Welcome to Money Mondays with Damon K. Jones — your go-to platform for real talk on Black economics, wealth building, and financial empowerment.
In this episode, Damon sits down with Kilimanjaro Toussaint, Local Board President of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), to discuss the state of Black homeownership, the racial wealth gap, and the fight for economic justice through real estate.
Tune in as they break down:
💰 The history and mission of NAREB 🏡 Barriers to Black homeownership in 2025 📉 How gentrification and displacement are impacting our communities 📈 Solutions for building generational wealth through property 🤝 The power of collective action in real estate advocacy
Don’t miss this powerful conversation that blends insight, strategy, and the blueprint for Black economic liberation.
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100 Black Men of Eastern New York Inc.’s Deep Roots On Long Island Building As It Expands Its Service Territory To Eastern NY
The first chapter of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. was established in New York City in 1963 and was named the One Hundred Black Men of New York, Inc. Although it was established in New York City, it had deep Roots on Long Island, as many of the men in the New York City Chapter lived on Long Island and had the desire to establish a chapter on Long Island. A conversation was held with the NYC Chapter, and shortly thereafter, in 1974, a chapter was formed in Hempstead, Long Island. The 100 Black Men of Eastern New York, Inc. is known throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The founding president was William Urquhart, Jr., a resident of the Village of Hempstead. Mr. William Urquhart, Jr., was a local real estate broker and the first black person to serve on the Hempstead School Board.
Today new chapter is known as the 100 Black Men of Eastern New York, Inc. As it builds on its deep roots on Long Island and expands its service territory into Eastern New York City, it will continue to serve the community and be affectionately known as “The Organization That Makes A Difference.”
The “100,” as it is known on Long Island for short, advocates for excellence in 4 main areas, which are Mentoring, Education, Health and Wellness, and Economic Empowerment. Its goal is to bring together a variety of men from diverse backgrounds who are committed to the community and have exemplified excellence in their respective spheres of influence, then unite them to impact our community in a positive manner.
As Long Island seeks to develop its infrastructure, it must also develop its human capital, intellectual capital, social capital, and cultural capital. Organizations such as this chapter of the 100 Black Men will be crucial to developing and nurturing the next generation of leaders on Long Island.
The men who formed the initial chapter on Long Island in 1974 were well off financially, but thought perhaps if they came together under an organization, under a structure, they would be able to make a significant difference in the community. By 1986, initial meetings with several chapters that had been formed across America had been convened to discuss and lay out a plan to form a national body. On October 2, 1986, representatives from 100 Black Men Chapters converged in Washington, DC, for a final meeting to establish a national organization. Today, that body is called 100 Black Men of America, Inc.
Some of the members of the first chapters included businessmen and industry leaders such as David Dinkins, Robert Mangum, Dr. William Hayling, Nathaniel Goldston III, Livingston Wingate, Andrew Hatcher, and Jackie Robinson.
The OHBMENY still attracts industry leaders. Phil Andrews is the Founding President of the 100 Black Men of Eastern New York. His presence in the New York Black Business community has been exceptional and is aligned with 100 Black Men of America’s goal of economic empowerment.
About: Phil Andrews – The Founding President of the 100 Black Men of Eastern New York, Inc. chapter of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. “ „My desire to expand the Long Island 100 Black Men Chapter stems from the mentorship opportunities he was afforded by the 100 Black Men.” – Phil Andrews.
In the past, he owned a Barbershop franchise on Long Island with multiple locations. He was a two-term past president of a local 100 Black Men chapter from 2009 to 2013, and served for over 20 years. He has served on the Board of Directors of numerous Chambers of Commerce, including being the current president of the African American Chamber of Commerce. He has been widely recognized as a force of business in the Long Island and NYC communities. He has also been afforded the privilege to serve as Public Relations Director for a myriad of companies, community initiatives, and professional organizations.
Andrews’ business acumen is often sought after by organizations that host major events, benefits, and fundraisers. Mr. Andrews’s current leadership at the Long Island African American Chamber has helped LIAACC to become known as the largest African American Chamber of Commerce in New York State.
