt. Or as if the white police are running around hoping to shoot another n****r (using for context). At the same time we pretend crimes like those committed by Officer Grayson, can be eliminated. If we are good enough to one another the entire world will be good. It’s unfortunate but a grim reality that people can change and transform, but it’s not always for good. Evil is ever-present in the heart of every individual, and therefore, every system that governs our lives will continue to exhibit its wickedness in one form or another as long as man is born with motivation and aspiration.

What we witnessed in Sonya Massey’s home was no doubt wicked. As a community we can be hopeful,. Considering Fannie Lou Hamer was only able to articulate the beating she suffered for attempting to exercise her right to vote and because Sandra Bland and so many other blacks that were murdered at the hands of police officers, we now have body cameras that capture the dark moments of injustice. ,Sonya’s death although very tragic speaks to changes in our nation that have benefited the American Black community.. We are no longer living in 1964—we are indeed in a digital age. With Sonya Massey, although her life was taken by evil and viciousness, we have the video. We can all witness everything that had occurred.

To hear some American Blacks, like Officer Brandon Tatum, a YouTuber, who has viewed the video and somehow finds ways to justify the actions of the police officer in this incident, is truly disheartening. You can condemn the officer’s behavior without condemning the entire police force. That’s what we did after George Floyd; we started campaigns to defund the police, condemning the entire institution. Again, I believe Kamala Harris was a significant supporter of the progressive initiative to defund the police, as if crime doesn’t exist.

Today is not 1964, and it’s not 2019—it’s 2024, we should have confidence that Justice will be delivered for Sonya thanks to the video camera. For Sonya, I pray that the gates of heaven opened and received her soul, just like Stephen. As for the officer, unlike in 1964, justice will be served. An eye for an eye, a life for a life. That’s justice.

Men like Benjamin Crump, who seem to measure justice by the size of the check in their hand, perpetuate this cycle. As tears fall from yet another grieving family members eyes, he will come to eat every crumb that drops from the table, profiting from their pain. True justice should not be commodified but should honor the memory and dignity of victims like Sonya Massey.

DIVISION IN LEGACY

The recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump has stirred a whirlwind of reactions across various communities in the United States. Among these, the response from the American public is particularly concerning. The widespread belief that the incident was staged, either by Trump’s supporters or his opponents, underscores the deep divisions within our political landscape. This reaction goes beyond mere political disagreement; it hints at a profound and pervasive distrust and disdain for one another that transcends partisan lines.

The Political Divide

The divisiveness within our political parties has reached a point where the lines between truth and conspiracy are increasingly blurred. Governance is no longer just about differences in political ideology. This deep-seated animosity now appears to be woven into the very fabric of our society.

In America, our nation is divided into three classes: the elite, which includes government officials, corporations, entertainers, and political pundits; the middle class or bourgeoisie, led by intellectuals, teachers, preachers, and other professionals who conform to the elite’s whims and are content with modest living spaces and luxury cars; and the poor, who represent the masses and whose primary value in society is as voters. This division has fostered a culture where the elite, including leaders from corporations and both major political parties, are entrenched in their ideologies without compromise. As leaders rise and fall, the middle class conforms, complains, and mutters but adapts with agility, while the poor endure the elite’s decisions without any real voice on critical issues such as COVID-19, healthcare, Social Security, and pension reform.

Over the last several months, I’ve heard political elites and their supporting pundits refer to the novel “1984” by George Orwell as a way of implicating the opposition in acts deemed criminal, depending on one’s perspective. However, the reality is that neither side could ever mirror those in “1984” due to the absence of divine intervention and the inherent freedoms in our society. This misunderstanding is prevalent among those who use the novel to support their viewpoints. A major assumption in “1984” is that people can act as they see fit because there is no divine oversight. The very act of comparing our political situation to Orwell’s dystopia underscores a level of freedom and rights fundamentally absent in the totalitarian world of “1984.” Yet, much like in the novel, both the left and the right use platforms like podcasts to propagate their narratives, spreading lies and half-truths, and making implications about events such as assassinations.

This phenomenon was starkly evident in the aftermath of the reported assassination attempts on Donald Trump. Every single social media outlet I listened to either insidiously implied that Trump staged the alleged assassination attempt, or that Biden and his team were secretly responsible. Of the two scenarios, it ultimately comes down to motive. Why would Trump stage his own assassination? He would risk not only his own life but also the lives of everyone around him, including those truly impacted by this unfortunate lapse in judgment. Moreover, he is currently leading in many polls, his legal troubles seem to be abating following the Supreme Court’s decision to send back to the states the question regarding the immunity of the President, the recent dismissal of the classified documents case, and the ongoing troubles with the Georgia election fraud case—and Fani Willis. There doesn’t seem to be any realistic reason for Trump to place himself in that type of situation when he is winning on all fronts to the chagrin of the world.

Biden, on the other hand, has every reason to do such a thing—I mean the debate was enough to arrange such an attempt. But I don’t know what dirt Biden has swept under the rug, but it doesn’t seem to fit his character to carry out such an indecent act just because he is losing. However, there are questions about his cognitive capabilities and those truly running the ship at the White House that makes you wonder—could he have done such a thing? I honestly don’t believe he would have done such a thing, but Democrats and their pundits pretend Biden had no reason to order the assassination and Trump had every reason to stage his own assassination. Listening to Joy Reid, (who is the worst) and Roland Martin imply Trump staged the assassination was like listening to two minutes of hate on repeat for an entire week.

I am not saying that there are no lies being told on all sides. Everyone has something to sweep under the rug—and there are deep, dark truths that have been conveniently covered up. There could also be something deeper in this tragedy that remains ambiguous amidst all the smoke. While speculation burns about who shot Trump, stories surface involving BlackRock’s CEO, Trump’s selection of JD Vance, and Rupert Murdoch. A video emerges of the shooter in an BlackRock video and According to Newsweek, Murdoch aggressively preferred Doug Burgum, Governor of North Dakota, to be Trump’s VP pick. Would Rupert Murdoch or Larry Fink actually arrange for the assassination of a former president—and potentially the soon-to-be 47th US President? These allegations surface but are quickly swept away into the ether. This leaves us squabbling over who did what, why, and how, failing to pinpoint the responsible party and to ignore the fact.

The Problem with Our Youth

If we take a step back and closely examine recent events, one key theme emerges: violence. This isn’t just political violence but also ideological, educational, and religious violence carried out by young people. From mass shootings and persistent gang violence to violent protests, our youth resemble those from Orwell’s “1984.” In this culture, we have allowed our children to tell us what is right and wrong. We have set up our youth to have more faith in social media platforms than in their own parents. They rely on their own thoughts and ideas without fully understanding the implications, using social media to expose supposed evildoers. This mirrors another theme from “1984,” where there is a sinister undercurrent in our society. This is a massive problem.

There are also some among the bourgeoisie who, having not achieved their desired status, exploit gullible minds under the guise of truth. From wannabe pastors and teachers to podcasters with personal agendas, these individuals target children when they can’t manipulate adults. This is another indication of a deeper problem affecting our society’s fabric.

We have a problem with our youth. Mass shootings and gang violence, setting bodies on fire, and shootouts at Super Bowl parades—we have a problem with our youth. We lie to their faces and pretend, then wonder why. Pay attention, wake up. Trump could have staged that assassination, Biden could have set him up, and maybe the head of the Secret Service should resign. But none of that matters if we don’t deal with the problem of our youth.

The recent attempt by a 20-year-old to assassinate a former president highlights a disturbing trend among our youth, reflecting the troubled state of our social and political environment. This act speaks volumes about the current condition of our society, where the real issues are often overlooked because we are too focused on the so-called adults in the room. Meanwhile, our children, thinking they have the answers, are running around terrorizing people. It’s a shame—but no one is sounding the alarm.Ideological Blind Spots

In recent years, there have been numerous instances where young people, influenced by cultural social norms and driven by social media, have committed heinous acts. Social media platforms amplify extreme ideologies and often glorify violence, creating a toxic environment that can incite vulnerable individuals to take drastic actions. This cultural phenomenon is deeply concerning and requires urgent attention.

THE CONCLUSION

Amidst all this, we are so focused on ideology that we often ignore these harsh realities and instead waste time wondering who shot Trump. The response to the assassination attempt on Trump highlights a deeper issue: a society divided not just by politics but by a fundamental lack of empathy and understanding. Instead of addressing the root causes of such violence, we are quick to point fingers and assign blame based on our political affiliations.

The assassination attempt on Donald Trump is more than a political event; it is a reflection of the deep-seated issues within our country. The reaction from the American public, along with the broader public’s divisive stance, highlights the urgent need for a reassessment of our social and political discourse. However, realistically, this reassessment seems unlikely given the current climate.

Instead of getting lost in conspiracy theories, we need to turn our energy toward addressing the issues facing our youth. We should consider the type of legacy we want to leave for our children and focus on the upcoming election with that in mind. It’s time to set aside conspiracy theories and focus on building a future that prioritizes the well-being and development of our younger generation. Only by doing so can we ensure a stable and prosperous society for the years to come.

Now, I started writing this blog a few days after Trump was shot, on the day Biden resigned, and Kamala Harris stepped up to try and take center stage. The troubling events unfolding make me feel more concerned for our children's future than ever before.

DUBIOUS HOPE

I listened to CNN a few weeks ago, and Van Jones was on, visibly upset about Biden’s poor debate performance. I cry a lot, especially as I get older, but Van Jones seems to cry even more than I do. With tears in his eyes, Jones implied that because of Biden’s apparent mental challenges, the Democrats are effectively positioning Kamala Harris for the presidency. This is a shocking admission from a left-leaning Democrat. He suggested that she might as well run and that Joe Biden should step aside. Has he determined Biden’s fate? Jones was serious—he genuinely sees Kamala Harris as a better candidate than Biden. This raises a crucial question for the American Black community: What has Harris truly done for us? I want to take a minute to delve into her record and the implications of her potential presidency and urge for a more critical evaluation of her contributions and policies affecting American Black community.

Jones, of course, is not alone in his stance. I read an article stating that Harris is leading Biden and Trump in the polls, a claim the media will likely disseminate widely. According to one poll, Harris was leading Trump among 1,000 voters a few days after the debate. Another poll, conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for Newsweek, found that Harris was by far the most popular choice among Democratic contenders, with a significant 23 percent favoring her to replace Biden should he drop out. She is firmly ahead of Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, and Gavin Newsom. It’s evident that the left has finally realized Biden is not capable of serving as President for four more years. I mean, how many times did the man have to stumble before they opened their eyes? Unfortunately, with only 23% support for her candidacy within her own party, the question remains: how can she win this race? It seems clear that she is relying on the support of American Blacks.

In 2020, Biden and Harris won 92% of the American Black vote, but recent polls show that only 77% of American Blacks support Biden/Harris in the upcoming election. A drop that could be potentially devastating in November. Critical to these numbers are American Black women who are rallying to her side once again without any consideration of her record, who she is to our community, and what she has done.

Kamala Harris is a first-generation Indian-Jamaican, born in Oakland, CA. She often speaks as if her family came to America in 1619. But her loyalties doesn’t align with the American Black community—I mean she nearly kissed Prime Minister Modi’s feet when he came to America. Harris’ mother, was a biologist from India who immigrated to this country to receive a better education. After she utilized ever benefit awarded to American Blacks Harris’ mother later moved to Canada when Kamala was 12 years old. Her father was a Jamaican economics professor.

Harris was never poor or oppressed—but at the age of five or six, while living in Oakland, she was bused in a two-way busing program in Berkeley, from the flats to the hills. Meaning, she was bused from the American Black community to the rich hills of CA. Clearly, if her life aligns with the struggling American Black community—then cry me a river.

Kamala has gone from an Indian-Jamaican immigrant to nearly the president in one generation, meanwhile American Blacks are not questioning why or how. Early in July, she spoke at a meeting of her sorority sisters for the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.’s 71st Boulé in Dallas, Texas. During her speech, she talked about American Blacks from the 1900s and the 1930s and used terms like “our people” as if her ancestors played a part in the American Black struggle. American Black women sat there clapping and agreeing as if her experiences aligned closely with the struggles of American Black women.

Harris pretends to be supportive and champions “Blacks,” yet she has not spoken a word about reparations for American Blacks. The only resources she champions for the American Black community is resources for abortions and food stamps—The amount so small—if I were a mother on food stamps, I would sell them for the cash.

It seems she would much rather support immigration policies, handing out millions of dollars to nations like Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala as part of her immigration strategy. This attempt to reduce the number of immigrants fleeing to the US by giving these nations money and resources to build up their countries and provide opportunities for their citizens has clearly failed.

In June of last year, she signed a bill investing $100 million into the Caribbean. Of that, Haiti is set to receive $54 million in aid. It appears a black woman is doing something positive for the Caribbean, including war-torn, earthquake-ridden Haiti. That is a big deal, except when you dig into the details, you make a huge discovery. The $54 million won’t actually appear in the hands of the individuals needing the resources. The funds will be allocated for food, bread, and weapons for the police department to fight the gangs that have plundered Haiti and be distributed or invested. Nonprofits and particular US partners like the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and the Clinton Foundation will be huge beneficiaries of these resources. These NGOs raised a great deal of money back in 2011 after the earthquake in Haiti decimated the island. Millions of dollars were given to NGOs for humanitarian aid, and yet Haiti is still a nation in shambles. Many remain homeless, the country is barely rebuilt, and is now infested with gangs and guns smuggled in from the US. Coincidence? Perhaps.

Nevertheless, Kamala made the announcement in the Bahamas last June about the $54 million in resources. But what happened to all the other money US organizations received that should have gone to Haiti after the earthquake? Wouldn’t it have been prudent to figure out how resources were exploited the last time it had millions of dollars allocated for the island nation? Harris is silent on that question but is handing out millions more for partners and NGOs on behalf of that island nation. At a time when Haiti is in chaos, and the government has been overthrown, with gangs now in control, this situation presents a great excuse—or opportunity—for the US to partner with the UN and NGO collaborators to provide immediate food assistance, safe drinking water, and protection services to Haiti. This begs the question: how much of the resources will trickle down to help the poorest in Haiti? It’s been interesting the way all this money is being poured into Haiti, and the ones getting rich seem to live on American soil. Right, wrong, or indifferent, the connections can’t be denied.

The Facts of the Matter

Recently, I was listening to Anthony Moore’s TonTalks Podcast. He’s a lawyer, I believe, and an ADOS (American Descendants of Slaves) supporter. During his show, he said something that is so true and should resonate with anyone discussing DEI initiatives in America. Many people who classify themselves as Black benefit from these initiatives based on the enslavement of American Blacks, but they are not themselves descendants of American slaves. They have built nothing in this country and yet come here and receive benefits because they have black skin. President Obama was not ADOS, and neither is Kamala Harris. But American Blacks don’t see this trickery.

What they share in common is that they both had one parent with black skin. Obama’s father was from Africa; Harris’s father was from Jamaica. Reflecting on history, I realize President Obama was a naïve young president selected on the back of American Blacks. He tore down other ADOS politicians in Chicago on his way to the presidency.

Kamala Harris is not much different. Only where President Obama stepped on the backs of American Black politicians, she stepped on the backs of the poorest in the American Black community. Her judicial record as a prosecutor shows the ways her policies negatively impacted American Blacks, particularly American Black women. While she was Attorney General, she instituted a truancy law to combat child absenteeism. Women struggling to keep their families alive, trying to manage day-to-day, would face Harris’ promise: up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine if their children were truant.

Kamala Harris's truancy policy, implemented during her tenure as San Francisco’s District Attorney and later as California's Attorney General, aimed to curb school absenteeism by legally penalizing parents of chronically truant children. This policy led to increased prosecutions, which disproportionately affected low-income and minority communities, where many families were already faced socio-economic challenges. Harris criminalized poverty and added legal and financial stress to vulnerable American Black families. She never addressed any of the root causes that impacted these households: healthcare, stable housing, and transportation.

Kamala Harris was rallied in 2019 into the White House by American Blacks—90% ADOS. Most ignored her checkered record and policies that negatively impacted American Black women. They love the fact that she fights for abortion rights and appeases the American Black community with $120 a month in summer food stamps and legal marijuana. We smile with pride, happy to appoint a Black woman, when to be clear—she ain’t like us.

Why are we supporting a woman who has failed the ADOS community over and over? Harris has set up laws that kept American Black men imprisoned and if that isn’t bad enough, she had cases overturned by the State of CA Supreme Court when it was discovered her drug analyst was a drug-addict and imprisoned many Black men based on faulty lab results. Heck, Harris is so low down she even argued to extend prison sentences so inmates could use their bodies to fight fires. Since she has been in office, what policy has she shepherded that benefits the American Black community? Not one.

If she gets a seat and becomes the first Asian-Jamaican President, not American Black, she will have ADOS to thank for it. Nevertheless, we are the community she has done absolutely nothing for but sold a bunch of lies: we have reduced millions in student loan debt since taking off. I’m not saying American Blacks should have been her priority—but at least the subject of American Black initiatives should have been in the conversation. Especially since immigration was her top priority. Instead of considering the the legacy of slaves in America she stretched forth her hands to help other nations giving away American resources.

DAHTRUTH

All I can do is shake my head. Democrats need to wake up and recognize Biden is cognitively unstable and Harris doesn’t align her policies with America or the ADOS community. Now, because of all these politics, we are forced to elect Saul—I am sorry, Donald Trump. After the debate, I was second-guessing myself—neither of these two cats deserves to be President. But Trump is the more reasonable choice. Although I have been saying I was voting for Trump, inside I haven’t been sure of doing such a thing. But if Harris runs, there is no doubt that I will vote for Trump.

Kamala Harris for President? God forbid. I have played this out: if she becomes President, maybe she will be great. Maybe she will bring world peace—maybe we should give her a chance. After all, she’s not Sarah Palin; she’s VP.

The VP that disappeared for years and only emerged for elections. Matter of fact, there was a point not too many months back when we were asking, “Where is Kamala?” like we were asking, “Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Not really, but get the point; Kamala ghosted the ADOS community. But here she is again, selling abortion, weed, and student loan forgiveness because the American Black community is like Mikey—we will take anything. American Blacks are still rallying to her side. Without question or consideration because we want to see a person with black skin in office.

Old Jim Clyburn has said in recent interviews, “If Biden is out, the VP has my full support.” No further questions from this man that has been in office for decades after decades—a leader in the American Black community—okay.

Where does all this leave us?

The Democratic Party never seems to think strategically. I believe Biden/Harris is going to lose—not like that’s a prophecy; everyone knows it. Given this, they should focus on down-ballot races. Securing the House and the Senate could counter Trump, but the party is too divided. There is no solid loyalty to a single focus. Some are boosting the VP, others are pushing far-left Democrats like Michelle Obama or Gavin Newsom, and some are even supporting third-party candidates, suggesting figures like socialist Claudia De la Cruz and Jill Stein over ADOS socialist Cornell West.

Now that Trump has been shot, his momentum is rising, and we truly face the prospect of him becoming President again. I like Trump, and despite my fear of him damaging our democracy, I will vote for him. It’s not just because there are no worthy Democratic or Republican alternatives, but also because his policies align with my own. My hope is that the safety net holds and democracy endures after his term. Therefore, I will render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, knowing that man can plan, but ultimately, God has the final word.

REDEMPTION OR RUSE

Maybe it’s just me, but the BET Awards red carpet reminded me of a rundown motel parking lot with a gaudy billboard out front. It’s one of those cheap, tasteless sights that you can’t avoid seeing. I don’t know when the red carpet changed to the blue carpet, but whoever made the choice of that shaggy blue carpet has probably never been in a motel and should be fired. I will refrain from commenting on the white trashcan liners that accessorized the walls, nor will I comment on the fashion because I am old, and I realize my attire is outdated and very old school. Just wearing a dress with a slip is out of style and old-fashioned, and that was obvious from the various photos I happened to see.

Now, to be truthful, I did not watch the BET Awards. As a matter of fact, I haven’t watched that awards show in years. But now, I am a feign for social media and will gladly watch shorts of supposed cultural events that align with my profile. It’s just unfortunate that my algorithms include the likes of Miss. Netta and Charles, hairy underarm pit, Shonda and a a host of fat chicks eating food and modeling cheap cloths that cover horse asses. Mixed in between those shorts are more shorts of events like the BET Awards. My algorithm is twisted.

When an image of Will Smith appeared, I felt compelled to search for and watch the video of his great performance. The darkness, fire, and red hues throughout the video were particularly captivating. Considering Will Smith's public humiliations and embarrassments, one can say so much about this performance. Adding Kirk Franklin, a proclaimed gospel singer, choir director, record producer and rapper, who has similarly faced public scrutiny, further completes a narrative of public redemption. They appear to be employing the strategy Manipulation 101-B: (I made this up) using a song complete with a church choir to regain public favor after their falls from grace. There is no better way to claim redemption than to visible align oneself with Jesus Christ and add a nice, somber, melodic beat complete with a flaming fire and a mass choir to a public performance.

