{"id":15442,"date":"2025-03-13T16:31:17","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T16:31:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=15442"},"modified":"2025-03-13T16:31:17","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T16:31:17","slug":"rewriting-the-narrative-five-phrases-black-people-must-unlearn-to-reclaim-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/13\/rewriting-the-narrative-five-phrases-black-people-must-unlearn-to-reclaim-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Rewriting the Narrative: Five Phrases Black People Must Unlearn to Reclaim Power"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"By Carla Thomas<\/em>
\nThe Truth Contributor<\/em><\/p>\n

If there was ever a time when we needed each other, it\u2019s now. The safety nets that once offered a semblance of security are being stripped away, policies continue to disproportionately harm our communities and systemic barriers remain firmly in place. In the face of this, we cannot afford to be divided.<\/p>\n

But unity isn\u2019t just about proximity, it\u2019s about shared consciousness. It\u2019s about challenging the narratives that have been weaponized against us, narratives that make us question our worth, our history and our collective power. Language doesn\u2019t just describe our world; it creates our reality. It defines how we see it, how we move through it and what we believe is possible.<\/strong> The way we speak about ourselves directly influences how we think, how we move and how we build. And some of the phrases we\u2019ve come to accept do more harm than good.<\/p>\n

Deconstructing old beliefs means breaking free from these inherited limitations, rejecting the language that undermines us and embracing narratives that affirm our strength and possibility. It means being intentional about the words we use and the truths we pass down.<\/p>\n

I said all that to say, there are five phrases we, as Black people, need to retire\u2014phrases that may seem harmless but actually reflect limiting mindsets. Instead, let\u2019s embrace the powerful truths that will push us forward.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \u201cWe Are Not Our Ancestors\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This phrase is often used to suggest that we are bolder, less tolerant of injustice, and more prepared to fight than those who came before us. But that assumption is false, dangerous and dismissive.<\/p>\n

    Our ancestors were not weak, they were warriors. They endured whips, chains, water hoses and lynch mobs and still fought back.<\/em> They revolted aboard slave ships, burned down plantations, escaped captivity and built institutions of resistance. They launched legal battles, created underground networks and organized against oppression with a strategic brilliance that still guides movements today.<\/p>\n

    They didn\u2019t just suffer\u2014they strategized. They didn\u2019t just march\u2014they built. From the Underground Railroad\u2019s secret networks of resistance to thriving Black economies in places like Rosewood and Greenwood (Black Wall Street), they laid foundations that white supremacy sought to destroy.<\/p>\n

    So, no. We are not our ancestors. But we should aspire<\/em> to be. Because their resilience, discipline and collective power are what allowed us to stand here today. Instead of dismissing them, we should be asking ourselves: Are we living up to their legacy?<\/em><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \u201cA Seat at the Table\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      For generations, we have been told that progress means assimilation, that success means gaining entry into spaces that were never built with us in mind. But why should we continue fighting for a seat at a table that was never meant to feed us?<\/p>\n

      Every time we\u2019ve built our own, we\u2019ve thrived. Black Wall Street in Tulsa, the Freedom Farms Cooperative created by Fannie Lou Hamer and thriving Black media platforms today are proof that our power is in ownership,<\/em> not acceptance.<\/p>\n

      Instead of asking for a seat, let\u2019s construct our own tables. Instead of fighting for inclusion, let\u2019s fight for control\u2014of our communities, our resources and our destinies as Black people. The moment we stop seeking permission to exist in spaces that were not designed for our liberation is the moment we become unstoppable.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \u201cBlack-on-Black Crime\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        This phrase is a lie. A distraction. A tool of control.<\/p>\n

        It even has some of us Black people, saying, \u201cHow can we expect them to stop killing us if we won\u2019t stop killing us?\u201d<\/em> Please stop. This way of thinking is not only wrong, it\u2019s harmful. It shifts blame from oppressive systems to the oppressed, forcing us to internalize the violence inflicted upon us as if it were our own fault. Police brutality, state violence and racist policies have done far more harm to our communities than we could ever do to ourselves.<\/p>\n

        The truth? Crime is about proximity. White people commit crimes against other white people at nearly the same rate as Black people do against Black people. Yet, no one calls it \u201cwhite-on-white crime.\u201d That\u2019s because this phrase was never about stopping violence in Black communities\u2014it was about blaming us for our own oppression.<\/p>\n

        This narrative didn\u2019t just appear out of nowhere\u2014it was pushed in the 1970s to justify over-policing and mass incarceration. It painted Black communities as dangerous while completely ignoring the real causes of crime\u2014poverty, economic exclusion and systemic neglect. It gave the state a free pass to surveil, arrest, and brutalize us, all while claiming it was for our own good.<\/p>\n