The chamber currently serves the four counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Kings. In 1995 and 1998, Mr. Andrews’ excellence in his field garnered the Small Business Person of the Year award from two branches of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce (Roosevelt and West Indian Chambers, respectively). He has also received several proclamations and citations from notable political officials, including former Nassau County Executive Thomas S. Gullotta, former Town of Hempstead Supervisor Richard Guardino, and Assemblywoman Earlene Hooper Hill, 18th Assembly District of Long Island, NY. In 2012, Phil Andrews was honored by the Korean American Association of Greater N.Y. with the “Good Neighbor Award. In 2019, the New York District Office of the United States Small Business Administration named Phil Andrews as its 2019 Small Business Champion for 14 counties in Downstate, New York. In March of 2021, Mr. Andrews was appointed to the Board of Directors of the LIA. In 2021, Mr. Andrews was inducted into the Long Island Business News Hall of Fame, which led to a permanent plaque being placed on the wall at the Zarb School of Business along with other inductees.
Andre Garvin is a former mentee of the 100 Black Men and a current member of the 100 BMENY. He currently serves as the Chair of Membership and Programs. Andre Garvin, Business Consultant and Special Assistant in the Nassau County Office of Minority Affairs. Born and raised in the Village of Hempstead, New York, where the value of economic progress was instilled in him at a young age. He came into contact with the local chapter of the 100 Black Men through their mentoring program at Hempstead High School and quickly realized the value of the information that was provided.
A graduate of Virginia State University’s Reginald F. Lewis School of Business, his career background started in finance. He initially worked with a southeast regional bank, BB&T in Richmond, VA (now Truist), then later progressed to becoming a licensed financial advisor with AXA Advisors on Long Island.
Noticing the tides of business moving more toward the need for software, he spent a number of years traveling nationally working with Pietech, the creators of MoneyGuidePro (Now Envestnet MoneyGuide), the most widely used financial planning software at the time.
Andre is currently working with the Nassau County Minority Affairs department as a Special Assistant to the Executive Director, whose role is to establish and manage an Entrepreneurial Center in Nassau County for small, micro, and startup businesses. His motivating factor has always been improving the condition of African American economics.
Now a leader with the 100 BMENY, he expects to empower others to feed their passion as well and engage black men in the important mission of 100 Black Men of Eastern New York, Inc.
The 100 Black Men of Eastern New, Inc. is located online at WWW.100BMENY.ORG The 100 Black Men of Eastern New York, Inc. is a 501c3 Not for Profit Organization membership-based organization and a local chapter of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. An interest and stakeholders meeting is being held at AG’s Steak House located in Westbury, New York, on April 22nd, 2025. This event is in partnership with the 100 Black Men of Eastern New York, Inc., Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc., and the African American Small Business Foundation, Inc.
It’s a simple phrase, but it carries the weight of a spiritual declaration—and a cultural warning. In today’s society, especially within the Black community, the most dangerous forces aren’t always the ones we see. They don’t wear hoods or badges. They don’t always sit in government seats. Some appear on our screens, fund our influencers, shape our politics, and direct our narratives. They move quietly behind institutions and ideas, but their impact is anything but silent. These are the invisible people—the architects of dysfunction—who have reshaped Black identity from the shadows.
They promote the unraveling of the Black family as if it’s progress. They have convinced generations that masculinity is toxic, that femininity is weakness, and that faith is foolishness. They elevate voices who celebrate brokenness and sideline those who speak of divine order, personal accountability, or traditional family. These people know exactly what they’re doing. This isn’t confusion—it’s strategy.
This didn’t begin yesterday. In the 1960s, Black families were statistically more intact than even white families. Only 25 percent of Black children were born out of wedlock at that time—and it was rightly called a crisis. But when that concern was raised, it was rebuked by many Black leaders as racist, even though the warning was accurate. Fast forward to today: over 80 percent of Black children are born outside of marriage. And now, the silence is deafening. What was once alarming has become the norm. Black leaders who once defended the family now defend dysfunction. Now our eyes are wide shut to the crisis, and the community pays the price while the invisible people applaud from behind the curtain.
They reward the artists who glorify violence and sexual degradation. They fund the organizations that divide rather than unite. They elevate the influencers who promote narratives of victimhood over responsibility. And they punish anyone—especially Black people, particularly Black men—who dare to speak against it. Those who talk about family, about God, about the need for spiritual accountability and moral clarity are quickly labeled as “backward,” “misogynist,” “oppressive,” or worse—a “sellout” or an “Uncle Tom.” But the truth is simple: the Black community cannot be healed by those who profit from its dysfunction.