Will Smith, has portrayed the image of a great father figure for years. He has been playing this role of a respected and loving father and husband for so long that he forgot it was just a character. His image as an ideal family man was shattered when his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, used her 'Red Table Talk' as a platform to confess everything that was wrong in their marriage. Affairs, misbehavior, and a multitude of personal issues were aired publicly. The world discovered that one of the couples we admired, especially in the Black community, was not what they seemed. Then came that slap. Will Smith, apparently so enraged probably with his wife, smacked Chris Rock during the Academy Awards after Chris Rock made a crack on Jada—no better place to display pent-up rage. Will Smith's movies, once symbols of his profound and loving persona, now seem to be extensions of his charade. His slap at Chris Rock and the ongoing revelations from his wife have destroyed this image and made his true self clear: a caricature rather than a genuine individual.

His recent performance at the BET Awards seemed like another desperate attempt at redemption. The dark, fiery stage setting, meant to symbolize his journey from hell to redemption, was featured with a powerful gospel choir. The choir was the only authentic part of the performance, stirring emotions and masking the underlying insincerity of Smith's plea for forgiveness.

Adding Kirk Franklin into the mix only compounded the spectacle. Franklin, with his public battles and questions about his spirituality, tried to leverage the same gospel choir to cleanse his tarnished image. His recent controversies, especially involving his son, have left many questioning his authenticity as a representative of Christ. This performance at the BET Awards seemed like a last-ditch effort to manipulate public perception, a façade of repentance wrapped in gospel music. He is saved! He is saved!

Despite these overt displays of redemption, the underlying motives are hard to ignore. Chants of 'He is saved! He is saved!' may resonate in the background, but they do nothing to mask the strategic intent behind these public acts. In fact, their performance only adds another layer to the reality that both men will do anything to remain on top, including masquerading a lie.

DAHTRUTH

Will Smith and Kirk Franklin's performance at the BET Awards was nothing more than Manipulation 101. It was a spectacle where two grown men, publicly pleading for redemption, seemed more focused on appealing to the audience than to God. They seek to reclaim their reputations by masquerading as something they are not—redeemed by God. Their attempts to gain approval from the masses for their past misdeeds are transparent and ultimately unconvincing. The façade of the true family man and the devoted spiritual leader has been shattered, leaving only the hollow remnants of their former images.

“I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then”

— Mark 10:29

DEBATE, DECISION AND POLOTICAL DYNAMICS

Presidential Dilemma

Welp, much has already been said about the presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. There are actually no surprises for us to speak of if we really want to be honest. Both candidates got on the stage and lied. However, it is evident that Joe Biden should reconsider running for another term as president. His performance has raised serious concerns about his cognitive capabilities and his ability to inspire trust and project strength on the global stage. Equally disturbing is his apparent reluctance to step aside for a more moderate candidate to prevent a potential Trump reelection and the grim reality that his mendacity will not allow him to sacrifice himself and step aside.

After witnessing the debate and Trump's performance, I felt genuinely ill. What is one to do when caught between a rock and a hard place? It's only four years, after all, but there's an unspoken fear lurking beneath the shadows of our political landscape. On one hand, there's worry that Trump may fundamentally uproot our democratic norms. On the other, fears loom that Biden could inadvertently lead us straight into WWIII or step aside and pass the battalion to Kamala Harris. . To say America faces a tough decision this November is, frankly, an understatement.

The Fallout of the "Nuclear Option"

Amid these presidential tensions, the pressures from both the democratic House and Senate are palpable. What is ironic is we can turn back the hands of time and see how their pulling a single thread in our democracy to silence one side has resulted in near disaster for our nation.

It is difficult to believe, but a single Democrat decision from 2013 has brought us to this unfortunate point. Despite warnings from Mitch McConnell, we find ourselves in a real-life pickle. The choice by Harry Reid and his fellow Democrats to invoke the "nuclear option" was celebrated as a victory back then, as they finally had enough power to silence the Republicans. However, seemingly oblivious to the cast of democratic characters was the fact that the same rules could one day turn against them. Blinded by their their own desires to silence the cohort of Republicans against President Obama, they pulled the thread and paved the way for a king.

Since at least 1806, the right to filibuster has been a part of Senate proceedings. The filibuster tactic involved prolonged debate to exhaust the opposition. The longest filibuster in history opposed the passing of the Civil Rights Bill in 1957; it lasted 90 days and also survived a 24-hour filibuster from Senator Strom Thurmond. This was precisely the tactic Democrats sought to silence in 2013, blocking the opposition to President Obama’s nominees. This prompted Reid's threat to employ the "nuclear option," adjusting the cloture threshold from 60 down to a majority plus one.

For nearly 40 years, any debate on the Senate floor required a two-thirds majority vote to end and move forward. That was known as the "cloture rule," giving the minority a voice in the government process. The two-thirds majority was further reduced to 60 senators in 1975 and in 2013, it was a significant victory when Harry Reid further lowered the number to only 51, diminishing minority voices by shutting down debate.

This one change could have had a significant impact on President Obama’s nominations as it allowed executive and lower court judicial nominations to be confirmed with a simple majority, rather than the 60 votes previously required to overcome a filibuster.

To be fair, Harry Reid did warn the Republicans that he was going to go nuclear. That wasn’t a new threat—it had been waged by Democrats and Republicans for years. But in 2013, it seemed to make so much sense as the Democrats held the power in both houses. It was in support of the first Black President of the United States. It was necessary to establish his government and rid the process of filibusters. If not in 2013, then when—so Harry Reid pulled that string, setting off the "nuclear option," and the ripple effects still have unfortunate consequences.

The original bill reduced the cloture numbers to a majority, for most bills and other issues; but it maintained the 60-super majority vote for Super Court nominations keeping some of the balance in place. However, in 2017 after Republicans took over the Senate, Mitch McConnell further expanded the bill by allowing the 51-majority threshold to apply even to Supreme Court Justices, ushering in Neal Gorsuch.

The bill was a success for President Obama and he managed to get 329 nominations through, across his two terms of which 312 were confirmed. He also elected two Supreme Court Justices: Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

In comparison, Trump confirmed 234 judicial appointments and three Supreme Court Justices: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. This impact has affected the court right to this very second.

According to Ballotpedia, Joe Biden has had 197 nominees confirmed and appointed and confirmed one Supreme Court Justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson in 2024.

The irony is stark. The 'nuclear option' was meant to streamline the governance process by reducing the threshold for overcoming filibusters against most presidential nominees from 60 votes to a simple majority. However, this change, although effective during President Obama's tenure, proved even more impactful under President Trump as it allowed him to reshape the courts with a very conservative bent. His political appointees have overturned Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs decision, addressed issues related to the Jan. 6 rioters, and most recently, returned the question of presidential immunity back to the lower courts.

Supreme Court’s Immunity Decision

You would think the Democrats would have learned their lesson, but evidently, they have not. To be clear, I believe that although it is not said—and probably should never be uttered, especially by a Supreme Court Justice—the President of the United States does, in some ways, have immunity from petty or frivolous crimes. Now, January 6 was neither petty nor frivolous; however, Trump did not actually force those individuals to Washington, DC. I think if Trump is held responsible for January 6, then so should social media outlets. What happened that day was a comedy of errors and missteps that resulted in a group of radical individuals attempting to overthrow the government, the death of one women and injury of countless others.  However, that attempt failed, and every door that was forced open in an attempt to oust Joe Biden was firmly shut. The government held strong to the Constitution.

I think it was a very wise decision for the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling to return the immunity case to the lower courts. Of course, this decision came with condemnation from some, including for the liberal judges, Sotomayor, Kagan and Brown-Jackson.

'A President is entitled to use the trappings of his office for personal gain without facing criminal liability because our Constitution does not shield a former President from answering for criminal and treasonous acts.' —Sotomayor

'Personal gain to use the trappings of his office without facing criminal liability.' —Jackson

In response to the Supreme Court's decision, the White House and House of Representatives Democrats, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are now threatening to impeach Supreme Court justices. Another House Democrat is preparing a constitutional amendment to reverse the decision, emphasizing that the President is not above the law. Meanwhile, broadcast media has been abuzz, with MSNBC hosts Joy Reid and Rachel Maddow delivering strong rebukes of the Supreme Court. These are the same individuals who previously criticized Donald Trump after he condemned the 12 jurors and the courts for their decision in the Stormy Daniels case; now, they are admonishing the highest court in the land.

Once again, the Democrats, who currently lack power, are attempting to take the power out of the hands of the people and give it to the government. The Supreme Court has spoken, and Justice Roberts has given his perspective:  the President holds certain powers that are so integral to the role that they provide him with absolute immunity from criminal prosecution when exercised. Roberts upholds the separation of powers principle, that ensures the executive branch can operate without undue interference from the legislative or judicial branches. 

DahTruth

I believe that whether to remove a president or prevent someone from running for a second, non-consecutive term should generally be decided by voters. However, once a president is elected, the Constitution assigns the House of Representatives the role of impeachment and the Senate the role of removal. Should Trump be re-elected, these questions might arise again, including considerations about the potential implications of his Vice President and the value of pursuing impeachment. These are speculative issues until the election takes place. If Trump were to commit a severe and unimaginable crime—comparable to the alleged crimes of Hunter Biden—he should certainly face legal consequences. Minor administrative disputes or questions about the origins of actions, however, are less significant. The matter of holding Trump accountable for the events of January 6th through alleged violations of state and local voting laws introduces a separate and complex legal debate.

To be fair and in keeping with fairness, just as Trump had to give up the office in 2020—he has the opportunity to run again without persecution of ‘so-called’ crimes he committed while in office. It is now up to the people to decide if they want to elect Donald Trump for another 4-year term.

Reflecting on the presidential debate that opened this discussion, it is clear that the performances of both candidates not only set the tone for the electoral campaigns but also highlighted the urgent issues at stake. The debate itself serves as a microcosm of the larger political dynamics that are shaping our country's future. As voters, it is our responsibility to scrutinize these moments of direct confrontation between candidates because they often reveal underlying truths about their capabilities, priorities, and how they might wield power.

In conclusion, as we inch closer to the election, let us not only remember the charged exchanges of the debate but also consider the subsequent actions and decisions made by our leaders. These elements combined give us a fuller picture of what is at stake. It’s crucial for every citizen to stay informed, critically evaluate the information presented, and participate actively in shaping the future of our democracy. Our collective choices will determine the path that our country takes, making every vote count more than ever.

Supreme Court Decision.pdf

A CHANCE: Empowering school choice

In a move that underscores Marxist ideology and the rigidity of the left, a few weeks ago, black social media launched an attack on Jay-Z—Hova—Shawn Carter because, Roc Nation, the company he founded in 2008, has the audacity to support, "Pass It Forward," a campaign in support of a bill backed by Jeff Yass, the wealthiest man in Pennsylvania and a prominent Republican. This bill aims to provide students in low-performing public schools with a choice—a lifeline to better educational opportunities when school system in districts have failed. But black podcasters are making the most ludicrous arguments against the bill and against Jay Z.

We all know Jay-Z epitomizes what American success looks like for a Black man raised in the '80s. Not Tupac or Biggie, but he is, right now, our living example of what excellence looks like after overcoming tremendous struggles. Yet, some argue this Black man is not doing enough. Black media is ablaze, criticizing him fiercely—not because he has committed a crime or because there are allegations of misconduct against him. Rather, Jay-Z is being called out because he supports school choice.

Mark Lamont Hill, called out Hova. Sabby Sabs called Jay-z’s campaign a scam. Jerrell Blakeley, Director of Government, Community, and Racial and Social Justice for Indiana's largest labor union, (Yes I don’t know him either), but he criticized Jay-Z in a Substack article entitled “Can Knock the Hustle,” a snub to Jay-Z first album, Reasonable Doubt. But even my girl, Yvette Carnell, founder of ADOS (American Descendants of Slaves), has joined the ranks attacking Jay-Z.

These folks make it plain: Jay-Z has done nothing for the Black community except bring more Black faces to the Super Bowl halftime shows and the Made in America Concert—a concert that creates a platform for Black rappers and entertainers.

Jay-Z is nothing more then a capitalist—even worse he is a black capitalist—talk about the Known World. The nerve of Jay-Z to shake hands with a white Republican in an attempt to rob black schools. The Pass It Forward campaign was established to gain support for the Republican-backed Senate Bill 795, the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) scholarship program. According to loudmouth black media, we should not believe the hype! This campaign is a scam and will only benefit Jay-Z—the capitalist. Somehow, when a black man has enough resources to scale, he is torn down by the left for doing so.

Jay-Z, used to be an entertainer, but he has now transformed into a business—MAN, now according to Marxist he is not giving enough of his wealth back to the black community. How dare he take advantage of an opportunity to help even one single student from the ghetto by giving them a choice between a private school or a failed public school system.

Meanwhile, those of us hoping for reparations out of the fabric of America will take resources from that same soil without prejudice. This double standard is glaring, as successful black individuals are often criticized for their achievements and accused of not doing enough, despite their efforts to make a difference.

The left’s unwavering commitment to a failing public school system, despite its disorganization and lack of merit, highlights a troubling trend. Instead of embracing policies that empower students with options, they cling to an outdated model that continually underperforms and disadvantages our children.

Despite the Nation's Report Card showing that private schools outperform charter and public schools whenever private schools are included, some would suggest we ignore this data and instead cherry-pick individual states to form our opinions. It’s as if we are so unaware we don’t understand states may face challenges with implementing voucher programs. They negate the broader trends observed nationwide. However, the left would like for you to base your opinion on a few statics. Based on skewed facts the argue vouchers for private schools do not achieve educational outcomes comparable to public schools. Additionally, they argue that vouchers are mostly advantageous for families earning over $100,000 annually.

Their perspective often overlooks broader data sets, such as those from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Schools Dashboard. The NAEP manages a comprehensive assessment, conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics within the U.S. Department of Education, and provides an ongoing evaluation of public, charter, and private schools nationwide. The data indicates that private schools generally perform better than public and charter schools, in particular for students in the 4 or 8th grades.

It is true that vouchers for public schools benefit groups that make more money. However, there are other factors to consider when thinking about poorer communities, namely that the poorest communities can’t afford the difference between the voucher payment per student and the cost of private schools. The fact they are the last to get information is no surprise, as information is sometimes slow to trickle down to the poorest communities. But does that mean give up and continue to put gas into bombs.

Part of Jay-Z's audience is made up of poor communities, and his campaign with Roc Nation aims to bring awareness to additional educational options for the poorest in the community. However, some criticize this as a capitalist move exploiting black students and undermining the public education safety net. To clarify, Jay-Z isn't donating millions to voucher programs; instead, he's informing the community about existing alternatives. Roc Nation is committed to enlightening the black community about other choices available beyond the public and charter school systems, especially in failing districts like Philadelphia.

Contrarily, some black podcasters accuse Jay-Z of using scare tactics, supporting a white Republican agenda to dismantle the public school system. Critics of the bill argue that it will drain resources from the public schools, offering no real benefit to the community and effectively crippling the public education system..

The reality though is school systems are already crippled. Public schools are no longer teaching just science and math. The school system follows shifting culture norms, teaches ideas that are one sided and narrow minded. School choice not only empowers parents with the freedom to select educational environments that best suit their children's needs, fostering greater parental engagement and student success, but also catalyzes innovation and diversity in educational methods.

In my opinion, the greatest benefit of voucher programs to the public school system is the potential to create competition. By giving students a choice, I believe it will compel the public school system to compete with private and charter schools. If public schools want more students, they should compete. This approach is more democratic than having no choice at all. Parents and students should have the opportunity to select a school that aligns with their thinking and mindset. If public schools aim to attract individuals capable of getting into private and charter schools, they should strive to compete with these institutions.

By introducing competition, it holds schools accountable, encouraging them to improve their offerings and performance. This, in turn, alleviates overcrowding in public schools, enhances educational quality across the board, and promotes long-term economic benefits by cultivating a more skilled workforce. Ultimately, school choice serves as a vital tool for social equity, providing all children, regardless of their economic background, the opportunity to access superior educational resources and opportunities.

Jeff Yass and his associates at Susquehanna International Group have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into foundations that support school choice. These efforts are not about politics but about providing quality education to those who need it most. Yet, the left’s reaction is to demonize anyone who dares to support this cause, even if it means attacking a black superstar like Jay-Z for aligning with a Republican.

Left-leaning blacks are the first to scream and holler about choice but the first to suppress choice from every conversation. A baby in the womb has no choice, and neither does a child trapped in a failing school system that offers no realistic path out of their circumstances. In every case it’s the system that matters, not the children, especially not the “black and brown.”

The resistance to school choice is a disservice to black students trapped in underperforming schools. They want billionaires from the black community to continue pouring gas on a fire, continuing to invest in failing school systems that attempt to brainwash our children in failing school districts.

It’s time to question why the left continues to champion a broken system and to recognize that the real solution lies in providing our children with the choices they deserve.

While many out here will argue what Jay-Z is doing is a scam, an attempt to double-down on his wealth using the black community,

I say Give it—

The Misrepresentation of Black Women

Firing of Briahna Joy Gray

Mammy

“Mammy had taken the whole household on her stout shoulders and carried them." - Margaret Mitchell, "Gone with the Wind"

Jean-Michel Basquiat's 1982 work Untitled (Woman with Roman Torso [Venus])Private Collection © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York; Photo: Robert Baye

Dismissed

Briahna Joy Gray has finally been fired by Nexstar Media Group, owners of The Hill's Rising a/k/a Rising, and I say BRAVO. Unfortunately, the Harvard graduate and former National Press Secretary for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 campaign, used that platform to disrespect one person too many. She is another young lady who is extremely intelligent, yet she lacks any semblance of empathy. She is misguided by the idea that words are weapons. Her American privilege gives her the freedom to fire shots at anyone who disagrees with her warped, blinded worldview so she can freely pledge allegiance to terrorists.

Gone with the wind

I want to deviate for a moment and share my thoughts about black women in American society in general. One of my favorite books and movies is “Gone with The Wind.” I know this work is controversial and shunned by some because of its romantic depiction of the ugliest part of American history. It's like Basquiat’s paintings, which at first glance might seem chaotic and ugly but hold deeper messages within. Similarly, “Gone with The Wind” presents a beautiful exterior, yet underneath lies the ugliness of slavery, war, death, and loss.

The novel, written by Margaret Mitchell in 1936 and brought to the big screen in 1939, features Scarlett O’Hara the main character, played by Vivien Leigh. It is a quasi-sentimental version of the struggles between whites and blacks that ultimately resulted in the Civil War and its aftermath of Reconstruction. I understand the movie has its challenges, of glorifying a time when whites oppressed blacks and presenting a skewed version of history that reinforced black stereotypes.

Mitchell’s book is fiction. However, amidst the ugliness of slavery, war, life, and death, it captures the historical reality of the complacency of whites who suddenly found themselves staring truth in the face with the Civil War. “Gone with the Wind” depicts the images of southern whites who fought to hold on to an idea and image of family, love, and luxury on the backs of a race of people they disregarded and abused.

It is true we should always remember the horrors of chattel slavery. The reality that millions of black women were raped, and men were beaten, hung, and murdered by white men and their wives. While it might be possible that not every individual experienced physical violence, the very act of slavery was inherently abusive and dehumanizing. What is also painfully obvious is that blacks understood their condition and chose to love and live despite the circumstances, often having to navigate their existence with resilience and strength even in the face of unimaginable adversity.

This is a long way to make this point about black women. There is a very specific reason why “Gone with the Wind” is one of my all-time favorites. It is because of the character of Mammy—played in the movie by Hattie McDaniel. She became the first black woman to receive an Academy Award for her portrayal of the maid to the O’Hara family. Perhaps to some, she played a caricature in the movie, but what can’t be denied is that McDaniel poured her talent and strength into the character, capturing the essence of the strength of black women.

Throughout “Gone with the Wind,” Mammy was the source of reason and the example of strength in the direst circumstances. She was the voice of wisdom as the O’Hara family lost all they had, she was the glue that kept the camp together through the Civil War and Reconstruction, and she was a constant hand that steadied the ship amidst death, chaos, and confusion.

Mammy was not just an image on screen; the symbol of strength she represents, although fictitious, can be seen throughout history. Many black women such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Fannie Lou Hamer, have embodied similar resilience and wisdom, providing stability and leadership during the most challenging times.

Unreasonable Voices

Not today. Although many black women like Briahna Joy Gray try to ride this storm and position themselves as voices of reason, they are nothing more than real life Caricatures themselves. Pretending to be oppressed and victimized. They are like bougie bots, devoid of empathy programmed for consumption of information to regurgitate one-sided talking points around the continued oppression of American blacks.

Instead of embodying strength and resilience, they cry systemic racism and oppression by a white colonial regime from the walls of Harvard. They speak as if they were stolen from their land and forced to work for a white man, as if they themselves were enslaved in big houses in Baldwin Hills or Uniondale. They sit in high places, pouring down the venom injected into their minds by elites — a squad of angry black women. Joy Reid, Whoopi Goldberg, Candace Owens, Sabrina Salvati, and Briahna Joy Gray are only a few examples of intelligent women who have been groomed to spout divisive narratives in ways that do not reflect the true spirit and potential of black women.

