Op-Eds
In 2024 we are upholding some of the liberties our Forefathers, Mothers and extended relatives fought for in the U.S.
Some of them have not been upheld though as we see censorship and governmental overreach at all time highs.
Free Speech is great, it is greatly important and for the most part it is being upheld. What comes with that liberty is naturally, liberalism to a degree. To what degree the ideology is bought into is on an individual basis. The ability to say what ever I want, to anyone whenever has merit and as long as it threatens no one’s health & safety it is allowed 🇺🇸.
The oldest group of Americans are just like everyone else we watch grow up in our lifetimes: they are born a new, they are given a name, they assimilate, they start to make their own decisions, they develop their own circles of people, they give themselves a name or title within that circle, they build something and bring on a new generation.
Me; being an American Negro/ “Black American” descendants of Freedmen am no different. As an American it is clear and has been quiet clear since i was a teenager that business, entrepreneur and corporations are who control the free enterprise system.
From a raw objective standpoint for business strategy arguing about terms and names you didn’t make is not going to add revenue. It actually destroys information gathering and relationships.
Your given name is not worth arguing because you didn’t choose it. Without a Time Machine you cannot change your given name on original documents. Doing so would actually call into question the validity & authenticity of it.
So for me as a researcher, historian and person with a entrepreneurial spirit this extreme is a form of liberalism. Taking the first amendment to self identify. It feed the justification and rationalizing of gender dysmorphia, ageist talking points, sexist talking points and actually colorism.
For this demographic that I belong to It is a failed attempt at financial liberation. We have to stop conflating social constructs and legal constructs. If we don’t we will never truly understand why a convicted Felon could become the presidential elect. As a businessman I study history, organizations & laws that helped or hurt them.
And the fact that at our most wealthy, most powerful and most autonomous we ✊🏾Americans (in majority) called ourselves Negroes is crazy to think about. Today every-time hear Negro it is in a negative connotation. I will continue to do what I have and speak about the title and name in a positive light.
From a basic business and negotiation stand point it comes off as self denigration cloaked in humor.
We have 2 times as many ears as mouthes, 2 times as many eyes as mouthes. And exponentially more teeth than tounges. Let’s remember what our grandmothers & grandfathers taught us. Let’s exercise patience and understand: responding ≠ reactions, written response and/or notice ≠ viral post response.
People don’t always take their own advice, let’s do that more before speaking on other people’s issue. This allows people to frame the conversation and your position as disconnected, insensitive and misogynistic. For mental health purposes and emotional responsibility don’t feed into the trope of being a single side sword that is sharp on one side only.
Joshua Harris
Copyright Addicted 2 Progress 2024
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