This is not a political critique—it is a spiritual reckoning. The war on the Black family is not just cultural; it is deeply spiritual. Scripture tells us exactly what we’re up against:
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” — Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)
When you dismantle the structure God intended—when you remove the father, distort the mother, and confuse the children—you don’t need laws or chains to oppress a people. They will do it to themselves, unknowingly. And the invisible people will call it empowerment.
But not everyone is fooled. A quiet but growing remnant refuses to bow to these unseen manipulators. They walk with God. They speak uncomfortable truths. They do not perform for applause. They understand that true liberation isn’t about escaping the past—it’s about aligning with the divine.
The silence of our faith community is deafening. We must walk from beyond the pulpit, which means raising our children with intention, honoring marriage, and embracing true divine masculinity and femininity—not the distorted versions that are now teaching our children in this world of dysfunction. It means spiritual discipline, accountability, and discernment in a world that sells imitation for truth.
To say “I don’t please invisible people,” is to choose that alignment. It’s to reject the lies dressed as light. It’s to remember who we are before we were broken, before our families were torn apart, before our culture was co-opted, and before dysfunction was rebranded as freedom and Democracy.
The restoration of Black dignity, identity, and family will not come through assimilation into brokenness. It will come through truth. Through God. Through the courage to say: I know what you’re doing. And I will not play along.
In a stunning escalation of global trade brinkmanship, President Donald Trump has imposed a 145% tariff on all Chinese imports, triggering economic shockwaves and forcing a major realignment in international relations. But while China scrambles to rally support, more than 50 countries have signaled interest in negotiating bilateral trade deals with the U.S., marking the most significant global trade policy shift in a generation.
Trump’s Tariff Doctrine: Isolation with Intent
On April 9, 2025, the Trump administration formally announced a 90-day pause on new reciprocal tariffs for all countries except China, maintaining a baseline 10% tariff for those in negotiations. But for China, Trump unleashed the full force of his economic arsenal: a 145% tariff designed to punish Beijing for what he described as decades of manipulation and exploitation of the global trade system.
Trump’s message was blunt: the world’s second-largest economy is now economically quarantined, and every other country has 90 days to choose a side — negotiate with the U.S., or risk being caught in the crossfire.
The World Responds: Over 50 Nations Seek New Deals
In response, over 50 countries have contacted the U.S. seeking trade agreements or tariff exemptions. Countries including Vietnam, India, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, and Australia have all expressed willingness to revise tariffs and rebalance trade terms in line with American interests.
Notably, Vietnam offered to eliminate all tariffs on U.S. goods, while India signaled readiness to reduce duties on more than half of American imports.
One of the most significant diplomatic engagements tied to the tariff shift was Trump’s April 7 meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
Amid rising tensions over a newly imposed 17% U.S. tariff on Israeli goods, Netanyahu proposed a dramatic concession: Israel would eliminate all tariffs on U.S. imports to maintain favorable trade relations. However, Trump rejected the offer, noting that U.S. military aid to Israel already offsets any trade imbalances, effectively declining to roll back the tariffs.
Why Trump Is Playing Hardball with China
Twenty-five years ago, the United States was the world’s largest trading partner. But over the past two decades, China has steadily overtaken that position, becoming the top trading partner for more than 120 countries. This shift was fueled by China’s entry into the WTO in 2001, its dominance in low-cost manufacturing, and its global investment strategy through the Belt and Road Initiative. Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy is a direct response to this trend. By isolating China economically and reasserting U.S. leverage, he aims to reverse decades of offshoring and rebuild a U.S.-centered global trade order—one that punishes dependency on hostile regimes and rewards reciprocal, America-first agreements.
China’s Retaliation and Desperate Diplomatic Push
In retaliation, China raised tariffs on American goods to 125%, with state media blasting U.S. policy as “economic coercion.” But behind the bluster, Beijing is feeling the squeeze. China is now actively attempting to rally other nations to oppose Trump’s trade offensive, reviving regional alliances and offering economic incentives in a bid to break its growing isolation.
So far, few nations are biting. The momentum is with the U.S., and China finds itself increasingly alone in a trade war it cannot afford to escalate further.