Black women have always had the magical-like power to steer our community back toward unity, truth, and strength, embodying the qualities that Mammy represented. However, today our young black leaders will harken to black women of the past and use their platforms to embrace systemic victimhood. This brings me back to my point.

Idealism and Rhetoric

Briahna Joy Gray is a beautiful young woman, who unfortunately is programmed. She thinks she’s woke but rather she is still living inside a box conditioned by the elite. She has been programmed to believe that some genie in the cloud is going to create this utopia where the world will be democratic and the earth free of pollutants—a world of Gucci and Louie Vuitton without a single sacrifice.

She strongly believes in this idyllic world. Focused on her works in pursuit of this false perception, she will tear down anyone who dares to enlighten her with the truth, using the weapons of her words and the cutting gaze of her eyes. It's quite impressive to listen to Brie when she goes on the offensive. She presents her facts confidently, regardless of how one-sided. She is well-versed in both cultural and political stories and will shove her one-sided viewpoints onto the face of her guests and co-host until they have no choice but to concede.

However, despite her brilliance, she can be very nasty. I understand that as black women, there are times when people push you to your limit, and you have to respond assertively. But it's not appropriate all the time, nor with everyone. When I think about Briahna, I believe she just doesn't know how to behave. She believes that freedom of speech includes insulting, disgracing, and humiliating others.

The Great Debater

I listened to the debate on Dissident Dialogues with Konstantin Kisin, when he moderated as pro-Palestinians supporters, Briahna Joy Gray (The Hill “Rising”) and Jake Klein (The Black Sheep) debated Israeli supporters, Eli Lake (The Free Press) and Michael Moynihan (The Firth Column). The most I can say is that the perception and vibes Bri gave off were exemplary of the angry, black women stereotype. With proud arrogance she defended Hamas and this idea that the Palestinians want to live in a free democratic society. It is simply naive. Her denial of what actually happened on Oct. 7 is downright disturbing, and her refusal to acknowledge the way women are treated in Islamic nations today is deafening.

She had all her facts and talking points together on a stage of all white men, as she represented a new generation of black women—the sort that is smart and bold enough to get on a stage and hold their own. Brie used the stage to show her support for a terrorist organization that is anti-American, anti-democracy, and anti-women—with the pride of an educated black woman.

This debate didn’t go well for Brie.The audience, the panel and the moderators seemed to be against Brie, not just because of her outspoken support of Hamas but because from the moment she sat down she was hostile, snide and downright disrespectful.

Since the debate, she has gone on her podcast, Bad Faith, to blame the crowd and double down on her views that Israel is racist and Zionist, oppressing Palestinians and stealing their land, thereby justifying the events of Oct. 7.

It has been reported that Brie later said, during the debate, the people were disrespectful and Islamophobic, she expressed a hope that someone would “blow up the building” where the debate took place. After the debate, she also accused the audience of being anti-Arab, viewing their behavior through a historical lens and comparing what has been happening in Gaza to American slavery. With one broad swop Brie paints the plight of an oppressed people ignoring the reality the Palestinians have always had more freedoms than any black slave had during the days of slavery. There is no comparison between people who were held in chains and forced to build a Land for a nation of oppressors and what has happened in Gaza. They are in no way the same.

Briahna was fired by Nexstar after a recent interview she and her co-host, Robby Soave, the libertarian senior editor of Reason, and Brie’s co-host on the “Rising.” Now to be clear I don’t believe Brie was fired because of this interview. Oh contra, I think there were already issues with her team members. She was not just fired because of the interview, she was fired because that was the straw the broke the camels back. Her behavior that day was appalling. On June 4, Rising, interviewed Yarden Gonen, the sister of Israeli hostage, Romi Gonen. I watched the interview and I remember thinking how cold and cruel and straight callous Brie had been. She lacked any sense of empathy and simple kindness to her guest. Here you have a woman whose sister is being held hostage by Hamas, trying to explain how she had been feeling since Oct. 7, and Brie flipped the script and started talking about the starving Palestinians who are not receiving AID because of Israel.

What made this interview even more appalling was the way Brie rolled her eyes, and popped her teeth with annoyance, as the Yarden Gonen spoke about her fears for her sister safety especially because of the rapes reported after Oct. 7. Brie snapped with annoyance almost belittling the woman for the feelings she has for her sister. And as Yarden attempt to explain how Hamas were known for abusing women, Brie cut her off.

Now if you are on your own platform and want to tell off a sister of one of the hostages for agonizing over the circumstances and having no power to control the fight—that is one thing. But I suppose when you behave in that way on a platform you do not own your fate is in the hands of your employer.

As I watched this young lady, I thought about my own three granddaughters and wondered about her home training. Sitting with a posture of rigid freedom, Brie refused to muster a single sign of empathy for Ms. Gonen. Although Brie might consider herself a Good Samaritan, she clearly misunderstands who the true Good Samaritan is. Bound by her own abstract sense of justice, she will never show mercy. I would be so proud to see one of my granddaughters facilitating such an interview, but not from that side.

DahTruth

Well, after months of listening to Brie spin one sided narrative of the Palestinians 75-year plight with Israel, I suppose Nexstar and its board decided enough with the rhetoric that supports the indefensible. They cut Brie off with an email. Brie took to X to let the world know that she had been fired, but instead of blaming her own behavior and self-righteousness, she decides to tell the world Nexstar fired her because she does not support Israel.

To be clear, it appears Briahna has burned many bridges. Bernie Sanders doesn’t even claim her, and she is so mean she will destroy her co-host Robby if he even dares to share an opinion that is anti-Brie.

This behavior is not a representation of the leading black figures of older generations. This is the new generation of privileged black women without an axe to grind but are happy to invent one in exchange for a platform.

Many young people in their late 30s and early 40s believe that are in a position to right what has been wronged because they are smart and understand history. As if they know better because reading about history is more real than lived experience. They believe that America is an oppressive regime that needs to be toppled, despite valuing the freedoms of speech, choice, and the pursuit of life, liberty, and justice they enjoy every single day.

This behavior impacts how black women in corporate America and in general are being judged by their leaders. This isn’t about race, yet they make it about race. Briahna was not fired for her outspoken stance on Israel; those things just added fuel to the fire that had already been burning. She was already nasty, and Nexstar were putting up with it, but she became downright vicious.

Briahna Joy Gray represents a segment of young black women who believe in disrespect and confrontation rather than respect and reason. We need to move away from this divisive behavior and remember the qualities that Mammy embodied—strength, wisdom, and resilience. These are the traits that will truly uplift…

TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT

The Unjust Conviction of Donald Trump and Its Political Fallout

I was so mad when I heard the news that Donald Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsification of business records. My first thought was of course—fascism! For sure, this man wasn’t going to be found guilty of a crime that nobody seemed able to articulate.

Did Trump pay Stormy Daniels to cover up an election?

Did it matter when the statute of limitations had run out years ago?

Was it really a state crime or was it a federal crime—if so, was it justice for Alvin Bragg to bring these charges against Donald Trump?

Shifting Allegiance

Listening to a host of news sources for weeks now, I was confident there was no way Donald Trump would have been convicted.

I was wrong!

It seems our justice system is showing its evil head, only this time it’s not to keep down black men but it has risen up to bite a high-powered white man. A former American President—the crème de la crème.

In the name of justice, Donald J. Trump has been forced to pay a woman who claimed he sexually assaulted her but admitted there was no sex involved. He is now convicted for paying off a woman who was going to use the details of their relationship against him if he did not pay her (which I think is extortion).

Meanwhile, Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, is set to go to court in Delaware for supposed trumped-up charges involving tax evasion, drugs, a laptop, and a gun. No doubt, Joe Biden stands firmly by his son’s side, whose charges are far more serious than any waged against Donald Trump, and unfortunately dripping with truth. I have lived long enough to know the streets don’t lie. Joe Biden blinded by the love for his son, pretends not to comprehend facts, and he gleeful condemns Trump and Republicans for exposing the alleged truth about dear OLD Hunter.

The Small Bloc of Black Voters

This double standard in our justice system is having an unexpected impact on the black community. It is causing a greater shift in political allegiance among a small, yet significant portion of Black voters. This shift is significant enough to hurt Biden’s chances of wining his coveted second term for President. But it has appeared Biden was ignoring the black vote coveting Muslim and young voters.

The black vote has never been monolithic, although it seems that way. It is a grim reality for years, pan-African Blacks have leaned far left, often bypassing independent candidates to embrace the most extreme third-party candidates. But for the most part, blacks have remained faithful to the Democrat Party.

This year is different. There seems to be even more support for extreme third-party candidates who despise American democracy, though they benefit from it. These candidates are like bloodsuckers who believe there is no such thing as crime or criminals. But added to this divide are a group of Blacks who are pushing to the right.

Despite Trump’s many pitfalls, he remains steady with his base and is gradually gaining support among Black voters. A few months black podcast pundits, like Roland Martin were shaming Blacks who favored Trump over Biden. Clearly, Blacks have not been paying attention to the tired rhetoric.

I suspect this rise in Trump’s numbers has something to do with this group of blacks now supporting him. Blacks are starting to recognize our power; we can flex back and forth and change the outcome of a political campaign with less than 20% of our bloc vote.

Today Joe Biden’s poll numbers are not just sinking because he’s losing support from Muslims and young voters—he is losing because, within those two voting blocs, there are fringes of Black voters with diverse opinions focused on bringing down the white colonial regime. Meanwhile, a larger bloc of Black voters are shifting to the right in one bloc to support Donald Trump.

The Bronx Rally and Its Implications

Now to be fair, there have always been a few so-called “Uncle Toms” who support Trump. Republicans like Byron Donalds and Tim Scott have taken much heat from the black community for their support of Trump. However, the story took a different turn last week after Trump held a rally in the Bronx. In the midst of his now infamous, “hush money trial,” Trump went to the Bronx. Flocks of black folk attended this campaign rally in support of Trump. This sent shockwaves through the Democrat party.

However, I do wonder if Biden and his campaign recognize the issue: losing the Muslim vote and young voters will not Be the reason his Campaign is going to sink. No sir. It’s going to be that minority bloc of black voters leaning right that will do bring about this damage. Those leaning left Democrats can only waste their vote on a third party wannabe or stay home and abstain. They unfortunate reality is they are two scattered to hold any power. While those Democrats who lean right will cast their votes for Trump, creating the most damage to Biden’s chances of re-election.

According to a Pew Research Poll conducted on May 20, 2024, 29 percent of black voters between the ages of 18-49 favor Trump, and another 9 percent over 50 support the former president. This means a significant portion of black voters continues to support Biden, but the loss of that small bloc is like a shot in the heart.

Although the numbers were telling the story that more blacks were supporting Trump, the Bronx rally revealed this truth in real-time. Now Joy Reed from MSNBC claims this is not the case and went on tv to argue crowd size, missing the point that Trump will lose the majority black vote. But with 50% of the white vote he only needs a small percentage of the black vote to pull him to the finish line.

After this became evident at the Bronx rally, the Democrats could no longer sweep this news under the rug. Some blacks are following Kings footsteps and are not conforming. Blacks are realizing, we have Democrat policies have led us for far too long. We have realized that the supposed come-up found in crumbs that fall from the tables of the rich are insufficient. We are tired of being told what to think and how we should cast our vote. Democrats need to realize our vote is no longer for sale.

The Decline of Biden’s Popularity

According to Reuters, this month Biden’s numbers sank to an all-time low, with only 36% of Americans supporting him. That means nearly 60% of Americans do not support Biden, which explains why Trump is winning in every battleground state.

Biden spoke on Friday for the first time since Trump had been convicted, and during this speech, he brought up two points because these two discussions should help boost his numbers. The first is a faulty announcement about the Israeli war in Gaza. Biden, speaking for Israel, claimed they had put forward a plan to “end the war,” signaling to his Muslim base that he wants a “ceasefire.” It didn’t matter that Netanyahu rejected this idea the very next day. What has become painfully clear is that Biden is willing to sacrifice support for Israel to save his election. He seeks appeasement in lies while his actions speak the truth—he does support Israel. Yet he pretends his loyalty is in the best interests of the people in Palestinian so he can get their uncommitted vote. But he has to cover up this truth or face the violent voices of the far left side of his party. This speaks of his fragile stance that is evident in his attempt to appease young voters and Muslims in swing states.

Trump’s Resurgence and Biden’s Response

During his speech, Biden also made sure to mention Trump. With a slick grin, he praised the 12 jurors, the judge, and Alvin Bragg for the conviction. Perhaps he had hoped that this announcement would draw black voters back to his side, but reports show that after Trump’s conviction, he received $53 million from small and first-time financial supporters. That included me. I had never given Trump a single donation, but I reached down in my empty pocketbook and pulled out $20 and donated to the Trump campaign.

The problem with this historic conviction is it sets a precedent that any American President can be tried for any crime, regardless of how frivolous the charge. While those like Joe Biden’s son, who clearly have committed countless crimes that have been covered up, including fraud in Ukraine, will be protected by any means. It’s a clear double standard.

The Racial and Political Implications

Going off-topic for a few seconds, it is also painfully obvious that those leading the charges against Donald Trump just so happen to be black, with the exception of Jack Smith. Alvin Bragg, Letitia James, and Fani Willis are all black. They are proudly at the forefront of the fight against Trump. I was amazed at how quickly Bragg took to the mic on Thursday after the Trump conviction. He didn’t do the work in the courtroom; that was done by a slew of white faces that stood behind him as he spoke with boldness. Bragg, of course, is the same New York DA allowed illegal immigrants to walk free after assaulting police officers. But Bragg will forever be remembered as the first prosecutor to land a conviction of an American President. Poetic justice, it would seem, for a black man to convict a white man. It’s reminiscent of the David and Saul analogy: King David discovered the former King Saul resting in a cave and could have killed him, but he showed mercy. Alvin Bragg found Trump in the cave and chose not to show any mercy.

As he spoke, I couldn’t help but think of an old wise tale: “Ain’t no fun when the rabbit got the gun.” What makes you smile today could make you cry tomorrow.

Conclusion

As an American Black who is disappointed in our election process and our justice system, I will admit Donald Trump would not be my choice for president in any other situation. If I have to be honest, those verdicts do not impact my decision at all. This verdict is unjust!

I personally think Biden’s conference on Friday was nothing more than a huge distraction. As we turn our faces to condemn Israel and Trump, Biden heavily invested in Ukraine gives them the red light to bomb Russia directly. Not that I disagree with this decision, but once the smoke clears and the news of genocide Joe giving another green light for potentially more war, may cause even more protest.

The fact is, President Biden will never be my choice again for president. Desperately, I voted for Biden in 2020 against Donald Trump. But now that I have had a chance to see exactly how both Presidents governed, I believe that Trump was indeed a better President than Biden. Biden has failed on all of his policies, and we are mired in countless wars and losing our standing in the world. We are turning our backs on our allies and showing more support to nations whose only goal is to destroy Western values. On the global front, the U.S. is looking increasingly unstable, like many other nations we are grappling with leaders who seem more concerned with political maneuvering than genuine progress.

If Trump had committed more serious crimes, such as rape, murder, or offenses beyond mere paperwork, I would not hesitate to cast a vote for Biden. However, Trump’s situation involves clear extortion, where he was compelled to pay off a woman who clearly had no intention of keeping her interactions with him private because he a presidential candidate. It is evident that Trump is being presumed guilty, and prosecutors are scrutinizing paperwork to find any offense to substantiate their claims.

Donald Trump is no savior. I distrust Trump as much as I distrust Biden. Unfortunately, he is the lesser of two evils. However, for the first time in history, we have the opportunity to compare both Trump's and Biden's political records. This allows for a unique evaluation of their policies, actions, and impact.

I have more confidence in Trump’s policies and his stance on Western values than I have for Biden. What it boils down to is as a nation will we continue to watch as Biden is broken down not only by his own party but also by Countries like South Africa, or the United Nations.

This may sound naïve, but I support Trump, who had issues but seems to have learned a lesson. If we continue down this road following Biden direction I don’t foresee the safety of our nation. Trump seems to have been much more respected around the world. I will confess I do worry about him stepping down but I am hopeful that will not be the case. Not because I trust Trump. It’s because I believe in the American system, when pressured in 2020 it stood firm. So since I have to choose between Biden and Trump, I choose to cast my lot for Trump, even with the 34-convictions, knowing in all things God is in control.

Now I just pray Trump picks Nikki Haley as his Vice President.

THE MILLENNIAL FRONTIER OF RAP

Rap Beef Fallout

What happened with all the noise about the rap beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake? The news of the release of one diss track after another blew up social media just a few weeks ago. It seemed to be the talk of our community over a weekend, a reprieve from the noises of college campuses. But as quickly as that fire started to burn, it suddenly disintegrated. The hype and excitement vanished almost overnight. From my view, it was because superficial conflicts are like sparks; they flare up quickly but burn out just as fast. Nevertheless, something about the beef resonated inside of me and brought back memories of an exodus of Blacks that found freedom in Rap music.

Rap Evolution

Growing up in the eighties, I witnessed rap take form and grow like a seed. When the Black community shifted from “Ain’t no stopping us now” to “Rapper’s Delight,” I was in the youthful stride of my life. As a teenager, I watched with googly eyes when Ice Cube appeared on MTV dressed in all black with a fresh Jerry curl and his bad attitude. I am young enough to remember the days when people carried their jukeboxes blasting Run DMC or Easy E like Radio Raheem.

I am just old enough to remember how rap started to bloom and hit the mainstream with lyrics of resistance and poetic stanzas that told the stories of ghetto life in melodic form.

I will confess, when I was really young, I approached rap with disinterest. Growing up there had been so much hype around the lyrics until I mostly just stayed away. It was take it or leave it. But in my community, music fans debated and critiqued KRS-One and Mobb Deep, Mos Def and NWA and Run DMC, OutKast and LL Cool J, The Roots and Talib Kweli, Eminem and Dr. Dre, Queen Latifah, Foxy Brown and Roxanne, Kanye West and Lauryn—I fell in love with rap because of Tupac.

Long gone are the days when rappers described in poetic detail the conditions of the black community. Today, songs like Tupac’s "Brenda’s Got a Baby," a ghetto classic, doesn’t resonate with a generation that is now given permission to kill their babies. Yesterday, rap represented a generation that struggled, survived, made it to the other side and repented. We all understood what Biggie meant when he made the confession, “when I die, I want to go to hell—.”

Whatever our route we march to the same drum and believed we could escape the projects and prisons. Rap told the stories of the overcomers. How we made it out the gutter. We have loved, cried, sacrificed, failed, fought, and lost tremendously, but by the grace of God and on the heels of the street sounds of our community, we have crossed over and now we stand in the promised land—looking back. That is not the same narrative shaping the history of millennial rap today.

Current State of Rap

Today’s rap music is based on the most profane ideas and abuses that propaganda can offer. Rap purports to be gangster but is, in fact, absolutely not. Mainstream rap is a watered-down version of what it once was. It’s commercial and generic, providing our children with superficial images of materialism and the sacrificing of their soul for access to obtain silver and gold.

At first glance, it seems as if rap has always been about cars, jewelry, and hoes, and there is some truth to that. But my generation, the progenitors of hip-hop, learned that rap was about our stories—a melodic voice of people searching for a way out. While rap music today is focused on materialism, it’s about upscaling the use of the most illicit and immoral behaviors imaginable and making a fortune doing it. Kendrick Lamar and Drake's series of diss tracks represent a Western ideology that belies the basis for the genre of music they represent.

My own reflection

The beef is between the elite and the bourgeoisie, thus the one line that resonated with me, as I listened to as much of the diss tracks as I could stand,

"You p***ies can't get booked outside America for nan I'm out in Tokyo because I'm big in Japan I'm the hitmaker y'all depend on."

In other words, Drake was calling for Kendrick Lamar to elevate his game. I know there is the perception that Kendrick Lamar won this back and forth, however Drake’s assessment is true. How is he a Canadian artists selling out world tours using an American Black medium. He lacks substance and experience and yet it can’t be denied he has become the new face of rap. He’s like Eminem, absent the struggle and flow. Absent the framework of the struggle of growing up in the ghetto in the United States. But this is the evolution of a genre.

For me, I grew up without my father. My mother was an alcoholic, and she worked 2-3 jobs at a time. My education was subpar, and I had a child at 21. With all obstacles against me, I found a way (or I should say God led me) on the pathway out of the ghetto, and I am pleased to say rap music was one of the instructors on my journey. ‘Fuck the Police,’ in my mind, meant keeping your car clean—licensed, insured, and registered. I went from perm to straight, thinking you might have some, but you just lost one, and no one would dare even think about calling me a bitch. Because it had been ingrained in my mind that we had the power.

When I think about the heavy influence rap had on my journey, I can relate to how rap has influenced our young people. The rap today no longer represents my generation. While I think perhaps rap today distorts truth, I believe truth will rise out of the crevices, it’s a genre that will cross generations. Rap, because of its mix of lyrics and melodic beats, will always carry the zeitgeist of generations.

Where I empathize with our youth is their stories are being told by individuals whose only agenda is capitalism. Let me state, I am a capitalist, but only because I believe there’s the best chance for a rose to grow in concrete. I am completely aware that while that is true, it also creates a culture of copycats.

Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s diss tracks are exactly that—a copycat. The music is their own, but the idea that putting out hit after hit of diss tracks will create the spark that gets people talking about Drake and Kendrick, in the same way the release of Jay Z diss tracks and Nas’s response, got the attention of an entire generation, was a bit naive, if I have to be frank. The Drake vs. Lamar seems inorganic and maybe even contrived in a boardroom. In reality, what happened with the Jay-Z and Nas beef could have manifested in a boardroom, but we had never seen anything like that sweep across the world. A beef on the world stage between two privileged brothers—using the term very carefully because Kendrick Lamar grew up poor in resources but it doesn’t appear he lacked love—was unoriginal.

I understand that dissing is all about who can hurl the most insults with the best flow. That’s the takedown. This idea that ‘I can do better then you, I got more fans and have flown on more flights, is just basic and immature. The rallying cry of a generation, one step away from the slums of the ghetto, pretending to have been unearthed from beneath a stone, is painfully inorganic. It reeks of marketing and more money for the music industry.

Who is elite and who represents the bourgeoisie, I suppose that depends on where you sit on the wealth ladder. The elite can include people from different backgrounds and areas of expertise, while the bourgeoisie is specifically related to ownership and control. There is a silent notion played out of who owns rap and who can control its narrative.

Rap was like poetry. Artists like Jay Z brought an entire generation of young people into another world. There were some rap songs with beats and lyrics that resonated so much with reality—you can easily take the place of Victims like Brenda or Caroline or Ms. Jackson. Those rap songs forged a genre that represented our voices.

As far as Drake and Kendrick Lamar as artists are concerned, I like them both. I have a few of their CDs in my Apple Music Library. I like Drake’s music just like the next guy, but I have never taken him as a serious rapper. I’ve always felt his music was whitewashed and clean. Not harmful, not provocative, but something to bop your head to. When Kendrick Lamar first came on the scene, I listened to him because of his poetic flow. Next to Eminem, I don’t know any other rapper that has such an original and methodically lyrical flow, but honestly, I could never get down with his beats and his lyrics fall flat.

It’s because of my bias, I can’t say much about this millennial rap beef or the diss tracks that went back and forth. But I will say there was a bit of hype that caused a sensation and created discussion of a time that is now long past and yet part of our history.

I remembered the day “The Blueprint” dropped. It was on 9/11 and as The World Trade Center started to burn, there was hype of the release of the Blueprint. I remember driving down I-95, dropping my baby off at daycare, and going to work, listening to “Reasonable Doubt” with twenty dollars in my pocket intent of going out at lunch to get the CD, when my son’s dad called me to say, The World Trade Center had been bomb. That was life changing to hear of that attack in America. After the shock of the news in the office, I went out to get the CD at lunch time and remember how everyone in the mall was talking about the bombings. The Blueprint and9/11 will forever be connected, as that night I rode home listening to The Blueprint with America on my mind.

I imagine tomorrow will be the same for many young people. One day their eyes will be opened, and they will look back and contemplate the music that shaped their lives. There is the reality about truth—fakes will always arise. It’s up to you to learn the difference. Today’s rap is meant for the youth, and it’s up to them to determine what the evolution of rap will be for their generation. It seems for them mainstream rap represents Western values that many around the world deem colonialist.

For me, the rap of yesterday has faded to black. In reflecting on the recent rap beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, it's clear that while the excitement and hype around such conflicts are fleeting, they still manage to evoke memories of a bygone era when rap was a powerful voice of resistance and storytelling. Today's rap scene, dominated by materialism and commercial interests, contrasts sharply with the authentic narratives of struggle and triumph that defined earlier generations of rap—that’s just a fact. While Drake and Kendrick Lamar's diss tracks may stir momentary controversy, they ultimately reflect a diluted version of rap's original purpose.

As someone who found solace and empowerment through rap music, I hope that future generations will one day discern between superficial trends and the genuine, transformative potential of the genre.

BEYOND THE PROTESTS: Biden's Steady Standing in the Student Vote

The Democrats are in serious trouble! Joe Biden and his party are divided on ideology, values, and principles. The divide is like a bad pair of brand-new pantyhose with a run that gets wider and deeper the further it goes up the thigh. According to left-leaning Democrats and so-called “centrists” or third-party political groups, the number of college student protesters is evidence of a growing divide within the Democrat party. While I believe this is true, I don’t think the divide is driven by actual student protesters. A closer look reveals that the majority of students are not actually participating in these protests and the Israeli war in Gaza is not top of mind for most students.

According to a survey done by Generation Lab and reported by AXIOS, when college students were asked what was top of mind for them, the Israeli War came in last with a mere 13% considering the issue to be among their top three. Over 40% of students ranked health-care reform as their number one issue, while education, economic fairness, racial injustice, and climate change all rated above 30%, with immigration and national security beating out the conflict in the Middle East.

Considering the lack of student interest it begs the question: Who are these large crowds of protesters out on college campuses and inside the tent encampments? It also questions whether this issue will directly impact Joe Biden's chances of bringing students out to the polls come November.

After Trump nearly dropped the ball, leaving America in what seemed like shambles, Biden and Harris took office on the wings of justice and order, draped in team blue. However, right out of the gate, they fumbled the ball. They have failed on nearly every campaign promise, from their failure to bring the COVID crisis to a safe close, to the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan that resulted in violence and death.

Joe Biden and Harris have mismanaged the boarder and the Haitian crisis and appear to be weak on the global stage, bullied by Africans in Niger, Muslims in America, and a bunch of college kids. They have mishandled the economy, failed on their abortion agenda, and deserted Israel, our closest ally, aligning with Islamic religious extremists under the guise of freedom and expression. While I could say more, I will end here to return to my original point.

Examining the perception that student protests could significantly impact the Democrats' campaign, there's a belief that students, particularly those passionate about the conflict in Gaza, could negatively influence the outcome for Biden in November. However, this might be a misconception. While it may seem that student protesters are considerably influencing this issue, the reality could be different.

Media outlets, predominantly those with socialist-Marxist leanings, tend to portray the scenario as predominantly white students from elite institutions carrying the weight of these protests, with a smattering of Black students involved. However, individuals like podcaster Sabby Sabs argue that Black students, including those from HBCUs, are just as involved and invested as their white counterparts.

This call to action by the media, challenging students at HBCUs to demonstrate their stance, has culminated in some notable events. There's no greater way for HBCUs to express their support for Palestine than by protesting any leader who defends Israel's right to self-defense.

For instance, Xavier University, an HBCU in Louisiana, cancelled an invitation for Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.N. Ambassador, to deliver the commencement because she vetoed a ceasefire for the Israeli war in Gaza. Furthermore, when Morehouse announced that Joe Biden would be the Commencement Speaker on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Atlanta, both left-leaning and centrist Democrats called out the black students to protest the graduation ceremony.

Anticipating potential protests, the White House sent an emissary to meet with a group of students who expressed their disappointment with Joe Biden’s continued support for Israel. Despite this, the university's president, David A. Thomas, announced that the ceremony would proceed as planned, with Joe Biden delivering the address and receiving an Honorary Degree. Thomas announced that should there be protests, “he would shut the ceremony down.”

Nevertheless, plans were being placed by supporters of Gaza. The algorithms were set in motion, encouraging Black students to protest Joe Biden. These tactics were already being used across college campuses, with students wearing keffiyehs or holding up the Palestinian flag during graduation ceremonies. But outside of a few shorts or snippets, the student protesters at universities have been coming off like a barking Chihuahua. However, when it was learned Joe Biden would give an address, the podcasters sounded the alarm and led the charge, giving advice on ways to protest. Even third-party candidates like Jill Stein jumped in again to encourage students to protest at Morehouse.

The impact seems to have risen and fallen flat. Over the last couple of weeks, we have witnessed groups of students getting up and walking out of their own ceremonies. Some wave the Palestinian flag or wear keffiyehs, but other students are starting to shout back. In one recent ceremony in Michigan, students chanted USA when pro-Palestinian students walked out carrying the Palestinian flag. When Jerry Seinfeld delivered the commencement ceremony at Duke, Pro-Palestinians students were booed as they left the ceremony.

During the Morehouse ceremony, the Valedictorian, Garrison Hayes called for a ceasefire and a few of the students replaced their graduate hoods, with the Keffiyeh scarf, or turned and stared at other students that looked up at Joe Biden, and perhaps some got up and walked out, but overall, most had their heads up, listening and even laughing at some of Joe Biden’s jokes.

While Joe Biden may face significant obstacles with his policies, his standing among students may remain steady. This was evident during the Morehouse ceremony where, despite some student protests, Biden delivered his address and received his award unabated. It's critical to remember that these protestors might not represent the majority sentiment among students, casting doubt on their authenticity. Thus, their attempts to amplify their voices may not reflect the broader student perspective. Consequently, the perceived risk to the Democrats' campaign from student protestors could be overstated, suggesting Biden might retain a strong position in the student vote, despite prevailing perceptions.

Fool's Gold: The Deception of Florida A&M University's $237 Million Donation"

I listened to Yvette Carnell's podcast the other night and I was shocked by a captivating tale. It was a story so remarkable, so profound, and so bizarre that even Zora Neale Hurston couldn't have written it herself. Dr. Larry Robinson, the President of Florida A&M University, seemed to have his eyes elsewhere when he accepted a $237 million donation from Gregory Gerami, CEO of Batterson Farms Corp., supposedly a hemp farm in Alabama or Texas. Gregory Gerami and the Isaac Batterson Family 7th Trust, pledged to donate the shares of stock that had an value worth at least $239,000,000, plus an additional $61 million in donations that would span over a 10-year period.

WEB DUBOISE

“Then it dawned upon me with a certain suddenness that I was different from the others; or like, mayhap, in heart and life and longing, but shut out from their world by a vast veil”

Yvette interviewed Jerell Blakeley, whose op-ed titled "For the Love of Money, has FAMU been fooled?" raised doubts about the validity of this substantial donation and started a media blitz that soon questions the sizeable donation and the donator. Blakeley questioned Gerami's identity and origins upon learning of the donation, considering it was the largest donation ever given to an HBCU, twice the amount Spelman received earlier this year. After a quick Google search, Blakeley concluded that Gerami was probably a fraud and that Dr. Larry Robinson and FAMU could very well have been deceived.

WHO IS GREGORY GERAMI, CEO?

After handing over the supposed donation, Gregory Gerami appeared in a video wearing a Covid mask and a suit jacket that looked as though it hadn't been ironed since it was last stored in a plastic bag bound for goodwill. He gave off an aura of poverty, yet these elite intellectuals failed to realize that perhaps they should have vetted the donor before making the donation public.

It's a classic case of something being too good to be true. According to public information, Gregory Gerami is a 32-year-old CEO of a hemp company with a limited social media profile. He had been a sick child, abandoned by his birth parents; he was adopted at two. He suffered from severe health challenges but overcame all obstacles thanks to the family that saved his life. Other than these self-proclaimed experiences, nothing more about the man and his wealth is known. However, he is known for scamming at least one other HBCU. According to Sun Times, Gerami, pledged a $95 million donation to South Carolina college in 2020—needless to say that was also a pipe dream. Gerami also allegedly approached other HBCUs with the same scam but was quickly shut down.

Florida A&M, like many HBCUs, is seriously underfunded and faces challenges due to its debilitating infrastructure. They are in dire need of resources, which could potentially explain why Dr. Robinson and his team were so easily deceived. But the American black community is left wondering, why didn’t Dr. Robinson see the scam?

THE BOARD MEETING

The emergency board meeting, called by FAMU Board of Trustees Vice Chair Deveron Gibbons, shed light on how the university secured the large donation and came to know CEO, Gregory Gerami. Shawnta Friday-Stroud, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Business and Industry, provided crucial insights into the donation's particulars.

During the board meeting, she had discussed the events that unfolded over the six-month period leading up to Gerami's speech at the school's commencement ceremony and his public announcement of the donation. Until that moment, Dr. Stroud had not identified any issues concerning Gregory Gerami, even after encountering him in public and noticing he was clearly trying to conceal some dental problems. For a millionaire, the cost of purchasing veneers to improve his smile would have been trivial. Yet, he consistently kept his mouth closed or covered. Nevertheless, nothing that Dr. Stroud had observed prompted her to throw caution to the wind. She saw no reason to deviate from her standard due process or delve deeper into her investigation.

She never questioned Gregory Gerami’s age, his business, or Isaac Batterson Family 7th Trust. Not even after receiving a letter from Mr. Gerami investment firm notified FAMU they were dropping Battison Farms and no longer representing Gregory Gerami or the trust. Dr. Stroud never hesitated. If this were a fire, Shawnta Friday-Stroud would have been burnt up.

She sold this deal to the President and several others and together they decided to move forward with the excessive donation and kept matters from the board, claiming they had signed a nondisclosure agreement (NDA).

Once they confirmation from their Investment Banker, Matthew Waters, verifying receipt of the stocks, Dr. Robinson posted a video of him and Gregory Gerami sealing the deal with a handshake. It was as if, Dr. Robinson and his team had found a pot of gold, as they eagerly signed paperwork while CEO Gerami sat back, looking like a straight snake. Not one of these intelligent black scholars read the writing on the wall.

GAME OVER

It wasn’t until Saturday, May 4, 2024, did news of the large donation begin to circulate around social media and finally caught the attention of the board. Speculation surfaced following Mr. Gerami commencement speech to a sea of graduates at FAMU. After his speech, he shucked and jived around and pulled out a long fake check with the $237Million amount written in green letters and numbers—screaming “greed” on the amount line. To the tone of money, money, money, Dr. Robinson received the check like a champ. There was such great excitement. An HBCU receiving all that money! Imagine the possibility, money for fields and resource center and athletic facilities, money for school of business, entrepreneurship and of course funds for the bands and drill teams. They had their strategic priorities in line. All they needed was the money.

This euphoria quickly dissipated as news of the large donation began to circulate on social media, prompting questions and skepticism. The grandeur of the moment faded when the truth behind the donation and CEO Gerami's intentions came to light, casting a shadow over the university's initial elation.

The university never did a simple Google search to find the Batterson Farms Corp website, or surely, they would have questioned who Mr. Gerami actually was. They never went to check out the farms never asked any questions about how they would liquidate the stocks, or the value of the stocks, like gullible fools, they received and filed every document Mr. Gerami without a single question.

I can go on and on about this sad tale. But I am just going to stop. I will say that Dr. Larry Robinson is still singling they are hopeful the donation is real. However, we will probably never know as President Robinson has paused the donation. I suppose they will return the stock certificates and walk away empty handed. The board meeting ended with the conclusion that FAMU needed to have a conversation about hiring a third-party company to do an audit of the university gifting processes.

While I support black universities, this event has left me flabbergasted. How did they allow themselves to be so easily duped? Where they really that desperate. Or did the color of green make them avoid any serious due process or skip trace search. Long gone are the days of W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington, true scholars who, despite the challenges faced by the black community, had substantial bodies of work to prove their worth. Dubois who graduated from Fisk university and had penned the, Of the Meaning of Progress, a tale of his return to Fisk University in Tennessee, hometown of Dr. Lawrence Robinson, only to discover the world has progressed and a dear friend had died. This is the exact why I felt when I heard about this deception. It’s just sad.

It seems that there's a prevailing perception within the American black community that we are being led by elite scholars. However, the reality is indeed grim. To observe that influential figures within the American Black community, from Dr. Robinson to Cornel West; from Claudine Gay to Fani Willis, these individuals have scarified their values for monetary gain. This unfortunate perception, which is sadly often mistaken for reality, portrays us as easily manipulated, prone to betrayal, and used as mere pawns. It's a regrettable reflection on the current state of the American black community.

You would think the black elite bourgeoisie should know better.

Will SOMEONE GIVE THIS GIRL A HUG | Amanda Seals Club Shay Shay Interview

I wasn’t a huge fan of HBO Series, Insecure. To me, it felt like a poorly executed sitcom that depicted black women in a disrespectful manner, conforming to every mainstream stereotype imaginable. Despite my reservations, the show did have a significant following among millennial black women. It positioned itself as reminiscent of the hit series, Living Single but maybe closer to Girlfriends. While I couldn’t tolerate Girlfriends and not sure if it compares, I found Insecure lacked the depth of Living Single. Characters like Khadijah, Max, Regine, and Sinclair were portrayed as black women with morals and expectations and navigated successful, despite setbacks. In contrast, Insecure focused on insecure black women, showcasing characters who were despondent, depressed, and struggling to navigate reality and personal growth—a stark departure from the empowered women of Living Single.

Regardless of my own beliefs about the series, it can’t be denied, Insecure was a big hit in the black community. Unfortunately, I lost all interest in the show after Lawrence and Issa broke up. However, I continued watching primarily because I wanted to support a black writer, Issa Rae had written the series based on her web series, Awkard Black Girl, and to keep up with the media buzz. The series sparked lively conversations at the hairdresser, so I forced myself through every season after season two.

Reflecting on the black characters in "Insecure," I must admit that Tiffany, portrayed by Amanda Seales, was my favorite. She bore significant similarities to the women from "Living Single," exuding a lighthearted and playful demeanor. In contrast, I found Issa's character too passive and indecisive, often grating on my nerves. Molly was a caricature of an attractive black woman grappling with profound issues, while Kelli seemed rather typical.

Tiffany embodied the bougie, light-skinned woman that viewers loved to hate. She was the epitome of the character everyone aspired to be—intelligent, successful, and married. She adhered to traditional values in a secular sense. However, in alignment with the overarching theme of insecurity, even a traditional lifestyle had its challenges. There were hints of infidelity in her marriage, and the narrative touched on her struggle with postpartum depression. Despite these hang-ups, I appreciated her character.

The series cancellation was bitter-sweet; bitter as it marked the end of the series about insecure black women. On the other hand, it was sweet as we made it through the final episodes and received our just reward—Deus ex Machina: Lawrence and Issa back together against the world. Not long after that final chapter, Issa and her friends faded from the spotlight. Apart from Issa Rae's occasional appearances on the Red Carpet, we've seen little of the cast and crew.

But lately, Amanda Seales’ name has been sprouting up everywhere. She has a podcast in which she supports Palestine and she is growing quite a following. I read an article a few weeks ago about rumors concerning what others consider her bad attitude and victim behavior. Although hearing the rumors, I hadn’t made the connection that Amanda Seales had played Tiffany on Insecure until she appeared on Marc Lamont Hill’s Podcast in an Afro. To be honest, I have a problem with a woman who wears an Afro—it screams black Marxism, so initially I didn’t recognize her. Absent the wig and her politics, she was likable. But before the conversation was over, I shadowed her on social media and figured out she had played the role of Tiffany.

Recently, I watched Amanda Seals on Club Shay Shay, with Shannon Sharpe, I watched the entire three-hour episode. What can I say about this sister? She is very smart and should be proud of herself, but the more I listened to her, unfortunately, the more she started to peel back the layers of the onion. Honestly, I was left wondering, who are you?

I enjoyed the first hour of the conversation. Even when there was a cringe moment between Amanda and Shannon about a white teacher Amanda said was racist. Apparently, when she was in grade school, she got into trouble for telling the teacher she was wrong in front of the class. Amanda was sent to the principal's office, and she and her parents determined the teacher was racist. I agreed with Shannon, who argued perhaps the teacher felt disrespected. Amanda refused to admit that perhaps that could have been the case, and became visibly agitated because Shannon didn’t see things her way.

Besides that back-and-forth that lasted too long, Amanda took me down memory lane. We have a lot in common. She likes Biggie Smalls and so do I—her favorite song is Ready to Die and mine is Hold Your Head. Lupe Fiasco was one of my favorite rappers back in the day—she dated Lupe. She thought Nas stamped out Jay Z in their diss track—I was with Jay Z. She likes J Cole, so do I; in fact, I think J Cole signaled the beginning of the end of Hip Hop (just my opinion). She likes OutKast, and so do I.

As Shannon laid back and listened, an image began to manifest. Amanda seems to have a complex relationship with her identity. She appears to aspire to be perceived as a light-skinned American black woman, and not simply a light-skinned Grenadian. At the same time, she seems to believe her lighter complexion and superior intellect should afford her superiority over other blacks, yet she grapples with the reality that it does not.

Clearly, she is conflating being black with being American black. To solidify her blackness she makes sure to mention her father was A black man from Boston. She is not Rachel Dolezal in black face and yet she comes off as such. She wants to be a chilly home girl, liked by one and all, down with rap and understanding the struggle of oppression and racism in America. On Club Shay Shay, she was a symbol of a hip-hop chick. From her high braids, her hoop name-plated earrings, she even had on a name plate ring, and her Picasso-printed outfit screamed black girl nineties.

I believe our words reflect who we are every time, and Amanda used two words consistently: bullied and protected. She grew up with behavior in which she acted out but had been surrounded by protectors who encouraged bad behavior. She is a representation of what it means when behavior goes unchecked. We tend to get lost in spaces where people have oppressed us or hurt our feelings or broke our heart, but we grow up and move on.

Amanda is living her life through rose-colored glasses. The issue is, to see things clearly, one must remove those shades. We all experience what Amanda is going through, but we remove the shades and move forward—we mature. However, Amanda seems stuck. She's like a broken record, clinging to a time and behavior that are gradually fading to black.

