Tony Wafford (File photo)

Well, it’s been 20 days since the devil has taken his seat on the throne of America’s double standers. It’s time for us, the masses, the grassroots, the heartbeat of our community to get to work. We aren’t harnessed with the chains of having to play politics, having to be politically correct in our speech or pretending that bipartisanship is going to be the key to our liberation.  Black people, what we are called to do is to speak up, stand up, and do and say what we all know is right.   We are called to break the chains of American hypocrisy, racism, sexism and oppression of all people in all of its different forum, were called to have the courage not to hug American chains but to break’em.

Here is what I see as our assignment as Black people. All those that want to get rid of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), we will start by getting rid of you.   Let’s start by not doing business with those who don’t want to support us. I don’t know about you but I’m not paying into my own oppression.

Join me by not spending a dime with Amazon, McDonald’s, Walmart, Target, Ford, Lowe’s, Harley-Davidson, Brown-Forman, and I’m sure there’s more to come.  Let’s tell all of our friends’ neighbors and anyone else who will listen that these companies like Pontius Pilot chose to side with the devil.  Let’s use every social media outlet at our disposal to inform and educate our people all across this country about what’s going on.

Can all my good churchgoers ask your pastors (those that aren’t supporters of the felon and chief) to put this “Do Not Patronize” information in the bulletin, and for all those churches that no longer handout bulletin, have them post it on the big screen in church.  We have got to talk it up in our barbershops, beauty salons, cigar lounges, VFW Post, Divine Nine and every other Black group and organization we know of.

Over the weekend, I saw our dear sister Tabitha Brown on social media. This sister has several products in Target and Wal-Mart, like many other Black manufacturers.  So, what I’m suggesting is this we can still continue to support our dear sister and other Black folks that have products in those stores, can we just pick up those items that are manufactured by Black folk.  I know this is going to be a challenge for many of us, but please for God’s sakes Black people, let’s stay true to who and what we are as a people.

Just so you know I’m not crazy, I know and understand that this may be a difficult ask for many of our people. I know that so many of our people do business with many of these folks because they’re cheaper, easier to get to, and because some of us are invested in these companies.

I also know that on Monday, December 5, 1955, it would have been easier to ride in the back of the bus rather than walk or hitch a ride from a friend or a neighbor.  What I understand better is that during those very difficult days our people heard the voices of our ancestors singing, “And before I’ll be a slave I’ll be buried in my grave and go home to my lord and be free.”  Those Black men and women were chain breakers.

Like I said a couple of articles ago, I stand on the fact that I believe this year is going to be an amazing year for us as a people. Malcolm said it best, “There is no better teacher than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.”

Black people if we continue to fight for what we know is right, there will be fewer and fewer next times.