Read: Was Trump Right About Tariffs? A Hard Look at China, the WTO, and Black Economics
Economic Fallout: Volatility and Strategic Risk
The global markets have already begun to respond. The S&P 500 dropped 3.45%, the Nasdaq plunged 4.31%, and consumer analysts are warning of rising prices on key Chinese imports including electronics, textiles, and packaged foods.
Former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called the move “a self-inflicted wound,” and JPMorgan has raised the probability of a U.S. recession by year’s end to 60%. Critics warn that even if Trump is reshaping trade, the cost could be heavy for American consumers in the short term.
A New Trade Era or Global Gamble?
President Trump’s aggressive isolation of China — combined with open negotiation channels for other nations — is pushing the world toward a new trade realignment, where nations are choosing economic allegiance with the U.S. over neutrality.
The meeting with Netanyahu highlights how deeply this strategy is influencing not just trade, but diplomacy, regional security, and the global balance of power. As China attempts to regroup and rally resistance, Trump’s administration has turned economic pressure into a global litmus test for strategic alignment.
The world is watching — and many are lining up. The game has changed. And Trump, love him or hate him, is the one moving the pieces.
Join hosts Damon K. Jones and AJ Woodson as they dive deep into our country’s political landscape ahead of the presidential election. Get ready for an unfiltered analysis of voter trends, community perspectives, and the key issues that could shape our future. In this episode, they are joined by Talent Da Comedian and Young Dread
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In a world where processed food and chronic illness disproportionately affect Black communities, choosing to be vegan or plant-based isn’t just a diet—it’s a radical act of self-preservation, cultural reconnection, and resistance.
When people think of revolution, they picture protests, raised fists, and political speeches. But what if revolution also lived on your plate?
The idea of food as a weapon is not new. During the Civil Rights and Black Power movements of the 1960s and 70s, visionary leaders understood that liberation wasn’t just political—it was personal. The Black Panther Party’s Free Breakfast Program served as more than just a meal. It was a statement: our children deserve nourishment and dignity.
Dick Gregory, a civil rights icon, was among the first to link veganism with Black liberation. He adopted a plant-based lifestyle in the 1960s, believing that clean food cleared the mind and body for true freedom. His book “Cookin’ With Mother Nature” wasn’t just about eating—it was about healing from generational trauma.
And long before “vegan” became a hashtag, Elijah Muhammad’s “How to Eat to Live” taught Black Muslims the power of clean, restricted eating. Meat was minimized, fasts were spiritual, and processed food was rejected. His message: food should strengthen the soul, not weaken the body.
There’s also a deeper spiritual blueprint to plant-based living—one found in the story of Daniel.
“Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine…” (Daniel 1:8). Instead, he asked to be fed only “vegetables and water” for ten days (Daniel 1:12). The Hebrew word used for vegetables—zeroa—refers broadly to foods grown from seed: fruits, grains, legumes, and vegetables.
The result?
“At the end of ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.” (Daniel 1:15)
Their physical transformation was evident. But more than that, they were elevated in wisdom, knowledge, and favor—both by God and the king. “To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.” (Daniel 1:17)
What happened to Daniel and his friends is not just a spiritual story—it’s reproducible. When you eat nothing but fruits, vegetables, grains, and water for ten days, your body begins to heal. Your face brightens. Your thoughts sharpen. You feel lighter, clearer, and more alive.
This is not religious myth. It is spiritual science. It is divine design.
There’s a misconception that veganism is a “white thing.” But truthfully, many traditional African and Caribbean diets were naturally plant-based—rich in legumes, grains, fruits, and vegetables. Colonialism introduced heavy meat consumption and processed goods, disrupting these original foodways.
To go plant-based as a Black person is to decolonize your plate. It’s a return to ancestral wisdom—one that nourished our people long before slavery and exploitation shaped our current food systems.
Today, many in the Black community are reclaiming that legacy by returning to ancestral ways of eating and healing. Elders like Queen Afua and Dr. Sebi laid the groundwork for this path decades ago, advocating for holistic health, plant-based diets, and spiritual alignment long before wellness became a mainstream trend. Their teachings continue to inspire millions to rethink what it means to truly nourish ourselves—physically, mentally, and spiritually—especially in communities that have long been excluded from the health conversation.
This isn’t just about food; it’s about equity, access, and agency. In food deserts, where fast food chains are more common than grocery stores, choosing plants is a form of protest. In a healthcare system that overlooks Black bodies, eating intentionally is an act of survival.