The zeitgeist of Hip Hop, which once pulsed through the streets of NYC and LA, swept through Louisiana and Atlanta, and influenced behavior globally, barely exists today. It only persists in old tracks and bars that linger in our minds. Listening to Amanda discuss her highs and lows as she navigates life's struggles evokes a sense of melancholy. She clings to the stagnant victim mentality that unfortunately, exemplified Hip Hop.

Recounting her life story, she revealed some important truths. As a young child, she faced misunderstandings but was extremely intelligent, protected, and encouraged by her West Indian Mother, auntie, and her auntie’s white husband.

• Acting wasn’t her first love; it was in fact dancing. She had many dancing and acting opportunities and learned early the level of racism she would face, after being called the “n” word on the set of Christmas show for Disney. She had been the only black girl in the cast and felt like she had been treated differently by the other dancers because of her race.

• As a teenager she played in the Nickelodeon children’s sitcom, My brother and me. After high school, she attended SUNY Purchase, and there encountered issues that led to her suspension.

• Despite these challenges, she secured a job at Sirius radio station and even landed her first significant interview with OutKast. However, recurring issues surfaced, resulting in her losing her job.

• She persevered and joined the singing group Floetry, replacing singer Natalie Stewart. That didn’t last very long as Amanda had issues with Marsha Ambrosius, the lead singer of the group and Natalie feed the flames from the sideline.

• She also was a VJ on MTV and played on other television sitcoms. But in 2016, she landed the role as Tiffany on Insecure and unfortunately, this gig ended badly for Tiffany, as there were some personal challenges with Issa Rae’s, Publicists that spilled over onto the set.

• On The Reel, all seemed well, however her co-hosts have come out and explained how difficult it had been working with Amanda.

So many things can be said of the Amanda Seales' interview. She talked about her failed relationships with broke brothers—rappers and discussed her views of religion (her primary problem, she needs to get to know Jesus) and she delved into her own self-diagnosis with Asperger’s. It seemed lethargic for Amanda, but as soon as she got off the couch she went on her platform and started to complain about the interview and said Shannon didn’t protect her.

Perhaps Amanda Seales does have Asperger's or maybe she has some other mental challenge, but one thing is clear, and that is she lives in the past. She is trapped in the world of Hip Hop, and all the hurts and pains she has suffered rest in those spaces. With every relationship, she revisits those places and projects that behavior onto the new relationships making herself often a martyr.

It’s like Democrat policies—they seem so victimless because you’re the victim.

Despite the challenges Amanda Seales has faced and the complexities of her identity, one thing remains clear: she craves love and protection. Perhaps, in recognizing and addressing these deep-seated needs, Amanda can embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing. With the right support and introspection, she may find solace in knowing that true fulfillment comes from within, not from external validations. As she continues to navigate her path, may she find the love, understanding, and peace she seeks, both within herself and from those around her.

Will somebody give this girl a hug?

CAMPUS CHAOS

The demonstrations happening on university campuses across America, opposing the Israeli War in Gaza, are certainly disturbing. Just yesterday morning, a group of students at Columbia University decided to take over Hamilton Hall - a building at the university - due to its refusal to meet their demands and divest from corporations that are in business with Israel and/or are in the business of developing weapons.

Initially, I gave little regard to these demonstrations. To start, I didn’t understand exactly how divestment would actually work, as it's pretty common knowledge that South Africa divestment went on for a long time and negatively impacted the most vulnerable in South Africa. Also, after BLM, I think protests have become a stage where unrealistic expectations are displayed by characters with axes to grind. Individuals, often copycats, unable to generate an authentic idea of their own, form into mobs and feign outrage. Also, if I have to be completely honest, I don’t see the injury to students and professors that has been caused by Israel's war on Hamas. Yet protest demonstrations driven by social media have become the driving force behind extreme resistance.

Progressive and left-leaning media often justify mob-like behavior under the guise of freedom of speech. These protests, while providing fleeting euphoria for participants, can escalate into violence and create opportunities for looting, robbery, and arson if left unchecked.

In mainstream America today, we witness the emergence of morally and intellectually superior elite groups that use mob rule to champion their ideas. Over the past 30 years, various crises have led to scapegoating—MeToo targeted men, Black Lives Matter criticized the police, and now, discontent is directed towards Israel.

In the past, protesters rallied together in a genuine fight for justice, driven by profound personal experiences and supported by historical knowledge from sources such as books, newspapers, and evolving news outlets. Today, activists—students, women, organizations like Code Pink (an NGO funded by a Chinese organization), and media outlets like MSNBC and Democracy Now—exhibit a distinct sense of elitism and pride in championing Marxist ideology. The tent encampments provide peaceful opportunities for people to come together in the fight for freedom. This is the narrative being spread by the protestors, who arrogantly cast themselves as morally and intellectually superior, positioning themselves as arbiters of truth and justice.

Clearly students today are miseducated, ill-informed, programmed, and provoked to rebellion by platforms like TikTok and other liberal outlets. The media takes it all in and reframes the narrative to fit the elite socialist ideology, and like a dog returning to its slop, students swallow regurgitated social justice misinformation in the feel-good names of hope, love, and freedom for all, like it’s ether.

No matter what mainstream purports as truth, Israel is not an imperialist colonial regime. And most of the people in Gaza are not innocent. It is unreasonable to demand that Israel take responsibility for the safety of a group of individuals claiming rights to a land that their ancestors lost in wars centuries ago.

It's ludicrous to demand that a nation continue to accommodate a "wannabe" state when the “wannabees” primary ambition is to destroy the nation. The existence of Palestine has been focused on the destruction of the state of Israel and the annihilation of Jews. That is discrimination and the Oct. 7 attack was a failed strategic attempt by the Palestinian people to execute genocide against a group of people because they are Jews.

It is absurd to think that those who stand for justice silently watched as an innocent young Jewish man’s arm was partly cut off by Hamas terrorists for nothing more than attending a festival and being Jewish. It was heartbreaking to hear this young man, now held by terrorists for more than 200 days forced to speak against his own nation, who admittedly failed to protect him but has refused to give up the search for him. I won’t even mention the baby that had been captured on Oct. 7; he was six-months old at the time, his only crime—being born Jewish. Every hostage that is held by Hamas, despite Israeli actions in the past, is innocent and yet being held hostage for no other reason than being born Jewish. Palestinians are unable to make the same claim. If that is not racism, I don’t know what is.

I understand that there are some unwise individuals that will argue everything that happened prior to Oct. 7 matters. But does it really matter when the world witnesses a massacre on Oct 7? There is nothing that justifies the execution of innocent people whose only charge was being Jewish.

But for the terrorists and the protesters, history becomes relevant because without it they have no justification. Racism is permitted if a nation is resistant—Hamas terrorists have suddenly become—freedom fighters. Meanwhile, Arab-friendly media sources feed misinformation to students and radical left-leaning elites confused by definitions that call for a civil uprising against a sovereign nation.

I will agree with pro-Palestinian supporters; these demonstrations do spark memories of protests from times past. However, the growing elite have created a false narrative that puts a spin on historical events and validates their cause against the Nation of Israel. The media is framing the events to be reminiscent of The Vietnam War, Kent protests, or the South African divestment campaigns.

 Embryonic to these events are instances like those of Malak Afaneh, co-president of Berkeley Law Students for Justice (LSJP), a Palestinian Muslim and law student, who claims to have been assaulted by a Jewish professor because she is Palestinian.

Malak Afaneh, along with other graaduate students, were invited to the house of Professor Catherine Fisk and her husband Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of Berkeley Law, in celebration of the students. Glancing at the video, not only did Professor Fisk and her husband invite a diverse group of students to their home, they were also responsible for educating this diverse group on the topics of Law.

No dinner with Zionists Chem While Gaza Starves

It should have been a nice occasion in celebration of their achievements; however, before the dinner, flyers circulated depicting Dean Erwin Chemerinsky holding a bloodstained knife and fork. The slogan on the flyers read, “No dinner with Zionists Chem While Gaza Starves!” These flyers were distributed by pro-Palestinians on Berkeley’s campus and social media platforms, implying that the dean and his wife support genocide because they support Israel.

During the dinner, Ms. Afaneh took out a microphone, put on a hijab, and stood at the front of the yard to greet attendees in Arabic, delivering a speech about the importance of Ramadan to Palestinians and Muslims. She also condemned UC Berkeley for investing in arms manufacturers supporting Israel and the ongoing “genocide” in Gaza.

Offended by Ms. Afaneh's actions, Dean Chemerinsky shouted and asked her to leave. Professor Fisk tried to take the mic from Ms. Afaneh and asked her to leave the house as well. Ms. Afaneh refused, citing her first amendment right to protest. However, as Professor Fisk attempted to get the mic, a tussle ensued, during which Professor Fisk touched Ms. Afaneh across her neck and on the shoulders. This led Malak Afaneh to accuse Professor Fisk of groping her breast and touching her hijab, which is considered a sin in Islam.

The graduate students intervened, labeling the professor as aggressive. Some of the students stopped to lecture the Professor and the Dean, criticizing their support for an imperialistic, apartheid state that is committing genocide. They demanded Professors Fisk and her husband divest from their support of Israel. Ms. Afaneh now claims victimhood, accusing Professor Fisk of assault and considering pressing charges.

The video footage reveals the horror Professor Fisk and her husband experienced as they were verbally attacked by elite students for being Jewish. Outrage spread across elite social media platforms condemning Professor Fisk and Dean Chemerinsky for assault and the accusation that they are anti-Palestinian. However, the video reveals the truth; they were targeted by the liberal mob simply for being Jewish.

Briahna Gray Joy, an ultra-liberal from The Hill on the Rising platform, went on a tirade about the fact that Professor Fisk didn’t give Ms. Afaneh the opportunity to speak. The Hill cut the video to support that narrative. However, the full showing of the video reveals Malak Afaneh had started praying, had spoken about Ramadan, and was about to condemn the university when Professor Fisk attempted to grab the mic. Bri, called Professor Fisk’s reaction to Malak Afaneh’s behavior as an assault. Many elite media pundits jumped on the bandwagon and fueled the fire that spread the flames.

The couple was also publicly condemned by CAIR-SFBA, The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a grassroots civil rights organization, with a mission to enhance understanding of Islam. The Executive Director, Zahra Billoo, stated in an April 11, 2024 press release, “Dean Chemerinsky has unfortunately perpetuated an atmosphere of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism for too long.”

Another event happened just last week, involving a Columbia University student, Kahmani James, who before being barred from Columbia, had been responsible for leading the tent encampment protest at the university. An Instagram video from Jan 2024 has now surfaced of the young man chanting, “all Zionists need to die” as he proceeded to nonchalantly apply lip-gloss.

It's these types of malcontent students who are inspiring hate for Jewish people on college campuses under the guise of Zionists—Zion has some become as disgusting as Nazi in American. It is astonishing that college students fester this type of hate and animosity, and it is allowed to spew on campuses. While students are being influenced by individuals like Kahmani James, the puppets (I.e. George Soros) behind the protests remain in the shadows, playing god as our young people dance around carrying signs chanting a rallying cry, "from the River to the sea—Palestine will be free.”

These protests are signaling a new era, and the Marxist pundits manipulate the narrative to serve their agendas. Like Madame Defarge, they sit back, knitting with red-stained hands smeared with fake blood, pretending not to contribute to the upheaval and fervor spilling onto campuses like red wine, secretly ensnaring students in their web of ideological fervor.

Terms like "apartheid" and "genocide" and “imperialism” and “colonialism” are thrown out like grenades, loaded to conjure images of death and brutality. These terms have become death bells that are rung as another Jewish professor, or Zionist supporter dares to freely walk about the campus wearing a yarmulke or a Star of David.

According to the poisoned rants shouted by the mob, Joe Biden, Dave Blinken, Lloyd Austin, and every single Democrat or Republican that supports Israel are guilty of genocide. Judgment will be executed by those uninformed in checkered-colored scarves and Covid masks, who await like ravenous wolves for the guillotine's blade to drop on the next Jew.

The elite want you to believe these protests draw inspiration from past demonstrations and paint a picture of what it means to successfully challenge established authority and advocate for social change. Students high on social media ether quickly take to the television news studios to let you know—they are standing on the right side of history. They demand a revolution in the name of righteousness and truth. They see themselves as the legacy of those college students who stood up to the big, bad imperialist monster and won.

Driven by a relentless aspiration to be heroes, the student protesters are prepared to traverse every boundary, challenge every norm, and defy every limitation to transform this ambition into reality. They provoke officers to arrest them, hoping a video of them will go viral. The reward, a guarantee of guest appearances on podcasts after some video clip of a protester brave enough to call for the “murder of all Zionists” or even better if you are a Jewish person that supports the Palestinian cause—and will go live to speak against Israel—you can suddenly become a celebrity. With pride, handcuffed students stop to pose as they proudly walk the line, escorted by police for standing on the side of the so-called freedom fighters.

To be precise, the Vietnam War was the first war that had been televised. Demonstrations rose up after parents, aunts, and uncles, and sisters and brothers realized the number of American troops being killed on the other side of the world. Vietnam was not just any war, but it was a war of attrition, a twenty-year war campaign, fought with nationalists who called themselves the resistant. Martin Luther King warned the US was on the wrong side of that war as they were fighting to dismantle a communist regime. It would be akin to United States sending troops into Gaza to fight against Israel and establishing the state of Palestine.

Last I checked, not a single American troop has died in Gaza. Vietnam was a 20-year war, and more than fifty-thousands American troops died. Young men fresh out of high school went to war with hopes of fighting for the oppressed and downtrodden in Vietnam and returned mauled and addicted.

None of those things are at play here. In fact, the only cause for the student protest has been invented by social media sources. Palestine’s struggle has become American struggles. Last I checked, Hamas is the government for people in Palestine, and the PLA is the government leading the West Bank. They are already free. Yet somehow these students refuse to accept that although Gaza and the West Bank are not recognized states, they have their own government just like Taiwan. Their airspace is controlled by a stronger, more powerful government, but Taiwan is not starting hostilities with China.

These protests remind me of the Tale of Two Cities. Granted, the circumstances surrounding the events differ—as the revolution was truly the result of a divide between the bourgeoisie and the working class. The French Revolution occurred because King Louis XVI was weak, and the mob grew large enough to take the power from the hands of the monarch and put it into the hands of the mob, led by the man that would see the King and his Queen climb the steps of the guillotine.

The students are the poor peasants, except they are not poor or thirsty but bold enough to demand food aid after occupying Hamilton Hall. They don’t know what it means to suffer because they have never suffered. They support an idea. They put their faith in a reality that is not tangible—outside of stressing protesting they have no real strategy, can offer no solutions, and are unable to have a serious discourse on the history outside of the talking points that have been provided by social media algorithms. The end results are mobs of people who believe they are images of freedom.

Recently, I saw a video of a Jewish woman who supports Palestinians say, what is happening in Gaza resembles what her aunt had told her happened during the Holocaust. She went on to condemn Israel. She is speaking as an authority on the topic because she is Jewish and therefore social media tells the world to believe her. It is as if she is taking a position that hadn’t been taken before. There were groups of people just like this woman, who took the side of the Nazis. They were Jewish police in Warsaw and other Jewish ghettos that turned their own sisters and brothers into the hands of the Nazis. They had hoped their position would save them—but in the end, it did not—they member of the Jewish police barrages were murdered in cold blood or sent to the gas chambers, just like all the other Jews. Perhaps people like this Jewish woman are afraid that one day the mob will suddenly understand there is no difference between Zionists and Jews.

There is no comparison between the Holocaust and Israel’s war in Gaza. I don’t believe there is a single gas chamber in Gaza; in fact, I don’t believe there is a single Jew that lives in Gaza or the West Bank. Gaza held elections in 2006, and not a single Israeli Jew voted in their elections. The PLO held elections in 2013 in the West Bank, and not a single Jewish person voted in their elections. I don’t see Palestinian kids building bullets for their captors to kill their other sisters and brothers or making shoes for the foot of Hamas soldiers.

Listening to Norman Finkelstein compare what is happening in Gaza to slavery is insulting and yet American blacks will give him high praises as he compares Nat Turner’s Revolt to the Palestinian attack on Oct 7. Finkelstein praises the revolt and even casts a moment of sympathy because Nat Turner was later found out and hung. However, the fallacy in Norm Finkelstein’s position is around this idea that the people in Gaza are enslaved. It's as if he doesn’t realize blacks were enslaved mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally—their children taken and sold to the highest bidder—none of those things are happening in Gaza. Slavery was not a figment of someone’s vain imagination. It was a fact. There are no slaves in Gaza or the West Bank. The people in Gaza haven’t built anything except underground tunnels. Yet these facts are irrelevant. According to Finkelstein, what is happening in Gaza is reflective of slavery, and our children in universities around the world believe what they are being told. I can’t count the number of podcasts Finkelstein has been on with the same gibberish—as if he is the authority of facts. Quoting lies. He is the big gun—the weapon the left uses to speak about the situation in Gaza against his own people.

The media often instructs us to dismiss certain videos that contradict narratives of starving children in Gaza, those that shed a positive light are to be discarded as propaganda. along with images disputing the notion that Gaza is an open-air prison. These images do not justify the attack on Oct. 7 and don’t prompt calls for a ceasefire. Images emerging from Gaza are labeled as propaganda by pro-Palestine supporters—and these critics often overlook that the videos originate from Gaza itself. There is no denying the video footage of children delighting in a warm day at the Gaza beach, girls selling sweet drinks outdoors, or men discarding food aid dropped by planes. Despite this, the media continues to propagate the idea that residents of Gaza are starving. They suggest that these photos distort reality, advising us not to trust what our eyes see—that a picture is not worth a thousand words.

What the media doesn’t do is call out the leaders of Hamas. Were it not for the Oct. 10 video of Yahya Sinwar, his wife, and his children fleeing to safety through the tunnels that don’t exist, we would still be wondering where in Gaza are the leaders hiding. No where—they are not in Gaza. They have left their people in a war zone. The leaders in Hamas are like ghosts. They suddenly appear at the UN demanding a state for Palestine. They hide in tunnels and magically appear on the world stage demanding its enemy provide food for the people in Gaza while insisting Israel relinquish land the land Israel and return it back to their enemies.

Last night we witnessed the NYPD storm into Columbia University, Hollman Hall and start the process of removing the protesters that illegally occupied the building after negotiations with the leaders at Columbia fell apart. They advised the protestors that they will continue to invest in Israel. The protestors and demonstrators occupying the building waited with bated breath for the police to arrive and violence to erupt, opening up the space for them to seize the moment. Television cameras flanked the campus in hopes of capturing every single detail. Nothing happened, but all day there have been interviews with pro-Palestinian protestors making complaints against the NYPD. Jill Stein, a Third-Party Presidential candidate for the Green Party, was arrested and went on The Hill to give an account of the violence she endured at the hands of the police. We have learned from the past. We know the students are on the wrong side, and their only ammunition they can offer are shouts, screams, and provocation. Provoking police is another weapon in their arsenal.

There is a story in the Bible about David the King of Israel, was on the run after his son, Absalom in protest illegally occupied David’s kingdom. While David was on the run, he came across a man named Shimei who cursed David for the wars Israel had fought and won under David’s command. Shimei followed David on the road, throwing rocks and using every offensive term imaginable. Shimei’s rhetoric and behavior grew so appalling, one of the men with David replied, “let me go over and cut off his head.” King David refused to allow that to happen. Instead, he kept his head high and moved forward. So should Americans that are being held hostages by these demonstrators, so should Israel and so should Jews.

But still—NEVER FORGET

HISTORY: The Black Ticket

in the bag of silver

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Matthew 26:14-16

The Black Ticket

Dr. Cornel West has picked Dr. Melina Abdullah, a university professor and Black Lives Matter activist, as his vice-presidential running mate. Listening to the media, one would believe all American blacks should be excited and exhilarated as this is the first time in history two black candidates have led a presidential ticket.

When first hearing the name Dr. Melina Abdullah, I had to google to remember who she was. But figuring that out, and listening to her rhetoric, the reason West picked Dr. Abdullah was clear.  Not only does she share the same social justice ideology, but there is the added benefit that they are both scholars.

On the surface, Dr.  Abdullah is a replica of Dr. West. She is a college professor, a BLM advocate, supports policies to defund the police, and she supports Palestine. To top all that off, Dr. Abdullah aligns with the cultural narratives, a black-Muslim, single female parent. Unlike Robert Kennedy’s VP pick, Nicole Shanahan, no one would question why Dr. West selected Melina Abdullah, except to say there was no other serious American black person who would join his ticket. 

Campaign Contradictions

West’s decision encapsulates their "Black Ticket" platform, where they position themselves as advocates for the American black community. Their promise, if elected, will be to destroy the oppressive-American colonial regime, defund the police, reshape the Supreme Court and rid America of pro-life advocates, impose massive taxation on corporations under the guise of paying their fair share, provide free housing, healthcare, and education for all—even illegal immigrants, and demand a ceasefire in Gaza. West claims to have selected Melina Abdullah because he wanted to make ancestors of the Black Civil Rights Movement, long dead and buried, smile from their graves. He made this grand announcement on the Travis Smileys Show on KBLA radio on the last day of Eid Mubarak.

