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Uncomfortable Truths: Stop Coddling and Reclaim Your Power

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Uncomfortable Truths: Stop Coddling and Reclaim Your Power Walking across a parking lot, shifting from a vehicle to the school, I couldn’t help but notice the discomfort lurking beneath our everyday interactions. Even while I was in the midst of my Ramadan fast—a practice that sharpens the mind and spirit—I felt compelled to address a deeply ingrained issue in our society: the idea that we must make everyone feel comfortable at all times. The Comfort Conundrum We’ve been conditioned to believe that ensuring everyone’s comfort is not just desirable but essential. However, when it comes to confronting anti-blackness and reclaiming our space, this comfort becomes a barrier rather than a bridge. Too often, we allow those who would undermine our strength to settle in too easily, softening our resolve. It’s time to shed the notion that we owe anyone an easy ride. The Unyielding Call for Accountability There’s a powerful message echoing from the words of John Henry Clark: we owe nothing b...

Let’s Stop Using the Term “Racist” and Start Saying “Anti-Black”

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Let’s Stop Using the Term “Racist” and Start Saying “Anti-Black” I’ve been on a run this week, and maybe it’s the sunlight, the ability to walk without a jacket, or just the feeling of movement, but I’ve been deep in thought. One thought that’s been sitting with me is how we talk about oppression. Specifically, how we use the term “racist” when we should be saying “anti-Black.” The Power of Precision in Language This idea first hit me while watching a video by an Arab woman discussing Zionism. Before she even began, she made it clear that she was being careful with her words because she didn’t want to be labeled “anti-Semitic.” That caught my attention. Why? Because “anti-Semitic” is a precise term. It specifically refers to discrimination against Jewish people. It doesn’t leave room for debate about whether someone is just “generally prejudiced” or if they have “friends from different backgrounds.” It zeroes in on a particular issue. Compare that to the word “racist.” It’s bro...

Raising Rulers vs. Raising Employees: The Silent War on Our Children's Future

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Raising Rulers vs. Raising Employees: The Silent War on Our Children's Future The thought for this article came to me while I was washing the dishes—funny how clarity strikes in the simplest moments. My wife had just shown me a video, and after watching it, I had to sit back and reflect. The video featured Elon Musk’s son boldly telling Donald Trump that he wasn’t the president and that he needed to go away. Whether or not this was cut up for effect, the message it conveyed hit me hard. What struck me wasn’t just the disrespect, but the underlying mindset. This is a child raised by a family that operates at the highest levels of power—where wealth and influence dictate reality. This is a child who has been taught from birth that he belongs among those who make decisions, that his voice carries weight, and that he can say and do as he pleases. This is a child raised to be a ruler. Meanwhile, we—particularly Black families—are raising children under a different paradigm. We are rai...

If Everyone Does a Little, No One Has to Do a Lot: A Lesson in Collective Responsibility

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If Everyone Does a Little, No One Has to Do a Lot: A Lesson in Collective Responsibility The thoughts have been hitting me hard lately, and I realized I need to get back to blogging on a daily basis. Of course, I’m always doing too much, but I wanted to dedicate some time each day to writing. My idea was to align my blogs with the principles of the Nguzo Saba—so, for example, today being Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), I could write something that connects to that concept. Over time, this content could be compiled into something greater. And speaking of something greater, my family and I are gearing up for a trip to Ghana. That means I’ll be documenting our journey—shoutout to Ms. Sasha, who just got her passport! She’s officially stepping into the world as an international young lady of mystery and leisure. Our trip will take us from Columbus to New York, where we’ll spend a few hours exploring the city before catching a flight to Nairobi, Kenya. We’ll have a long layover there, ...

Drop the Qualifier: Reclaiming Our Narrative Without Apology

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Drop the Qualifier: Reclaiming Our Narrative Without Apology We are at a pivotal moment in history—a moment of transformation, of collapse, and of rebirth. Like the mythical phoenix, we are being pushed to redefine ourselves, to rise from the ashes of outdated frameworks. A conversation I had recently made me realize something profound: we have been conditioned to qualify ourselves in ways that no other group does. We say Black man , Black woman , Black history , as if our identity needs an extra descriptor to be understood, acknowledged, or validated. But why? When white people talk about their history, they don’t call it white history . They simply call it history. Napoleon is just Napoleon. The Renaissance is just the Renaissance. Yet, when we speak of our existence, our achievements, and our legacies, we feel the need to prefix them with "Black." But this qualifier does more than just distinguish—it subtly suggests that our reality is secondary to some greater, more dom...

Einstein, Socialism, and the Predator Mindset in Education

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Einstein, Socialism, and the Predator Mindset in Education Peace Fam, Let’s be clear from the start: Einstein was no revolutionary socialist thinker. He didn’t offer any groundbreaking theories on the subject, nor did he possess a deep ideological framework for socialism. However, what made Einstein’s contribution significant was his willingness to take responsibility as a human being and speak out against the shortcomings of capitalism. He understood that his status as one of the world’s most respected physicists gave him a social credit that he could use to elevate critical discussions. This is similar to the work of Paul Robeson , another brilliant mind who, despite being primarily known as a singer, actor, and athlete, used his platform to challenge oppression and advocate for socialism. Like Robeson, Einstein recognized that capitalism was fundamentally flawed—especially in how it shaped education and social behavior. Capitalism: A System That Trains Predators In his 1949 ...