Being a Black vegan today means standing at the intersection of history, health, and hope. It means acknowledging that systemic racism runs through our food systems just as deeply as it does through housing, education, and policing.
And in the face of that, choosing what you eat becomes revolutionary.
Because when you nourish your body, you strengthen your mind. And when a whole community begins to do that? That’s when the real revolution begins.
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The clash began after Rep. Crockett took aim at Donalds during a public appearance on the Breakfast Club, questioning his grasp of Black history and making personal remarks about his interracial marriage. “The fact that you sitting around talking about life was better under Jim Crow—like, is this because you don’t understand history?” Crockett asked. “Or literally because you married a white woman and so you think that that whitewashed you?”
Donalds fired back without hesitation, denouncing the comments as both personal and racially divisive. “First and foremost—don’t talk about my wife. Keep my wife out of this. Ain’t got nothing to do with her,” he said. “You can talk to me about policy anytime you want to.”
But Donalds didn’t stop there. In the same statement, he called out Crockett for dodging previous opportunities to debate him directly. “There were a couple of times on the campaign trail last year where I was booked to be on stage or to be in a debate with Jasmine—and all of a sudden her schedule changed,” he said. “If she wants to do this, I’m easy to find. I’m 6’2”—you can’t miss me.”
Highlighting what he sees as racial double standards within the Democratic Party, Donalds continued: “They don’t have a problem when Kamala Harris is married to a white man or when Ketanji Brown Jackson is married to a white man—as long as they follow the script of the political left. But if you’re a conservative, and your spouse is of another race, then suddenly it’s an issue. That’s the kind of racism that hides inside the Democrat Party—and I’m sick of it.”
Donalds also emphasized that he doesn’t rely on scripted rhetoric or political handlers. “I don’t use talking points. Nobody tells me what to say,” he stated. “I come with facts, I use logic, and I bring economic analysis to the table. If you’ve got an issue with my views, let’s settle it publicly—any show, any stage. I’m ready.”.
“I’m not just here to clap back. I’m here to lead,” Donalds declared. “Florida deserves strong, principled leadership that’s rooted in faith, family, and freedom—and I’m stepping forward to deliver just that. I’m running to be the next Governor of Florida.”
Donalds’ announcement instantly shifted the conversation, signaling that he’s ready to take his political vision beyond Congress and into the executive leadership of one of the most influential states in the nation. If elected, he would make history—while continuing to challenge both political parties on issues of race, conservatism, and the future of Black leadership in America.
Now the question remains: Will Jasmine Crockett accept the debate? And how will Florida—and the nation—respond to Donalds’ bold new move?
Rev. Al Sharpton recently called for a 21-day boycott of PepsiCo in protest of the company’s decision to roll back its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. While I understand the sentiment, the focus is misplaced. The real issue isn’t just the elimination of DEI jobs — it’s the fact that PepsiCo, like many corporations, has been harming Black communities for decades through exploitative business practices and toxic products.
Before we demand that Pepsi reinstate its DEI commitments, we must ask: who actually benefited from those initiatives in the first place?
A 2020 report from Catalyst exposed what many already knew: white women have been the primary beneficiaries of DEI, leveraging their proximity to white men in corporate and social spaces to climb the ladder. Meanwhile, the very communities DEI was supposedly created to uplift — Black Americans — have seen little to no systemic change.
Numerous studies and articles confirm this trend. Black Enterprise published a 2019 piece titled “How White Women Benefited From ‘Standing on the Backs of Women of Color,’” detailing the historical pattern of white women advancing their careers at the expense of Black and brown women. A 2023 Forbes report found that white women hold nearly 19% of all C-suite roles, while women of color collectively occupy just 4%. Articles from Workers World Today and Mediumfurther emphasize how DEI has often served as performative symbolism — reinforcing white dominance in leadership rather than transforming structures of power.
So why is Al Sharpton boycotting Pepsi in defense of DEI?
We shouldn’t just boycott Pepsi for abandoning DEI. We should boycott them for flooding our neighborhoods with sugar, sickness, and aggressive marketing campaigns that turn Black culture into profit while undermining Black health.