Some may question the balance between the two candidates, as although they share similar beliefs, Dr. Abdullah is a faithful Muslim who believes her selection is a sign from her god and underscores the depth of her commitment to socialist causes. While West is a Jesus-loving Christian—serving a very different God. His stance against American ideology while professing to be a Christian and his choice of a Muslim donor and candidate highlight a contradiction within his platform.  Yet he is blind, or doesn’t care, as he proudly proclaims, “I am running for Jesus.  She’s running for allah.  That’s a beautiful thing.”  Jesus said, “a house divided against itself can’t stand.” Islam and Christianity are fundamentally opposing religions.

Campaign struggling strategy 

Considering these things, this brought a question front of mine. What is motivating West to run for the highest office in the land.  He clearly hates American democracy. He has no platform to run on. He speaks about left-leaning struggles and romanticizes solutions for struggling American “black and brown people,” but he offers no solutions. His campaign has no focus, no vision and until recently, besides appearing on countless podcasts and events.  His loquacious nature leads him to extensively discuss topics such as Gaza and the imperialist American regime with profound disdain.

Pre-Oct. 7, I didn’t believe Cornel West was even serious about running for president. He seemed to make a mockery of the office. As he visited podcast after podcast, singing lies and spitting hate all in the name of a need for a radical return to ethical and moral standards in America. His gibberish outdated and sometimes incomprehensible—amounts to nothing more than propaganda. I started to wonder how serious journalists engaged with Dr. West.  That is until Anderson Cooper pushed back on Dr. West, calling his language “inappropriate,” after West made a comparison between the Russian bombing of Chechen with the US War in Iraq. Listening to that interview, finally a journalist called West on his outlandish rhetoric.

Financial strains and skepticism

However, over the last several months, or since West has shifted to the Independent Party—again, his campaign seems to have developed a strategy focused on dividing the vote.  He is using the plight of the Palestinians to campaign for the vote of Arab Americans, knowing this may put Joe Biden’s campaign in a difficult position.

Early in his campaign, Cornel West was not thinking about the Palestinian people.  When he first decided to run, Dr. West appeared on CNN with Jake Tapper. During the interview, West spoke about his reasoning for running for president and during the conversation he made no mention of Gaza. He mentioned solidarity with Iran and Guatemala and he spoke, using poetic language, about the plight of Vietnam.  Prior to the tragedy of Oct. 7, mentions of Gaza by Dr. West were few and far between. 

Today Gaza has become the oil that is fueling the West campaign. Wherever Dr. West makes an appearance, he sings the songs that expresses his woes for Palestine. Genocide, imperialism, apartheid are words West utilizes as the weapons to signal to the Arab community that he is on their side.  Over the last several months, West’s rhetoric against America has become downright treacherous. Like Judas, he has turned his back to God for a bag of silver.

West is being propped up by the Muslim community. Hence the selection of Dr. Melina Abdullah—Muslim. Although, the media would lead you to believe that West is being positioned by Republicans to divide the vote for Joe Biden, while ignoring which community will create the divide.   West's acceptance of donations from controversial figures like Justice Clarence Thomas's long-time billion friend, Harlan Crow, a right-wing supporter has raised questions about the intentions of Dr. West.  However, West, after being called out returned the $3,300 donations.

We ignore other doners—namely Arab American donors.   West’s primary donor is Asadullah Khan, EPlanet, CEO and Muslim.  In 2023, West raised his largest donations during an event hosted by an Arab community in California and needless to say he is courting Muslims across America, including Dearborn MI.

Lately, West rhetoric has become increasingly inflammatory of America and Israel. With bold, freedom fighter language, West has promised, if elected, he would ask the International Criminal Court to investigate the IDF for war crimes.  He has called Joe Biden a war criminal who is supporting genocide.

With his new VP pick at his side, Dr. West hopes to get on ballots in more states in America, particularly in the battleground states.

I don't believe Dr. West will affect Biden's vote count significantly. Most blacks do not support his anti-American rhetoric, as they do not align with our core values.  Furthermore, I don't think the amalgamation of third-party candidates:  Cornel West, Robert Kennedy, and Jill Stein, will have a devastating impact on Joe Biden's chances of winning the White House for a second term, simply because I believe Joe Biden/Kamala Harris chances of winning are already slim. 

Biden's economic policies and the ongoing immigration crisis highlight his numerous missteps over the last four years.  In addition, global issues, such as Biden's weak stance on Israel and the war in Ukraine, combined with his inability to effectively manage African countries like Niger, will likely be the deciding factors that will cost him this election.

Barring some historical event or tragedy, I think West will stay on the campaign trail with the hopes of securing the Michigan ballot.  This seems unlikely, but nevertheless, this is his main goal.  West is only running for President for speaking engagements.

As West goes across the country pretending to be the moral and spiritual voice of America, or more specifically Black America, his campaign faces significant financial challenges. Having raised $850k he has spent nearly $830K, and only has about $26,000 in cash on hand.  This financial strain is compounded by reports of West's personal financial struggles, including outstanding federal taxes and child support. Despite these difficulties, West presents himself as a self-righteous freedom fighter of justice.  But all that does is raise questions about the transparency and viability of his campaign.

Dr. West is intelligent. He knows he does not have a fighting chance in hell however, he is an opportunist. He is going to hang on for as long as he can remain relevant. West is a character. An image of one of those whistling, shuck and jive negros, standing in darkness, with his hands tucked inside his pocket, beneath the stoplight waiting for an opportunity to stroll along. He has nothing to offer but slick street-talking soliloquies. 

West has no loyalty to the black community—in fact black situations doesn’t align with his current narrative.  West is not loyal to his profession or his community. Not the black community, not the liberal community, and not the Arab community. His selection of Dr. Melina Abdullah is nothing more than theatrics. A political stunt. 

The Truth

West had picked up a stray black cat and promised it milk in the name of freedom and justice, knowing he doesn’t even own a bowl. Nevertheless, he continues to sit on platforms damming America to shame and pretending he cares about the Muslim community —all along collecting pennies to keep himself gassed up.

Let me double talk by doubling down to reiterate my main point, to ensure there's no misinterpretation. The selection of Melina Abdullah by Cornel West is, in my view, a strategic political maneuver. Their common socialist ideologies and advocacy for radical changes may find favor with certain sections of the Black community, but some of us can discern the underlying motive.

Dr. Abdullah might be championing what she perceives as a noble cause for justice, although painfully unrealistic; Dr. West's actions are seemingly financially driven—but more realistically ego driven. It appears he is merely seeking opportunities for guest appearances that serve his own financial interests while inflating his ego.

In reality, Cornel West's 'Black Ticket' campaign featuring Melina Abdullah as his running mate presents a blend of ideologies, contradictions, and strategic ambiguities that do not align with the broader aspirations of the American Black community.

While the ‘Black Ticket’ will be stamped by history as the first American black political campaign, it’s legacy will forever be a farce. An example of poor black leadership. Still, I am certain, that as the campaign unfolds, the evolving complexities will undeniably influence the political discourse and shape the perceptions of West's candidacy within the American electorate. However, given the intricacies and potential misalignment with the broader aspirations of the American Black community, the 'Black Ticket' campaign has no chance of victory.

But even still, Judas, said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for ^athirty pieces of silver. Matt 26:15

Patriotic Reflections: At the Crossroads of Our Nation's Destiny

'We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.'" Abraham Lincoln

As we embark on another US election cycle, the familiar refrain that "this is the most important election of our lifetimes" echoes once again. Actively engaged in the democratic process since the '70s, I can attest that at no point in history has this statement been truer than in our current political landscape. Remembering impactful events like the Iran-Contra affair during Ronald Reagan's election, the allegations of infidelity surrounding Bill Clinton, including the Monica Lewinsky scandal, and the contentious allegations of rigged elections nearly costing Bush an election, and of course I distinctly recall the historic night when Barack Obama was elected president. In the face of the historical echoes that resonate through our past elections, it becomes evident that our participation in this democratic journey holds unprecedented weight. As we stand on the precipice of another crucial election cycle, may our collective voices resound with the gravity of our responsibility to shape the course of our nation's future.

In the past, perceived existential threats lingered on the outskirts, but today, these threats have come to the forefront, jeopardizing the trajectory of our nation. As we approach 2024, it is crucial, especially for American blacks, to confront the pressing realities and implications that this election may carry, recognizing that active participation and awareness are paramount in shaping the collective future of our country.

Leading up to the 2024 US election, political pundits on news shows and podcasts like The Native Land persistently advocate for Black support for Joe Biden. Overlooking the growing narrative suggesting that American blacks are increasingly aligning with Donald J. Trump and his policies, it highlights the diversity of political opinions within the community that may not align with the narrative presented by social media.

In this election cycle, it is essential to recognize the evolving perspectives within the black community and the attempts by various voices to shape the narrative surrounding their political affiliations. Most of the left-leaning media go as far as threatening American blacks, resorting to name-calling to suppress voices with diverse viewpoints.

Charles Barkley recently expressed his disapproval of Black individuals wearing Trump mugshot shirts on the King Charles show, stating, "If I see a Black person walking around wearing a Trump mugshot shirt, I’m gonna punch him in the face." Barkley's extreme reaction sheds light on the lengths some individuals might go to align themselves with the Democrat narrative, even resorting to physical confrontation for those supporting opposing political figures.

To be clear, I am unsure who is watching King Charles. I believe the show is a ploy by CNN to boost black viewership, a strategy often used by stations to build ratings. Additionally, both Gayle King and Charles Barkley lack moral standing when it comes to the American black community, but I won’t digress.

Al Sharpton gave a visceral rebuke to blacks considering voting for Donald J. Trump, questioning, "Have you no shame?" for blacks contemplating a vote based on mugshots. Really!? Does he genuinely believe that American blacks want to vote for Trump in exchange for T-shirts and sneakers? Is he truly that clueless? He talks about the black fight—without acknowledging that it was Democrat party that blacks fought against during Jim Crow. He thinks blacks don’t know the first blacks elected to Congress were Republicans. Now in 2024 we should listen to the black house negros. Us field-negros should be ashamed of ourselves for even considering voting for Trump.

The Native Land podcast, hosted by Angela Rye, Tiffany Cross, and Andrew Gillum, serves as another social media source that speaks down to the American black community, as if we are unaware and don’t completely understand the depth of issues impacting our community. Notably, these three individuals held prominent positions in the past – Angela being a CNN commentator, Tiffany hosting a far-left show on CNBC, and Andrew Gillum, a complete embarrassment to the Democrat community after his loss for Governor in Florida to Ron DeSantis – I will leave that there. These three are seeking to revamp their careers by pretending to be experts.

These individuals believe they represent the voices in the black community, assert that Republicans are 'gaslighting' successful blacks like 50 Cent, who criticized Eric Adams for his handling of the illegal migrant crisis in New York. 50 Cent’s tweet alluded to support for Donald Trump. During one of Native Land’s recent podcasts, when Angela Rye showed a video of blacks supporting Trump, Tiffany Cross almost jumped out of her seat. "Take that down," she shouted. A supposed journalist made a blatant attempt to hide the truth in support of their one-sided narrative.

Roland Martin vehemently claims, "it's a hoax!” Support for blacks hasn't risen. However, according to the New York Times: Cross-Tabs: February 2024 Times/Siena Poll of Registered Voters Nationwide conducted on March 2, 2024, black support for Trump increased from 4% in 2020 to 23% in 2024. Dismissing the polls, some argue that we, as a community, lack the common sense to make these decisions independently. So we need commentators to tell us how to vote. Last I checked—we are all FREE. Roland is correct. We really don’t need to look at the polls to understand who is the best choice for president in 2024, we can have that conversation with our neighbor.

Democrats need to wake up. American blacks are gradually shifting towards Republican policies, exercising their freedom to do so, yet facing condemnation from other blacks for this choice. This paradox mirrors the tension Joe Biden grapples with in the current election cycle. Biden finds himself navigating the complexities of evolving left-leaning political ideologies within the broader community of his own party, while being condemned for being moderate. The political left is so unsupportive of their leader that they staged a so-called 'uncommitted' vote in Michigan to appease pro-Palestinian voters. This is a self-inflicted wound indeed and plays right into the hands of Trump.

The shift within the black community is driven by a growing awareness of the adverse effects of Democratic socialist policies on values, voices, and communities within the black population. Some individuals within the black community disagree with the increasing government involvement, doubt the effectiveness of welfare social programs, and oppose climate change initiatives that emphasize a one-size-fits-all solution.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are caught in this complex dynamic, with Biden's moderate stance conflicting with the far-left progressive ideology prevalent in his party and held by Harris. Even though Biden aims to address broader issues, the far-left faction's influence is preventing him from taking decisive action. Nowhere is this more evident than on the War in Israel, where Joe Biden has expressed his unwavering support for Israel, while Harris has called for a ceasefire and has visited the opposition of the Israeli government, as if that move would guarantee a ceasefire.

Kamala Harris has represented a socialist mentality that has been rejected around the world. She visited the AIDS capital of the world, Uganda, demanding changes to their LGBTQ laws related to prosecuting men who rape boys and infect them with AIDS. Unsurprisingly, Harris was rejected and sent back to the West. She had the same experience when she visited Ghana, pimping the narrative around LGBTQ rights. At once she was rejected in Ghana, however, due to insufficient resources, they may eventually concede their stance when it comes to LGBTQ policies in that country.

What I find most egregious is the way Kamala Harris sells abortion to the black community – that is her biggest crime. To suggest abortion is necessary for the black community is wicked and cruel. This can’t be overstated enough, when this argument comes from a women that never had a child of her own. However, over the last several months, I believe blacks have shifted their opinions on Democrat policies due to the illegal migrant crisis. The mishandling of illegal immigration will likely be the linchpin that costs Biden/Harris the election.

Most importantly, this crisis highlights Harris’ inability to be President, should something happen to Biden. Harris had been Initially tasked with managing the illegal migrant crisis. For two years, she advocated globally for migrants, providing millions of dollars to countries like, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, to prevent the rise of illegal migrants into the US from those countries. They will give millions to standup other countries yet our government says no to reparations that will help build and scale American black business. I have never once heard Harris advocate for reparations and yet she has made it her business to stand up other nations and at the same time advocate for blacks to destroy their own America legacy. I wish I was making this up.

All Kamala Harris’ efforts when it came to managing the illegal migrant crisis, have failed. All that money and resources didn’t improve the border crisis. Although her attention was directed towards three countries, she overlooked nations such as Mexico and Venezuela. Now there are millions of illegals entering the US and neither Biden or Harris have effectively dealt with this crisis. Today, Kamala is on one side, signaling for migrant rights, while Biden contemplates reinstating Trump's 212F Law through an executive order to manage border control.

Considering the political landscape and the influence of social media outlets, this election holds great significance for the black community. I think the top two candidates: Biden and Trump, will not play a crucial role in determining the outcome. The Vice-Presidential pick will be the decisive factor—at least for me.

Biden and Harris currently confront significant challenges, ranging from immigration issues to internal party divisions. Harris's positions lean too far left. Joe Biden needs to get rid of Harris and select a new Vice-Presidential candidate. I heard someone say, Biden can’t get rid of the first African American Vice-President. I wonder what that means—once again the media pretends Kamala Harris is American black. She is not. Kamala Harris is Indian-Jamaican American. Harris strategically misappropriates the term "black" to resonate with and appeal to a black audience. Regardless of her race, if Biden comes to his senses and selected another VP candidate, one that believes in America and willing to address the border crisis, and support Israel—then he will get my vote.

Otherwise, I may find myself voting for Trump, depending on his Vice-Presidential choice. If Trump makes a sensible selection, such as Nikki Haley, he will secure my vote. I would be less concerned about potential hostilities at the end of his term. While Haley has some issues, her consistency is noteworthy. I don't believe she would compromise her principles or attempt to overturn an election, as Trump initially tried to do. In the case of Tim Scott, despite shooting himself in the foot with his presentation of a white woman, before his black Mama, amid allegations surrounding his sexuality, I trust that Scott would not allow Trump to subvert an election. However, I won't vote for Trump if he selects Vivek Ramaswamy or Ron DeSantis as his Vice President.

In the midst of a pivotal US election cycle, the importance of thoughtful consideration and strategic decision-making is paramount for the black community. The top contenders, Biden and Trump, share the stage, but the ultimate sway lies in the choice of the Vice President. Given the intricate challenges encompassing immigration, internal party divisions, and international affairs, it is clear that there is a demand for a Vice-Presidential candidate with a well-defined border-crisis policy and a sustained commitment to supporting Israel. The upcoming election, influenced by the political landscape and social media, carries profound significance for our community. As we approach November 5, 2024, let our decisions be guided by prayer and a deep understanding of the political impact on our collective future.

“ Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.”

— Mark 12:17

THE SACRAFICE

“If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.

And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
.”

— Exodus 21:22-23

On February 28, 2024, I was engrossed in a Capitol Hill hearing delving into Abortion Access & Economic Costs. The event explored the Dobbs vs. Jackson decision, abortion access, economic stability, and the vital concepts of bodily autonomy and freedom. While attentively listening to five white-skinned women discuss abortion, I was struck by the frequent mention of black women in their opening remarks. Every panelist asserted that abortion is deemed necessary for black women. Particularly noteworthy was Senator Woodward, emphasizing that overturning Roe vs. Wade has had the most significant impact on black women, especially those in the south.

Speaking as a black woman who grew up poor, it's time for white women to stop dictating what black women need. Speak for yourselves. From personal experience, I can tell you that we don't need rights to have an abortion. We don't need someone telling us that, due to unfortunate economic situations, we should terminate our pregnancies. Not all black women live in poverty; we work, have healthcare, and, in some cases, even pay for it ourselves. I know that may be hard for some to believe—but it's true. However even if poverty was an economic constraint responsibility and not abortion, should be the solution.

I had healthcare since I was eighteen when I graduated high school and stepped onto the American train to economic opportunity. I delivered two healthy babies—in the hospital and had the best OBGYN care in both cases. In fact, my first son was born when I was 21-years old; he was an emergency C-section, and I can’t even begin to tell you the impact a white male doctor had on my life as he guided me through that process. My son’s cord had wrapped around his neck—the doctor came in and said, 'We lost his heartbeat, but we got it back, and if we lose it again—we are going to do a c-section.' He walked out of the room and back in, and the next thing I remember is opening my eyes to my baby in his grandmother’s arms. That was the healthcare I received. I AM a child of the Most High—a poor black woman.

I raised two sons as a single parent, worked hard, day and night. I worked from sunup to sundown. I attended college and graduate school at night—making pennies—yet I have thrived. These women who sit on panels, with all of their education, elite credentials, and accolades, are misguided; they testify that the lack of abortion rights will result in 30,000 more live babies in states where abortion is restricted—as if that is a curse. They pretend the flip side of this circumstance is not death, but rather economic prosperity. Are we so lost and wicked that we argue it is better to terminate pregnancies than to bring forth children, especially black children. Haven’t black women always aligned ourselves with the Word of God, which states to be fruitful and multiply? That’s too much like right—I know. but I will spare you the religious sentiment— I won’t even go there.

This year, on Martin Luther King Day, Kamala Harris took to the stage to defend the right of women to terminate pregnancies due to economic hardship and lack of resources. Harris asserts that the government has no right to decide what choices we should make for our own lives. Does she not see the contradiction—she is championing personal autonomy and freedom while simultaneously advocating for governmental control over reproductive choices in the pro-choice debate. Throughout her discourse, she never once recognize the life of the innocent, unborn child—given no choice.

The abortion topic is the foundation of the Democratic political campaign. It is all this political party has to run on. They can’t run on Bidenomics or the boarder. The irony, they would have nothing to campaign on, were it not for Trump. It is disheartening to hear this language from a woman who has no children. Despite never experiencing childbirth herself, she actively engages in discussions about reproductive rights. For clarity, reproduction and termination are fundamentally opposed to one another. When you terminate a pregnancy, there is no way to reproduce.

I understand that people argue that abortion is a form of reproductive care, that is a lie. Like the notion that a man can give birth. Reproductive care is specifically designed for reproduction and only women can reproduce. That's why healthcare related to reproduction is administered by an OBGYN. Women seeking abortion services will visit abortionists to terminate a pregnancy. Maybe they have an OBGYN title—but to the unborn they are monsters in white jackets.

Many women in this world have babies in the direst economic situations you can imagine. Women have babies in refugee camps. Women who live in the most impoverished countries in the world have babies. Many women, with nothing more than the clothes on their back and breasts filled with milk, don't consider bringing life into the world a death sentence.

Here we are American black women, listening as white women, or women of color, twist our stories to support their argument that women have the right to decide —as if a court decision will prevent them for committing such a crime. Blacks fail to realize where this is coming from; it's coming from a community of individuals whose foundation started with the KKK. It’s coming from a community of folk who were once on a mission to curb the number of black births. Remember eugenics. It's coming from a community of people that hold out particular resources, like carrots but tell women, "You can have this, but you must get rid of that: the father or your man.”