Aspirational Danger: How Our Dreams Are Used Against Us

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Aspirational Danger: How Our Dreams Are Used Against Us Great day, family! Today, I want to dive into a topic that many of us have been trapped in without even realizing it— aspirational danger . I’ve spent years thinking about this, and I know how deeply ingrained it is in our society. It’s a mindset that has us chasing dreams that are often illusions, distractions designed to keep us from recognizing and addressing the real issues in our communities. It’s time we talk about it. History Is Revolutionary, But It’s Not the Revolution Before I go deeper, I want to clarify something. I recently wrote about how history is revolutionary, but it is not the revolution itself. That doesn’t mean history isn’t important—it is crucial. History informs culture. It shapes governance. Dr. Greg Carr and his crew highlight this in their Africana studies framework, discussing governance structures and cultural continuity. I love that knowledge. I love learning from the past. But knowing history alo...

History is Not the Revolution: A Hard Truth I Had to Face

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History is Not the Revolution: A Hard Truth I Had to Face For years, I believed that knowing history was revolutionary. I thought that my Black Studies degree, my ability to recite historical facts, and my understanding of African civilizations meant that I was participating in a revolution. But I was chasing an illusion. The Illusion of Historical Knowledge as Power There is a glaring hole in the conscious movement—a political void that many of us never realized existed. My education provided knowledge of history but omitted the political strategies required to challenge the system. And perhaps, during my time, it was expected that those who truly wanted to understand the politics of revolution would seek it out on their own. But I missed that part. I never learned about the political dimensions of movement building—the economic strategies, the discussions about capitalism, socialism, and class struggle. Instead, I was left with historical knowledge that, while empowering, did not dir...

Bullies Don’t Want the Smoke—They Just Want to Win

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Bullies Don’t Want the Smoke—They Just Want to Win Understanding the 85-10-5 Rule of Power Great day, family! Let’s get into it. Today, I want to drop some game on you about bullies —not just the ones you might run into in the streets, but the ones who operate on a national and even global scale. Right now, we got bullying happening everywhere—from politics to workplaces, from social settings to online spaces. But the truth about bullies? Most of them don’t really want to fight. They just want to win. Let me break it down the Brother ha2tim way . Over time, I’ve noticed that the world can be split into three groups : 85% – The masses. These folks just want to survive, keep their heads down, and avoid confrontation at all costs. They don’t want the smoke. 10% – The skilled, the trained. They can fight, whether mentally, physically, or politically, but they usually don’t want to. 5% – The warriors. These are the ones who love the battle, win or lose. They train, they prepare, and ...

It’s Okay to Be Lost

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  I’ve always called my job an adventure, and I’m proud of that. I love what I do, even with all its challenges. But more than just my work, life itself is an adventure. And for anyone reading this—whether young or old—let me assure you: it’s okay to be lost . Being lost is part of the journey. It’s part of the process. Nothing is always going to line up perfectly. Things won’t always go according to plan, and that’s fine. The key is to learn how to be lost without panicking . Learn how to be lost and still keep your mind steady . Learn how to take a breath, be still, and move forward without fear . Too many of us stress out when we don’t have all the answers. We feel like if we don’t know exactly what’s next, something must be wrong. But that’s not the case. Some of the greatest growth happens in the confusion . Some of the best lessons are learned in the wandering . Embracing the Unknown Right now, I’m in a season of my own uncertainty. For a long time, I didn’t want to leav...

Breaking the Chains of “Excellence”: A New Lens on Black Success

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Breaking the Chains of “Excellence”: A New Lens on Black Success I had an epiphany today. Well, it’s been creeping up on me for a while, but today, it finally hit me in full force. And before I go any further, let me say this—this is more of a message to myself. I’m not trying to offend anyone or shake anybody up too much, but sometimes, we have to be real with ourselves before we can be real with the world. Lately, I’ve been digging into some serious research, looking at the gaps in my own education—specifically, my Africentric education. And when I say gaps, I mean areas that were straight-up neglected or hijacked. We talk a lot about history, but what about the deeper political and economic structures that shaped our people? What systems did we use before we were forced into the ones we operate under today? As I started peeling back the layers, I realized that we’ve been having the wrong conversations. We talk about white supremacy, but we don’t always dig into the soil that it grow...

Fasting is Natural: You’re Already Doing It!

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Fasting is Natural: You’re Already Doing It! Many people think they can’t fast. They believe it’s an extreme discipline reserved for monks, spiritual seekers, or health fanatics. But the truth is, you already fast every single day without even realizing it. My goal is to show you how fasting is a natural part of your daily life and how you can extend it gradually to experience powerful health benefits. You’re Already Fasting Every Night Think about it—when you go to bed, you stop eating. From the time you close your eyes until you wake up, your body is in a fasting state. Then, in the morning, you have a break-fast (yes, you are literally breaking your fast ). But here’s the key—most people don’t think about their sleep as part of their fasting time. What if we did? What if we counted those hours and built on them? Let’s break it down. Building Your Fasting Practice Step by Step If you sleep 7 hours, that’s already 7 hours of fasting. What if, instead of eating immediately upon wakin...

The Three R’s of Relationships: Building Bonds on Respect, Responsibility, and Reciprocity

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The Three R’s of Relationships: Building Bonds on Respect, Responsibility, and Reciprocity In every relationship—whether personal, professional, or communal—there are foundational pillars that support and strengthen our connections. I call these the three R’s: respect , responsibility , and reciprocity . They’re the legs of the stool upon which strong, enduring relationships rest. Respect: Seeing Beyond the Surface True respect goes far beyond superficial acknowledgments. It’s about looking deeper—truly seeing the person beyond what’s on the surface. This means engaging with others on a level that honors their stories, experiences, and inherent worth. Respect isn’t just a courtesy; it’s a commitment to understanding the person in front of you, appreciating their struggles and triumphs, and valuing their unique perspective. Responsibility: Owning Your Part in the Relationship Responsibility in a relationship isn’t just about meeting obligations—it’s about owning your role in nurturing a...