Let’s be clear: soda isn’t just unhealthy — it’s a slow killer. PepsiCo has long targeted Black communities with highly processed, sugar-loaded products, contributing directly to widespread health crises like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. These aren’t abstract numbers. They are the lived realities of too many Black families.
And none of it is accidental. Big Soda has deeply embedded itself in our communities by sponsoring schools, sports teams, and cultural events — using our own platforms to market the very products that harm us. They call it “brand partnership.” We call it exploitation.
The most disturbing part is what Pepsi does to our children. Through aggressive advertising and strategic placement in schools and youth-centered media, PepsiCo conditions Black children to crave sugar-laced sodas and junk food from an early age. This addiction is not a coincidence — it’s by design. The result is rising childhood obesity rates, early-onset diabetes, and a generation of young people hooked on products that damage their bodies before they reach adulthood. While Pepsi sponsors youth programs and puts Black celebrities in commercials, it silently profits off the long-term illness and dependency it helps create.
Let’s be clear: soda isn’t just unhealthy — it’s a slow killer. PepsiCo and other Big Soda giants have aggressively marketed sugary, chemical-laden drinks in Black communities for decades, fueling a public health crisis that’s become generational. Regular soda consumption is directly linked to type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, fatty liver disease, kidney disease, and tooth decay — all of which disproportionately affect Black Americans. Studies also show that excessive sugar intake can contribute to cognitive decline, inflammation, and even certain cancers over time. These aren’t random outcomes — they are the predictable result of profit-driven campaigns that treat Black bodies as disposable. And while PepsiCo publicly celebrates diversity, it continues to profit from products that are literally shortening our lives.
We don’t need more partnerships — we need protection. It’s time to divest from corporations that use Black faces to sell us sickness. At this point, it feels like we’re fighting for representation in systems designed to destroy us.
This can’t be a 21-day performance. It must become a permanent shift in how we engage with corporations that exploit our communities.
We must divest from Big Soda, invest in Black-owned health brands, demand fresh food, clean water, and real nutrition in our communities, and push for reparative economic policies — not symbolic diversity statements.
Black people have the moral clarity and the purchasing power to lead transformative change. But we shouldn’t waste that power defending corporate initiatives that never centered us to begin with. We should wield it to protect our health, our children, and our future.
Pepsi isn’t just failing Black communities on diversity. It’s profiting from our destruction. That alone is reason enough to boycott — and never look back.
I recently came across a disturbing quote from a Black male influencer. He said something along the lines of:
“Black excellence is a way to dumb down Black people to fit into the white man’s world instead of focusing on Black power.”
Now, I’m not going to call out the brother by name—because who he is isn’t the issue. I’m writing this because of the many comments under that post—young people, and even some older ones—who co-signed that message. In a time where artificial intelligence, automation, and rising costs are changing the future of work and wealth, Black communities can’t afford to drift. We need direction, not distraction. We need blueprints, not buzzwords.
Misled by what I call the “Black intelligentsia word salad.” Long, poetic statements that sound deep but lack grounding in truth, strategy, or historical context.
The Scriptures warned us about this: false prophets, smooth talkers, and magicians who mislead the people while sounding righteous.
So let me make it plain:
Black excellence is not a tool of white supremacy. It’s the very foundation of Black power.
We can’t demand power while we reject the discipline it takes to build it. We aren’t owed power just because we’ve been oppressed—we have to organize, strategize, and excel to reclaim it. Yes, the system is rigged. Yes, access has been denied. But that’s exactly why we can’t afford to be average. Oppression doesn’t excuse mediocrity—it demands mastery.
How can we talk about Black power when we lack Black excellence?
We’re not walking in strategic, institutional, economic, moral, community, family, or political excellence—and that’s the real issue. There are those that will disagree because of the circles they might be in, but look at the Black community as a whole. Study the reports done by Black think tanks. Like it or not, we have yet to step up to the excellence that our Black scholars advised us to embrace in order to achieve full independence as a people at every level of our economic endeavors. We also can’t overlook cultural excellence—because media, music, and entertainment shape how we see ourselves. If we don’t take control of our narratives, someone else will continue defining us.
We celebrate visibility but reject structure. We’re loud online but quiet in real life. But real power isn’t given. It’s built. It’s protected. And it’s earned through excellence.
Let’s be clear—Black excellence isn’t new. We’ve just become a generation raised on clips and reels, addicted to quick takes, and too distracted to read or study.