        We cannot afford to internalize narratives designed to harm us. If we want to reduce violence, we must address the conditions that create it: lack of economic opportunities, underfunded schools, and the ongoing legacy of redlining and racial segregation.<\/p>\n

        Stop saying \u201cBlack-on-Black crime.\u201d Start saying systemic disenfranchisement. Start saying economic violence. Because that<\/em> is the real issue.<\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \u201cInvited to the Cookout\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          I understand the sentiment behind this saying and I know the desire to foster unity comes from a genuine place. But at what point did we start handing out cookout invitations like party favors? A non-Black person hits the electric slide on beat? Invitation! They recite a few rap lyrics without fumbling the words? VIP pass! They season their chicken? Somebody grab them a plate!<\/p>\n

          Question: What are we really celebrating?<\/p>\n

          The cookout isn\u2019t just about dancing, slang or knowing the right cultural references. It\u2019s a sacred space\u2014one built on generations of resilience, love and tradition. It\u2019s where we gather to pour into each other, to reconnect, to laugh and to exist in a space where our expressions, culture and habits are understood\u2014free from the weight of outside judgment. When did it become a reward for people who seemingly appreciate Black culture?<\/p>\n

          When we extend invitations just because someone can bust a move or quote a Kendrick verse, we risk trivializing what it actually means to be in true solidarity with Black people. Allyship is not a performance, it\u2019s a commitment.<\/p>\n

          So before we dish out invites for the bare minimum, let\u2019s ask the real questions: Are they fighting for us when it matters? Are they challenging anti-Blackness in their own communities? Are they standing in the trenches, not just vibing to the culture but actively working to protect and uplift Black lives?<\/p>\n

          Because the real measure isn\u2019t who can do the Cha Cha Slide, it\u2019s proven in moments of struggle<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. \u201cCrabs in a Barrel\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            This is one of the most insidious myths ever told about Black people.<\/p>\n

            As I heard someone else say, instead of comparing Black people to crabs in a barrel, we should be asking\u2014why are the crabs in the barrel in the first place? Crabs don\u2019t naturally belong in barrels. They have been placed in an environment that forces them to fight for survival. The same is true for us. Generations of economic exclusion, racist policies and intentional destruction of Black wealth have forced us into competition over what we deem as scarce resources.<\/p>\n

            But the idea that Black people don\u2019t support each other is simply not true.<\/em> Our history is filled with examples of cooperation, mutual aid, and collective economics.<\/p>\n

            Take Glen Echo Amusement Park in Maryland, for example. It was a whites-only establishment, where Black families were banned from enjoying the rides, pools and attractions. Instead of accepting exclusion, several Black businessmen pooled their money together and built Suburban Gardens, Washington D.C.\u2019s first and only Black-owned amusement park.<\/p>\n

            Let\u2019s be reminded that long before integration, Black people built entire communities like Black Wall Street, Seneca Village, Rosewood, and Paradise Valley, where businesses flourished, wealth was circulated, and residents supported one another. These communities thrived because Black people understood the power of collective economics and self-sufficiency. All built by Black people, for Black people, before they were systematically destroyed.<\/p>\n

            The problem isn\u2019t Black people pulling each other down\u2014it\u2019s the system<\/strong> that keeps us in the barrel in the first place. Historically, when we built wealth and power, we faced destruction, displacement, and discrimination. But even after being torn down time and time again, Black people continue to rise, rebuild and support one another. Instead of reinforcing the myth of the ‘crabs in a barrel,\u2019 we must recognize our history of resilience and push forward with that same spirit of unity.<\/p>\n

            Let\u2019s Rewrite the Narrative!<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Words shape reality. The stories we tell about ourselves define how we see our potential and our power. If we want to build stronger Black communities, we must be intentional about the language we use.<\/p>\n

              \n
            • We are<\/em> our ancestors\u2019 wildest dreams, and we should honor them accordingly.<\/li>\n
            • We don\u2019t need a seat<\/em> at the table\u2014we need ownership<\/em> of the building.<\/li>\n
            • Crime is not a \u201cBlack problem\u201d\u2014it\u2019s a systemic issue rooted in oppression.<\/em><\/li>\n
            • We are not<\/em> crabs in a barrel\u2014we are architects of our own liberation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              We have always been resilient. We have always found ways to thrive. The question is: How will we shape the future?<\/em><\/p>\n

              It starts with the words we speak. Let\u2019s make them powerful. Let\u2019s make them true. And let\u2019s make them ours\u2014not the narratives imposed on us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              By Carla Thomas The Truth Contributor If there was ever a time when we needed each other, it\u2019s now. The safety nets that once offered a semblance of security are being stripped away, policies continue to disproportionately harm our communities and systemic barriers remain firmly in place. In the face of this, we cannot afford […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55,250],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[284],"class_list":["post-15442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial-opinion","category-local-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15442"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15443,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15442\/revisions\/15443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15442"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=15442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}