What happened to black women like Claudine—a movie I know is fictitious, but her mentality to keep her children, to lover her baby that was having a baby, was held by many black women. My mother had four children; my grandmothers on both sides birthed thirteen children. Yes, we were poor, we received food stamps, stood on cheese and peanut butter lines, and ate stale bread, but we made it. My mother picked cotton and would tell us stories of why the tips of her fingers were faded dark-blue and how spiderwebs were used in place of stitches after a chicken wire nearly slashed her foot into two as a child—but she made it. Considering all the economic safety nets, it is something that black people want so much more. They now want the right to terminate pregnancy and are being told by whites that this is a good idea.

One of the women on a panel was a mother who had lost her child. I listened to this mother cry about not being able to abort her baby, in her hometown after discovering the baby's life wouldn't be viable. With tears in her eyes, she told the story of how she had to buy plane tickets and travel out of state alone to have an abortion—only to get there and discover the baby's heart had stopped beating. That baby girl had died on it’s own. She felt no guilt that she was attempting to take away that babies right to fight on its own.

That is a sad story—considering a baby with unknown defects could be so unwanted. The woman who testified cried because she was alone and never shed a tear for the life of the baby that had died. It is sickening to listen to these people as they pretend to be so hurt, yet only demonstrate sympathy for their own selves. She dedicated her opening remarks to the life of the baby she willing jumped through hoops to destroy. Can you imagine—she dedicated her remarks to a fight to end the life of her baby.

Republicans are speaking out about abortion rights because they are looking at their birth rates. There numbers are low. Black women may be the primary demographic obtaining abortions, but white women are not far behind. White Republicans are saying, 'this ain't right.' Nobody on the black side is standing up for black babies—but we are quick to pronounce Black Lives Matter—seriously. Black lives matter, as long as they are not threatening your own road to economic prosperity. All other lives we can justifiably terminate.

I keep hearing this song, “Blacks are coming off the plantation.” Blacks have hung to democrat policies despite its wreckage on the black family structure. We continue to support ideas that dismantle our community, from individuals that tell us we are in need of social programs to help us make it day to day to those who will argue it makes sense to terminate your baby. It's quite offensive to consider that body autonomy is directly tied to economic opportunity, when it means terminating a life.

But I think we are in need of housing, education and economic opportunity. Last I checked this is the same thing most Americans are in need of. Democrats are saying it is okay to terminate your baby because they would much rather allow the termination of poor children than provide resources for their growth. What is worse is they blame radical Christianity for the idea that a zygote and an embryo are human life. Yet they will march in the name of Hamas and support a radical group of Islamists that wants to enforce Sharia Law, where if a woman even thinks about abortion, she could be killed. Where women are stoned to death, and girls are sold into marriages.

I am not saying, white women have no right to speak on the topic of abortion. They have every right to do so, but why does their focus always shift to poor black women. Speak for the poor whites, or white women in general, after all—blacks and women of color are not the only ones aborting babies. This topic sounds better when it’s something that benefits poor black women.

I am writing this not just because I think black women need to rethink the narratives we support. I am writing this because we need to recognize when individuals tell you they have your best interests in mind, you should wonder—at what cost.

claudine

That’s right! That’s right—six kids! That’s all I got in this world, my children.

To married men: Willis Wade controversy

Samuel 12:14

And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

Several months ago, news circulated in the media favorably highlighting two black women prosecuting Donald Trump. The New York City case, alleging Trump's fraud over two decades, secured a victory for Letitia James, although it went relatively unnoticed. In contrast, the Georgia case, which drew significant attention, involved Fani Willis, a prominent black attorney.

The seemingly destined success of the GA Election Interference case, which involved prosecuting Trump for attempting to manipulate Georgia officials into overturning an election, now faces jeopardy due to a shocking revelation. Fani Willis, the star attorney, engaged in an adulterous relationship with the lead special prosecutor, Nathan Wade telling a profound story of sin, infidelity and politics that cast a shadow on the case's integrity.

This controversy adds to the broader cultural conversation about black women in influential roles post-George Floyd. The community's strained faith in leaders due to inappropriate actions and claims of unfair treatment based on skin color, gender, and religious beliefs prompts critical reflection.

The media narrative underwent a transformation upon the revelation of Fani's illicit relationship with the special counsel, and the tale of her resistance to these allegations unfolded at the doors of the church.

The Church  

On Jan. 14, 2024, Bethel AME Church in Georgia extended a welcoming invitation to Fani T. Willis, allowing her a platform to present her perspective on a captivating tale circulating in the media regarding her personal life. This narrative had been influenced and shaped by far-right pundits aligned with the former President, Donald J. Trump, particularly in the context of the Election Interference case deemed the century's most significant.

The case, initiated by DA Fani Willis, is a response to Donald Trump's attempt to steal the 2020 election after he had clearly lost to Joe Biden.

The argument presented by Trump's legal team is centered on the claim that Fani Willis engaged Nathan Wade as a special prosecutor on the Election Interference case, amidst allegations of a seemingly inappropriate romantic relationship between them.  Adorned in somber black attire, Fani ascended the pulpit, embodying a woman of virtue unjustly subjected to that condemnation, to address these false allegations. 

Standing before God and a community of believers, Fani condemned her accusers as if she were standing before a judge.   She stood as the, imperfect servant of God whose chastity was being questioned by the right-wing mob.  Between forced tears and sniffles, reminiscent of Scarlett O'Hara, Willis, deeply offended by the allegations, hurled a glass vase filled with half-truths towards the congregation, with hopes that the American Black church community could somehow piece together a very different narrative and rally to her side.  

She classified herself as a strong black woman who leads with integrity. Her life experiences have taught her that Jesus was her source, and He is the reason she holds her current position as DA of Fulton County. She dismisses all allegations against her as nothing more than the hearsay of right-wing Republicans.

“America has normalized bigotry and hate and our adults have no respect for authority,” she proclaimed. 

During her impassioned message, Fani Willis delved into a personal letter she had penned to God, offering a poignant insight into the emotional toll she has endured since filing charges against Donald Trump. In this heartfelt revelation, she articulated the profound impact the attacks have had on her personal security and mental well-being, emphasizing the agony experienced throughout this tumultuous journey. 

Reviewing the challenges, she faced in life; Fani recalled her progression from a divorced single mother raised on the less privileged side of town to a determined and committed leader.  Under the guidance of her father, she confronted adversities with integrity, embracing each challenge presented by God with dignity and honor.  Landing the prestigious role of District Attorney in Fulton County was, for Fani, a dream realized—a remarkable feat and a testament to her ability to overcome setbacks.

Despite her successes, Fani found herself under intense scrutiny, attributing the stress and toxicity to unwarranted persecution. She called out individuals like Marjorie Taylor Greene, condemning their hateful rhetoric, which, according to Fani, was not related to her professional capabilities but rather fueled by her race, her identity and religious beliefs. 

In the midst of these unfolding events, Nathan Wade, chief among the group of prosecutors, emerged as a significant figure in this complex narrative. A former judge with a wealth of experience and knowledge, Wade played a key role despite lacking the specific experience required for prosecuting RICO cases. Nevertheless, Fani argued passionately, listing Wade's impressive qualifications that, in her view, made him a suitable representative for the state. His history as a highly capable and respected judge stood at the forefront of her defense.

As Fani justified her decision to have Wade on her team by emphasizing his capabilities and reputation, it marked a crucial moment in her narrative. This defense tactic would later intertwine with a personal revelation during a segment of her message on that fateful Sunday. Fani began to confront her own truth, reflecting on a poignant visit from a longtime girlfriend just weeks before her appearance at the church. This friend grappled with a myriad of challenges, from a cheating husband to a cancer diagnosis, financial setbacks, and the responsibilities of single parenthood.

Fani's girlfriend had mistakenly believed that God would perfect her. However, as Fani pointed out, when God sends you on a mission, He never guarantees it will be easy. According to Fani, this visit had been ordained by God to convey the message that He had appointed her as the DA of Fulton County, and on this journey, she would encounter difficulties, nevertheless, she was on the right path. Blinded by her own self-righteousness, Fani managed to reinterpret her friend’s unfortunate circumstances to justify what she perceived as her own persecution.

Standing in the pulpit, Fani implied the allegations against her were untrue.  She took no responsibility for her behavior and exited Bethel AME with God and the church community clearly on her side.  All this was the prelude to February 15, 2024, the day Fani appeared to testify before the court regarding the allegations that she had hired her lover to prosecute Donald Trump’s RICO case and had benefited finically because of this relationship.

The Court

Witness

The primary witness for Trump's legal team, Robin Yeartie, a former friend and employee of Fani Willis, who had resigned her position from the DA’s office after accusing Willis’ team members of mishandling state resources allocated for Children’s programs in Georgia. Yeartie had firsthand knowledge of Fani’s interactions with Wade, as the couple would visit her from time to time.  Moreover, Mrs. Yeartie, had rented her condominium to Fani during the early years of Fani and Wade’s relationship. Yeartie testified to the personal relationship between Willis and Wade, confirming that the pair had begun dating as early as 2019.

Offender

With Mrs. Yeartie confirming this inappropriate relationship, Nathan Wade’s testimony followed. Trump's legal team raised concerns about Wade's limited experience as a municipal judgement and his inexperience in RICO cases. There was also questions of the substantial compensation his firm received—$650,000 for legal services from the state of Georgia. This amount starkly contrasted with the $70,000 and $90,000 received by the other two prosecutors from different law firms appointed by the state during the same timeframe.

Wade defended the amount the state paid for his services. He indicated that he had worked hard on this case and clarified an invoice in which he had billed for 24 hours. Wade also testified that he had arranged trips for himself and Fani, inviting his mother and his sisters to accompany them on some of these vacations. He confirmed that he and Fani had traveled to Belize, Aruba, and California. Wade insisted that for every trip he had booked using his business credit card, he had been reimbursed in cash by Fani Willis.

Wade’s credibility came into further question when Trump’s team began to question his divorce documents.  In Dec. 2023, Wade had signed and submitted an interrogatory to the courts that claimed he had not had sexual intercourse, dined, or given any gifts to individuals of the opposite sex.  Wade had lied to the court, however had went back to the courts and adjusted the records, pleading Attorney-client privilege to the questions. 

Wade's alterations to legal documents suggested an attempt to cover up incriminating information, but he seemed to have the situation under control. The claim of a pre-existing romantic relationship with Fani before his appointment remained unproven, and despite compelling testimony from Robin Yeartie, there was no definitive evidence. The belief in Wade lying under oath lacked conclusive proof, making it his word against Mrs. Yeartie’s. When Wade left the stand, it was clear, Trump's lawyers failed to gather enough evidence for disqualification. Then came Fani.

Accomplice

DA Fani Willis flew into the courtroom, unexpectedly and stole the air. Her arrogance and pride percolated as she stood to the side.  In moments when God reveals our sins, before He passes judgment, He provides an escape. Judge Scott McAfee had been questioning Trump’s legal team about the necessity for Fani’s testimony, when she emerged. She shut down McAfee and without objection she walked to the witness chair.

What unfolded was the projection of a stereotypical angry black woman. Fani seemed nasty, rude, disrespectful, and unrepentant. Before the end of her testimony, she played the race, gender, and religious cards in her defense. Even after admitting that she and Wade had a romantic relationship, she confirmed her affair with Wade began after his appointment to the special counsel.  The relationship did not last very long; however, they had spent a great deal of time together.  Without taking clear responsibility for her behavior, she faulted the prosecutors, stating, 'I object to being accused of sleeping with a man on the first night I met him,' proclaiming it with audacity. as if that was the claim for her disqualification.

With an angry attitude, Fani feigned offence. To ask a black woman about her relationship and her expenses. DA Willis downplayed her relationship with Wade. Alluded to his sexual inabilities, while contended, she’d never emasculate a black man. Yet she filibustered every question about her romantic relationship with Wade. They had shared many romantic trips and had spent a beautiful night sipping wine (though she drank Grey Goose) in places like Napa.

During her lengthy soliloquies, Fani used language that contradicted professionalism. It reeked of that unfortunate term, so often used to refer to blacks, “ghetto.” The black, redneck behavior spoke volumes. The blatant disrespect from a DA was appalling. Listening to Willis' testimony, I found myself wondering the intended audience of the stories she told. She appeared to take pleasure in recounting the extravagant journeys and romantic locations she and Willis had experienced.

She confessed to the world that she had committed adultery and made no apology and no excuses. Fani was not speaking to the court; she had been testifying to an audience of one—Wade’s estranged wife. What greater space to set the facts straight than on a witness stand? What greater force to have on your side than God? There is nothing worse than a scorned black woman.

After a day of testimony, it became clear to the world that DA Fani Willis had an affair with Nathan Wade, a married man. It was also evident that Wade, who lacked any integrity and was not a savvy businessman, having used his corporate card for personal expenses, had been overpaid for his services as special counsel and that he had spent at least $8,000 on lavish vacations for him and Fani, between November 1, 2022, of which she supposedly paid him back in cash. Also combined with the allegations regarding the disqualification, her testimony brought up questions about cash. She claimed to keep a safe full of cash—some of which she stated came from “campaign funds.” Fani’s testimony had weaved together an unfortunate plot to cover up the truth. However, the extent of their dishonesty and what they were both willing to sacrifice to cover their lies did not reveal itself until day two of the hearing when Terrence Bradley, Nathan Wade’s former divorce attorney, took the stand.

Betrayer

Terrance Bradley had been subpoenaed by Trump’s team and was clearly reluctant to testify. On the first day of the hearing, he managed to thwart the defense's efforts by arguing attorney-client privilege. On the second day, Bradley was a no-show; however, Judge Scott McAfee ordered him to court and forced him to testify as per the subpoena.

During Bradley’s testimony, it was discovered that was the whistleblower. He had alerted the Trump’s legal team to the fact that Willis and Wade had lied in court documents about their romantic relationship and Wade had lied on interrogatory divorce documents regarding his extramarital affair.

This severed attorney-client privilege. During cross-examination, Willis’ attorney, Anna Cross, dismantled Terrence Bradley. Bradley admitted that he and Wade were no longer partners, their separation resulting from sexual allegations levied against Bradley by an employee and a client. After being forced to resign, Bradley began colluding with defense attorneys and made statements to one of Trump's attorneys, Ashleigh Merchant, via text, admitting that Willis and Wade had begun their relationship in 2019, before Wade had been appointment as special prosecutor.

With so much collateral damage, Judge McAfee had no choice but to end the hearing and continue Terrance Bradley’s testimony under seal.

PULLING BACK THE CURTIN

Following the two-day hearing, Joycelyn Wade’s divorce attorney provided an interview, presenting the other side of this unfortunate tale. Joycelyn Wade, a woman married for twenty-five years with children, faced infidelity, financial struggles, and health issues, she lacked the resources to manage her well-being. Her situation mirrored that of Fani Willis’ girlfriend. Upon learning of Wade's appointment as a special prosecutor for the election fraud case, Joycelyn discovered Wade had lied on his interrogatories to the court and withheld pertinent information regarding the half-million-dollar salary he had received from the State of GA.

In response to these discoveries, Joycelyn Wade’s attorney subpoenaed Wade and Willis. DA Fani Willis attempted to quash the subpoena. She accused Joycelyn of interfering in a court proceeding and suggested Joycelyn stand down. If not, DA Willis suggested Joycelyn Wade could be criminally prosecuted for harassment and interfering in an ongoing case. Undeterred by Fani Willis’ response, Joycelyn's defense team issued a subpoena on December 22, 2023.

The Truth

Before these allegations surfaced in the media, I had never heard of Fani Willis. Not wanting to form a negative opinion without information, I decided to conduct my own research. After listening to a few of her hearings on YouTube and reading articles about her rise to fame and the cases she has tried, I am impressed with her record.

Fani is extremely intelligent, but she appears to have a chip on her shoulder. In some cases, including her testimony, she comes across as combative. While I acknowledge her hard work, it seems she has done a considerable amount of damage to the black community. One significant case is her involvement in the 2013 Atlanta, GA teaching scandal, where she played a role in bringing down teachers using the same RICO law. Almost all those accused were black, and eleven teachers were convicted of racketeering and other charges related to cheating for black students on statewide exams.

A more recent case of Willis’ is the indictment of Young Thug, or Jeffery Lamar Williams, and YSL, the business Williams started. Out of this formal accusation, eight individuals have taken plea deals, six will be tried separately, and fourteen are being charged alongside Young Thug.  This group of individuals, mostly black, are confronting potential imprisonment for alleged charges dating back to 2012. Whether they committed the crimes is a matter for the jury to decide. However, numerous stories, long considered closed and forgotten, are being unearthed and pieced together to indict a group of men. Whether this is just or unjust—I truly don't know.

From a religious perspective, it appears that Fani is exploiting the black church. After her testimony on Feb. 15, she returned to the black church and once again denied allegations that seem evidently true. Overall, what I have come to believe about Fani is that she is blinded by her own narcissism and self-righteousness, which is unfortunate.

The love story of Willis and Wade is indeed reminiscing of another Biblical story—the story of King David and his affair with Bathsheba.  King David—should have been at war—however, from the rooftop of his palace, he spotted Bathsheba and had to have her, although she had belonged to another man.  David committed adultery and impregnated Bathsheba.  In an attempt to cover up his transgression, David had Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, placed on the front line of battle where he died, and the baby David and Bathsheba conceived also died.

DA Fani should have been at war. She should have been tending to her business. She should have understood that she was going to be scrutinized. She had everything her heart desired—success, stability, beautiful children, and finally having worked hard she was awarded the position of DA for Fulton County. Now she was going to be put on the frontline before America.

Despite having it all, she desired one thing—a man. In her testimony, she expressed loneliness after her divorce and her struggle as a single parent.  In the biblical parallel, Nathan, the prophet told David a story of a rich man taking a poor man’s lamb as his own and killing the poor man.  David was outraged, until Nathan revealed David was that man—David understood the price he had to pay.  It was a life for a life—his son would die.  Still David repented.

As the prophet had paid King David a visit, another prophet had visited Fani.  Fani shared the story at Bethel of her girlfriend who had been dealing with a cheating husband, grappling with troubled children, and facing financial and health issues. This dear friend had poured her heart out to Fani. However, Fani never considered the trails of her girlfriend were brought on by an unfaithful husband. Fani failed to recognize herself as a villain.  She has not yet repented.

As a District Attorney, one would expect this type of person to stand on truth. A person with the responsibility of bringing about justice should be beyond reproach. Unfortunately for democracy, Fani has played with the truth. She was willing to lay everything on the line, sacrifice it for the love of a married man. This story tells the tale of the lengths a sinner will go to portray themselves as innocent. Following her misrepresentation of black women, DA Willis returned to the pulpit, this time before a Seventh Day Adventist congregation. Transitioning from the Baptist to the Seventh Day Adventist denomination, she addressed the scripture, “no weapon formed against you shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17). According to Fani, it is God who sends weapons to challenge and strengthen us. She blames God, absolving herself of any responsibility for her actions. God does not create weapons; we do when we walk in darkness. The choice to commit adultery and disregard the feelings of others is our own, not God's doing. To be explicit, Fani, echoing the words of Nene Leakes, should have kept “her legs closed—to married men.

American Black-Heritage Taunt

“’Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,
Taught my benighted soul to understand
That there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too:
Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.
Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
‘Their colour is a diabolic die.’
Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain,
May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train.

”

— Phyllis Whitley

I have been contemplating an argument that has gained traction within the black community, a conversation that had once been settled in the 60s, resurfaced after the death of George Floyd, and has recently escalated after Cam'ron, a black rapper, publicly declared his identification as 'Black.' His justification revolves around the belief that 'Africans don’t [associate] with blacks.’ This sentiment is rooted in the historical mistreatment of American blacks by African blacks and dates back to the days of slavery. Despite some Africans and other blacks around the world attempting to adopt American black culture, a lingering disdain for American blacks persists in our contemporary society.

While I appreciate Cam'ron's main argument, it's crucial to recognize that the term 'black' extends beyond its exclusive association with Americans. Distinct differences exist between American blacks and blacks globally, with these disparities rooted more in historical legacy than mere color. The contemporary American black population is diverse and not solely composed of descendants of slaves. Therefore, I hold a minor reservation regarding the term 'black,' as black is a shade or color and doesn’t encompass the broader aspects of race and nationality.

Since childhood, I have always wondered about my African ancestors. I wondered where on that large continent did their story began and how their path led them to a slave cargo ship. I was led to believe that black men and women were purchased by the white men who had told themselves that they were saving a cohort of no good, spoiled souls that deserved to be chained and bound because of their wicked, animalistic behavior. They convinced the world that black-skinned people's progress necessitated the intervention of the white men who purchased them.

When those black souls arrived on the American shores, they were told then they were not human at all. To their surprise, they had become cattle and needed to be bred like other animals. What I learned growing up is people will believe a lie if it brings them comfort. So many white people denied truth and embraced the lie without shame. Years after the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement, blacks continued to be spread that lie, sometimes overtly, other times subtly; nevertheless, we were fed that same narrative.

But then came Roots, the movie. Having watched the movie as a teenager, I recognized that blacks were exploited to build a nation. I learned Kunta Kenta represented the American black man—a real man. He was no animal. He had raped no one. He had stolen nothing. Blacks are human beings that were treated like cattle and purchased to till and build the American dream.