If we did, we’d know the blueprint has already been laid.
Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Marcus Garvey, Elijah Muhammad, Dr. Claude Anderson, Dr. Amos Wilson—they all said the same thing in different ways:
When Black people commit to being our best—intellectually, economically, spiritually, and institutionally—that’s how we build real Black power.
And nobody articulated that better than Adam Clayton Powell Jr., who is often overlooked as the man who actually coined the term “Black Power.” Before it became a chant in the streets, Powell used it to define a political and cultural vision rooted in self-determination, dignity, and justice.
He once said:
“Black is beautiful. That is beautiful. Black power means dignity. It means we gotta walk side by side with you or through y’all. We’re gonna be with dignity and integrity. We don’t want any more than you have. And we’re not gonna accept any less than you have.”
That’s not assimilation—that’s sovereignty. That’s not performance—that’s purpose. That’s not fitting in—it’s standing firm.
If you really want to understand Black Power beyond slogans, you must turn to the work of Dr. Amos N. Wilson, whose Blueprint for Black Power clearly and courageously lays it out.
Wilson wrote:
“Power is the ability to define reality and to have other people respond to your definition as if it were their own.”
For Wilson, Black Power is not symbolic—it’s structural, institutional, economic, and psychological. It’s the power to produce, protect, and provide. It’s the authority to define your reality and control the systems that shape your people’s lives.
But here’s the catch—and Wilson was clear about this:
In order to achieve that kind of power, you must carry out your program, your vision, your agenda with excellence. No ignorant, disorganized, undisciplined group can pull that off.
Black Power requires discipline in its highest form. It demands precision. Strategy. Patience. Sacrifice. That’s what excellence really is—not perfection, but commitment to mastery.
And that’s exactly what many of these so-called influencers miss. They downplay excellence as assimilation, when in fact, it’s the only path to sovereignty.
So to those being misled by this false idea that excellence is a trap or a white standard—understand this:
Anyone telling you we don’t need to be excellent in everything we do to achieve power is either confused or working for the white power structure, whether they realize it or not.
Because the system doesn’t fear our hashtags—it fears our standards. It fears Black people who are disciplined, organized, and unapologetically excellent.
Black power begins when excellence becomes the norm, not the exception. If we don’t raise the bar, we’ll continue to fall for lies that lower our potential.
It’s time to stop performing. It’s time to build. Because without excellence, Black power is just a slogan.
In this powerful episode of People Before Politics, we sit down with wellness advocate Brenda L. Cump to talk about the importance of serving healthier food at events in our community. From local gatherings to political functions, Brenda breaks down why our food choices matter — especially in Black and Brown communities disproportionately impacted by chronic illnesses.
Ms. Crump shares her personal journey as a vegan and how hard it is to find nutritious, plant-based options at community events. If we’re serious about public health, self-determination, and building stronger communities, we have to start with what’s on our plates. I’ve gone to several events with Damon and Brenda L. Crump, who are both vegan, and often there was nothing being served at the event that they could eat.
One of the most concerning challenges still facing Black Americans is the disproportional high rates of cancer and chronic diseases. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that half of all African American adults have some form of cardiovascular disease, and that Black men and women have the highest rates of dying from cancer, we need to start offering healthier food choices at events in our community. So we invited Brenda to discuss the need for healthier food options at events.
For Black Americans, specifically those who are the descendants of enslaved Africans, soul food is more than just cuisine, it’s a cornerstone of culture and community. In many Black families, recipes are passed down the way old wives’ tales, cars, or cast-iron skillets are. For many Black Americans, soul food is the meeting place, where, regardless of the occasion, family and friends can find common ground. However, there’s an ongoing and growing concern about the impact of the traditional soul food diet on health outcomes in Black communities.
While soul food boasts delicious dishes like fried chicken, mac and cheese, and sweet potato pie, these meals often rely heavily on fried foods, added sodium and sugars, and processed meats. This alignment with the broader Standard American Diet (SAD) has been linked to a higher risk of chronic health conditions like obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes in the Black community.
To bridge the gap between soul food’s cultural relevance and its impact on health, we need our Black chefs, politicians, community leaders, and organizations to reimagine soul food classics with a focus on wellness, creating cuisine that nourishes both body and soul—and that’s REAL TALK!