Philadelphia Odunnde Festival

History attests to the fact that our ancestors played a pivotal role in building this nation and have made substantial contributions to its fabric. However, from the perspective of our African cousins, who sometimes rely on US foreign aid to feed their children, certain individuals migrate to America only to look down upon American blacks. While not universally shared, a prevailing belief among some is that they are superior to American black people, often characterizing us as lazy and ignorant, lacking heritage or culture in their eyes.

Many American blacks internalize this narrative, questioning their identity as if black skin doesn’t inherently signify African heredity. Pan-Africanists in search of an identity, embrace this lie. Americans, particularly black women, strive to reconnect with their African roots. Some adopt practices such as idol worship and consultation with ancestral spirits in the name of Asherah or other unknown gods. In Beyonce’s album, Lemonade, she pays homage to Oshun, one false Africian river god. Annually, American blacks celebrate Odunde, participating in African rituals like tossing flowers into a river in homage to another long-forgotten river god—her name lost to the pit of hell and unknown to most American black people.

It has become increasingly evident to me that the falsehoods ingrained in the narrative of American blacks mirror the misconceptions embraced by Africans. The very ancestors who played a role in selling our mothers and fathers into slavery perpetuate the belief that American blacks are ignorant of their true legacy. Similar to Lot’s wife, blacks look back in hopes of reconnecting with their ancestors and cling to this false narrative. Africans employ this perceived lack of heritage, lineage, and culture as a taunt towards blacks, projecting a sense of superiority based on their awareness of their 'heritage' and an indisputable tie to the African continent. This narrative implies that the skin color of black individuals doesn't inherently connect them to the shores of Africa.

Today, Africans have cast a critical eye on their war-torn, famine-infested land and are now asking the question, 'What have we done?'

After having sold off so many blacks, African nations are now witnessing a significant number of their citizens migrating from the continent to pursue life in affluent Western nations. They talk about colonialism but feign for the western lifestyle. Africans receive education in the West, attaining positions as lawyers and doctors in the UK and the US. They are unwilling to return to Africa to tend to their own sons and daughters. African leaders are beginning to raise the alarm. They are urging blacks in the diaspora to return to the motherland, especially American blacks, urging is to return and participate in the reconstruction and unification of their continent.

African Leaders like P.L.O. Lumumba, Peter Obi, Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, and other African leaders have determined it was the white imperial nations from the West who are responsible for the destruction of Africa. Now they call for Western nations to pay them reparations for purchasing their most important commodity—the bodies of their brothers and sisters. At the same time, they quickly make it clear that they don't think African Americans should get reparations for the work our ancestors did for free. As if we don’t have any right to receive our ancestors forty-acres and a mule. Africans fail to read the red writing on the wall. Greed and corruption and, of course, their worship of white skin played a part in the destruction of the African continent—no doubt. However, Africa’s biggest sin was selling black bodies as if they were resources. They sold out their legacy—and now they want them back.

In the contemporary landscape, Africa holds two overarching aspirations. The primary one involves the removal of remaining western-colonial influences from its soil, exemplified by the situations in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso., where coups have removed leaders with old ideas and Western allegiance. African leaders aspire for their youth to reclaim nations oppressed by white colonists. However, a significant challenge arises as the youth, having displaced their leaders, and now align themselves with communist nations. Both Russia and China engage in resource-for-land transactions, with China constructing airport terminals in Nigeria and Russia establishing gold refineries in Burkina Faso.

The second hope resides in the diaspora, particularly a great migration to Africa. A widespread call encourages all blacks who have demonstrated strength, resilience, and developed talents and skills for success in Western nations, specifically the US, to return and contribute their gifts to the Motherland. Numerous YouTube channels glorify life in Ghana, Uganda, and Nigeria, featuring American blacks showcasing their departure from Western values and their return to their roots. Leaders from Uganda to Nigeria extend their arms wide, calling on blacks to come home. Despite the enthusiastic portrayal of Africa's beauty on social media enticing this great return, certain challenges persist, including concealing issues like South Africa's discontent towards African refugees. South Africans fear that immigrants from other African nations are taking away their jobs, leading to civil unrest and efforts to deport individuals without proper paperwork.

American blacks, captivated by this idea, have relocated to countries like Ghana, Uganda, or Nigeria, only to discover that the promised utopia on social media does not align with reality. The journey of American blacks to the motherland is often driven by a desire to reconnect with ancestral roots. However, many Americans have found themselves confronting challenges ranging from scams to discrimination.

I do recognize that black communities in the United States have serious issues and this promise of hope in Africa brings a certain amount of appeal. Drugs infest many black communities; black men are imprisoned leaving countless children in our community fatherless. There is the vanishing black family, and of course, we continue to face covert and overt racism. At the same time, many people in our community grapple with behavioral challenges, exemplified in protests during the BLM movement and by events like the CHOP takeover in Seattle. However, despite our challenges, American blacks recognize our survival depends on collaboration within diverse communities, both Black and White communities. This is imperative, transcending the divisive narratives propagated by movements like Black Lives Matter.

The older I get the more I understand who I am. First, I am a Child of God—by God, let me be specific: Jesus Christ is God. Secondly, I have learned that I am an American. My legacy began in this land and has grown exponentially. Perhaps my ancestors root formulated someplace on the African continent, it was cut off and replanted in American soil.

In the ongoing discussion surrounding black identification, I've concluded that terms like American Black, African American or Black are all acceptable. Although, the term "black" itself is insufficient, as the world often associates it with Americans, the reality is anyone with African lineage can technically be referred to as such. The term African American in my opinion is much more appropriate as it emphasizes my American nationality and reminds of me of the history of my African lineage. We should never forget. I know there are some that will ask, who identifies as a continent? But my response would be, only a superior group of people could represent an entire continent. —thus the term African American.

I will say that some reject the use of ‘black’ due to the negative associations linked to the term. They use words like: 'blackmail', 'black market,' and ‘blackball’ to make the point that the term itself is negative. But black is also associated with rare beauty, evident in black diamonds, black pearls, black onyx, obsidian, coal and oil. With that understanding I have decided I don’t mind being call black. Feel free to refer to me as American Black, African American, or Black; however, please don’t ever refer to me as African without including the American descriptor.

Isaiah 19:2

And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight everyone against his brother, and everyone against his neighbor; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

An American Response

Thus saith the LORD; “I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

Zephaniah 8:2

The Conflict

I attempted to write this piece multiple times, often staring at a blank page, struggling to express my alarm regarding the Black community's response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. My perspective does not align with the majority in the Black community, leaving me feeling as though I am navigating a world I no longer understand. What was once considered right has now become wrong, and what was wrong somehow seems right.

How much has changed since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. I was born that same year; I lived through the Vietnam War, the influx of heroin into Black neighborhoods, and I witnessed the AIDS crisis, drug overdoses, the crack epidemic, and the mass incarceration cemented into the bricks and clay of Black communities across America.

In hindsight, it’s clear that while some were indeed “losers” in this Black-skinned game of life, there were also winners. Today, my generation stands as a testament that Black people rise with grace despite the chains. We should take pride in knowing that our ancestors came to this land bound in chains, learned a language without instructors, tilled fields, built churches, bridges, and cities, and turned the American Constitution on the head of oppression.

Many in my generation have overcome oppression and racism and now live decent, stable lives. Yet, a portion of our elite scholars, politicians, and pastors continue to portray Black people as oppressed victims of systemic racism. Today, using our ancestors' struggles, self-proclaimed leaders urge the Black community to support the Palestinian cause, framing it as a struggle against oppression.

Scholars

Certain Black scholars—Angela Davis, Marc Lamont Hill, and Cornel West, among others—seem determined to rally Black Americans in solidarity with Palestine. Their persuasive language, deeply rooted in Black liberation rhetoric, tugs at the heartstrings of our community, and students and middle-class Black Americans accept it as truth, every time.

It’s becoming increasingly apparent that some of our Black scholars are backed by pro-Palestinian organizations, which exploit narratives of poverty and oppression attributed to the imperialist West. They appear on platforms like Al Jazeera and Democracy Now, portraying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a “litmus test” for Black Americans. With fiery rhetoric, they claim that somehow our ancestral connections bind us to the Palestinian cause.

Attempts to challenge this narrative are instantly silenced. Differing views are de-platformed and dismissed, while only those who endorse this storyline are given a voice. These elites are happy to educate you on the topic—as long as you contribute to the cause. They sell books, refine their speaking abilities, and secure future engagements—all in the name of the Black community, under the banner of an Islamic agenda.

Listening to Marc Lamont Hill on the Palestinian cause can be exhausting. Hill describes Gaza as an apartheid state under colonial occupation, claiming that conditions there are worse than those in South Africa. His fluency in Arabic gives his arguments credibility, and many accept his words without question. Yet, he omits that no Jews live in Gaza, making it a separate entity, not an occupied one. He criticizes Israel’s blockade but avoids mentioning that Hamas, Israel's declared enemy, threatens the country’s existence. Egypt also has a blockade on Gaza, but Hill quickly pivots the conversation back to Israel, saying, “Israel has two bigger borders.”

Dr. Cornel West is another educated elite—an acclaimed scholar who presents himself as deeply connected to the Black struggle. Every oppressed person, to him, is one of his “precious” babies. He speaks of “precious” Palestinian children in a utopic language that appeals to the philosophically inclined Black scholars of our day. They are, he claims, an oppressed people living under apartheid, suffering from imperial colonialism imposed by Western ideals. According to West, every Black person should relate to the plight of the oppressed in Gaza; we should all empathize.

But this is all a fallacy. West was born in 1953 in Tulsa, a town celebrated as "America’s most beautiful city" during the 1950s. His mother was a teacher and principal; his father, a general contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense. West cannot truly grasp what it means to stand in line for government cheese or carry laundry bags five blocks just to get clean clothes. He’s a Princeton graduate who portrays himself as an expert on Black oppression, pushing a stale, twentieth-century narrative as if it were a fresh, new idea. He acts as if he’s one with the Black struggle, claiming a downtrodden right to speak for the Black community even as he condemns America’s support for Israel.

West has no shame in using Palestine’s plight for his political aspirations, relying on his reputation, which he seems oblivious to as tarnished. Yet, filled with his own self-importance, he’s willing to give Biden a run for his money. October 7 was his golden ticket—Israel is wrong! He claims this with unwavering moral conviction, offering Black Democrats an alternative to “Israel-supporting” candidates, and professing steadfast support for “the Palestinian babies.” I don’t think he has a chance—but I’ve been wrong before when I’ve put my faith in logic and reason. Not surprisingly, many Black intellectuals seem captivated by the independent candidate.

Even more cringeworthy than West is Angela Davis, a self-proclaimed feminist who expresses profound adoration for Palestinian women. She describes them as strong women who have overcome immense obstacles. Yet, according to a UN report, over 50% of women in Gaza believe they should be beaten by their husbands to preserve their families. Palestinian women choose to wear their niqabs, yet Davis, a globally recognized feminist voice, romanticizes their struggle. With all her intellect, she ignores Palestinian women who praise Allah as they witness their children die as martyrs. These women, willingly or by force, send their daughters strapped with bombs to blow up innocent people, including Jews.

Davis is silent about the rapes and brutality inflicted by Hamas on Jewish women. Their lives, apparently, do not matter to her—but aren’t they women, too? Instead, she peddles a romantic narrative of an oppressed group of women in need of a Black savior. She leaves out the repressive tactics of radical Islamic beliefs that keep women in Gaza in the rubble. Davis ignores the unspoken reality: these same women would condemn her for the freedom she enjoys in America.

Today, Davis is as misguided as she was when she once used her name to purchase guns for the Black Panther Party. Now she preaches freedom through peace, yet back then, she allowed a group of Black men to enter a courthouse armed with guns registered in her name. I know—she was acquitted.

It doesn’t take a wall of degrees to discern good from evil. Yet Hill, West, and Davis expect Black people to accept their distorted views of this situation because they consider themselves intellectually superior to the “less educated.” Hamas and its supporters have proven their intent to do harm—openly stated in their charter. Maya Angelou said it best: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”

Political Arena

The situation is even more troubling on Capitol Hill. Black members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus are influenced by representatives like Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, with few other voices in the mix besides Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who champions any Democratic cause that draws enough media attention. Black voices are rarely heard distinctly; they echo only in the shadows. How is it that these two individuals hold louder voices than African Americans? Figures like Ayanna Pressley, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Summer Lee, and several other Black House members align themselves in solidarity with these radical representatives, as if they lack independent thought or the only radical act they can muster is pulling fire alarms.

Tlaib comes from an immigrant family, and Omar is an immigrant herself. Both have benefited from the American system of government, yet today they stand on the congressional floor openly condemning American policies. Their disdain for Israel and American values is palpable. It is no coincidence that both are Muslims, associated with a radical interpretation of Islam, and yet, Black progressives follow their lead without question.

Black Pastors in America

Now, let’s consider our Black pastors in America. Some align with worldly ideologies, and many Black people follow them into darkness. These pastors stand in pulpits, voicing support for Israel, yet, in the same breath, they also champion the Palestinian cause—two conflicting ideologies. This is a matter of Good vs. Evil. They preach Jesus as God but then misrepresent Him by claiming, "Jesus was a Palestinian."

To be clear, the term "Palestine" held no meaning in the time of Christ, so He would not have identified as a Palestinian. Pastors who perpetuate this narrative argue that we should support Palestinians because they, like us, are oppressed—just as Jesus was oppressed. But Jesus didn’t come to die for every oppressed person; He came for those who believe in Him. The fact remains, not every oppressed person believes in Jesus Christ.

Scripture is clear: Jesus is the Son of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jesse, and David. Though believed to be the son of Joseph, He is the Son of God. He became flesh, dwelled among us, lived, died, and rose again. Herod, Jesus’ enemy, was an Edomite, a descendant of Esau, and Agrippa was the last of the Edomites. God destroyed the name of Edom, and what remained of the Edomites drifted into Judea and Samaria. Centuries later, Rome renamed the area "Palestina." Long before that, in 70 AD, God allowed the land of Israel to be conquered, and the Jews were scattered. But God promised to bring them back to the land of Israel. In keeping with His Word, He began calling them back in 1917—Jerusalem belongs to Israel. That is Biblical.

“To the church in Laodicea, these are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ”

— Rev. 3:16

The book of Obadiah captures the ongoing struggle between Israel and what is now called Palestine. The Bible attests to Esau’s desire to take what did not belong to him. When Jacob took Esau’s birthright, Esau swore they would remain enemies. Throughout history, their descendants have fought many battles, but despite their numbers, Esau’s descendants continue to lose. This isn’t a prophecy of mine—it’s in Scripture. The Lord has proclaimed that Esau and his descendants will be destroyed: “Israel will be a fire, Joseph a flame; Esau will be stubble,” meaning Edom will ultimately be defeated.

Black pastors who stand with Palestine are as deceived as the leaders in Gaza. They are fighting a losing battle, seeking to possess land that isn’t theirs and relying on a false god to save them. The God of Israel has shown His power, yet “though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand” (Matthew 13:13).

Back to Our Black Pastors

In the past, pastors in our communities served as our moral compass. Those days of ministers like Richard Allen, who boldly preached the Word of God, are long gone. Today, many ministers have turned away, wearing elegant robes while watering down God’s Word. They straddle the fence with lies and half-truths, their contradictions glaring. The values of Islamic communities do not align with the Word of God. There is a clear Biblical conflict between the foundation of Christianity and Islamic beliefs.

It’s impossible for anyone to know if the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict signals the end of days. As Jesus said, “No man knows the day or the hour.” But one thing is certain: God has consistently protected Israel, and His Word promises He will continue to do so until His return. Everything else feels fleeting—like dust in the wind, an endless cycle of violence, part of humanity’s fallen nature.

The Truth

As a Christian, my stance on this conflict is naturally biased. I understand the struggle of discerning right from wrong when social media bombards us with images of dead women and children in Gaza. It’s heartbreaking to see women baking bread amid rubble, openly washing clothes. Yet, this is part of a broader manipulation.

Radical Islamic leaders understand the emotional, spiritual, and intellectual vacuum in Western society. They argue that the West lacks the discernment to separate truth from lies. We walk blindly, taking information in snippets, accepting every story that resonates with our purpose. Islamists know the world will parrot leaders’ words without diving into facts. We’re simply too busy keeping up.

The West has been duped. While it may sound like a conspiracy, it wasn’t shocking to hear Shaykh Dr. Haitham Al-Haddad on a UK podcast discussing the Islamic agenda. He boasted of Islamic victory based on public opinion about Gaza. Their cause gained momentum after the Hamas attack on October 7, and this ummah (Muslim community) eagerly anticipates establishing an Islamic superpower, attributing it to sacrifices in Gaza. Women are giving their lives in the name of Allah.

Dr. Al-Haddad outlined a strategy that began with the attack on Israel, a carefully planned assault. They’ve placed operatives in Western politics, social media, international courts, and education systems. Now, Islamic leaders in the West are cleverly discipling “Western pagans,” expanding influence for Islamic ideology while tearing apart Western values.

Meanwhile, AI and advanced technology keep the West distracted. Our media keeps us preoccupied with Gaza, while Iran and Syria bomb the U.S., Russia advances in Ukraine, China strengthens ties in Africa, and North Korea tests missiles capable of reaching America.

Setting aside my theology, womanhood, and Blackness, I view this as an American. I, too, am part of America. I support Israel because I recognize they are battling darkness, surrounded by Islamic nations that seek their destruction.

Radical Islamic leaders, who have harbored grievances since World War I, see Gaza as a new opportunity to assert dominance. If Israel falls, the UK could be next, and then the U.S. If Israel loses, Americans face the potential threat of Islamic jihad.

Reflecting on Martin Luther King Jr.

Over the past few months, I’ve thought about Martin Luther King Jr. Many in the Black community claim King was anti-war, advocating nonviolent protests. King’s daughter, Bernice King, tweeted that she believed her father would have “called for Israel’s bombing of Palestinians to cease and for hostages to be released.” I question if that’s true. FBI files suggest King understood the difference between a just and unjust war. He likely wouldn’t have opposed the Civil War. King protested the Vietnam War not because it was a war but because he felt America was on the wrong side. History has shown that America indeed sided with the wrong forces.

Today, “communism” has morphed into “colonialism.” Nations now embrace Communist regimes, condemning the West for imperialism. I believe if King had access to today’s information, he wouldn’t have called for a ceasefire.

In 1967 America, King believed nonviolence was necessary for Black people facing racism. He knew violence would only widen the rift between Black and white Americans and saw that Black Americans lacked the resources to succeed through warfare.

King’s approach mirrored Jesus Christ’s. In Scripture, Christ used the example of a king preparing for war, acknowledging that leaders assess their ability before engaging in battle: “Suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not, he will send a delegation while the other is still far off and ask for terms of peace.”

A Historical Perspective

Looking at history, we can draw parallels between African Americans in 1967 and Palestinians since that time. This comparison, viewed through a Biblical or historical lens, highlights contrasting approaches to adversity. Both communities have seen themselves as victims of racism, yet African Americans, led by figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., chose a nonviolent path. Despite criticisms from figures like Stokely Carmichael, this approach shaped the Civil Rights movement, demonstrating the power of nonviolent struggle for justice.

In contrast, Palestinian leadership chose a confrontational approach. After the Six-Day War in 1967, aligning with Arab nations led to more territorial losses and significant casualties. Over time, some lands were returned, but Palestinian leaders persisted in a more aggressive stance. Generations have now experienced the impact of these choices.

Ten days before his assassination, King met with the Rabbinical Assembly, making two essential points. Regarding violence, he said, “I haven’t advocated violence, because I do not see it as the answer. I do not see it as the answer from a moral point of view. I am still convinced that violence as the problematic strategy in our struggle to achieve justice and freedom in the United States would lead to a dead-end street. We would end up creating more social problems than we solve, and unborn generations would be the recipients of a long, desolate night of bitterness.”

King’s words are prophetic, describing the ongoing struggle in Gaza. Palestinians persist in a violent path, failing to see it only deepens their suffering. In that same conversation, King emphasized that while certain Black figures like Stokely Carmichael and Malcolm X had specific views on Jews, we must not generalize. He also stated, “What is needed in the Middle East is peace. Peace for Israel means security, and we must stand with all our might to protect its right to exist, its territorial integrity. I see Israel as one of the great outposts of democracy in the world and a marvelous example of what can be done, how desert land can almost be transformed into an oasis of brotherhood and democracy. Peace for Israel means security, and that security must be reality.” Had King said these words today, he would likely face condemnation.

Today’s Black leaders have little real connection with the everyday Black community, yet they claim to speak for us. They profit from condemning America while taking full advantage of the freedom it offers. Situations like Palestine are opportunities for some Black leaders to sell books, appear on podcasts, and give interviews. We must be cautious about what we internalize. Black Americans must distinguish between good, evil, and justice. God is good. Evil is oppression and death. Justice is retribution. We must stand against Hamas and radical Islamic factions that oppose every value we cherish, every virtue we hold sacred, and the God we serve.

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

〰️

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 〰️