Thank you for referencing my article in your Substack with Black Wall Street Times. I wrote my article to generate conversation and have Black America reflect on what we have gained from "taking a step back" or resisting silently this year. For 2026, our resistant strategy has to be different in order to thrive during this Trump Presidency.
Of course! I found it to be an insightful read. I agree that our resistant strategy needs to be different in 2026 to withstand Trump and his politics. I'm interested in seeing how it all unfolds next year and throughout his presidency.
"The idea of “sitting out” assumes that Black people have the luxury of choosing when to engage politically."
This is a powerful piece and this is the most powerful statement to me. I have white privilege. The color of my skin has never been something that forced me to engage politically. I was radicalized watching my wife, prior to our marriage being legally recognized, languish without healthcare. As I became a voluntary member of the Jewish community, any pretense of not being engaged politically evaporated - our own ranks are a fraught battleground right now as many of us try to extricate ourselves from the default assumption that we all must support Zionism. It was a choice based on learning to become engaged, a choice not everyone has.
And, these are all things I can keep close to my chest out in public - not things people see the second they look at me. I can choose to reveal the ways in which I am marginalized - I do not have to exist in the world, constantly, as a visible member of the out-group. Because of my solely European ancestry, I can theorhetically turn off and turn on my engagement at will and assume, for the most part, I'm not in danger running to the grocery store because of who I visibly am angering someone who wishes me erased. If I had been living with what the Black community lives with my entire life, I can only assume I, too, would be exhausted and in need of prioritizing rest urgently.
Thank you so much. I truly appreciate you taking the time to read my work! I value that you bring this level of self-awareness to the conversation. These kinds of honest realizations about privilege help foster solidarity that doesn't require explanation from those most impacted.
Thank you for your thoughtful piece “I Understand Why Black Folks Aren’t Participating in the No Kings Protests.” The issue you address is central if we are to be successful in building the kind of movement that is capable of making real and lasting change.
I was especially moved by your concluding suggestion which I have long considered central: “Instead of asking, “Why aren’t Black people showing up?” Ask instead, “What barriers have we built into organizing, and who do they keep out?”
I would like to draw your attention to one line in your discussion that might be an unintentional error. Referencing Pew Research Center, you write “Black voters accounted for 83% of the Democratic vote in 2024...“
Although 83% of Black voters went for Harris, they didn't make up 83% of Harris's votes which is what PEW actually reported: “Still, 83% of Black voters backed Harris.”
A very thoughtful piece. From my perspective, in Trump’s America, I wouldn’t think Black and brown people would feel safe at any protest though I’m sorry there wasn’t an effort to at least discuss this with Black organizations. And the type of activities you describe the Black people are doing to resist are probably more important. Besides, one thing that the musical Suffs reminded me of is that it takes a lot of different types of efforts to make a change in regime. It doesn’t even have to be orchestrated together. We make change when everyone works for it, even with different agendas.
Thank you so much! I appreciate you taking the time to read my work. I absolutely agree that it takes many different types of resistance to make change happen, in big and small ways, front-facing and behind the scenes.
Hi Ed, thank you so much for reading my work. I'm glad you found it thoughtful. And I appreciate you for pointing out that error! That was an unintentional oversight on my end. I made the correction. As the fight continues, I hope the barriers to organizing are continually confronted so Black, brown, and other marginalized groups feel safe and valued enough to participate.
Thank you for referencing my article in your Substack with Black Wall Street Times. I wrote my article to generate conversation and have Black America reflect on what we have gained from "taking a step back" or resisting silently this year. For 2026, our resistant strategy has to be different in order to thrive during this Trump Presidency.
Of course! I found it to be an insightful read. I agree that our resistant strategy needs to be different in 2026 to withstand Trump and his politics. I'm interested in seeing how it all unfolds next year and throughout his presidency.
"The idea of “sitting out” assumes that Black people have the luxury of choosing when to engage politically."
This is a powerful piece and this is the most powerful statement to me. I have white privilege. The color of my skin has never been something that forced me to engage politically. I was radicalized watching my wife, prior to our marriage being legally recognized, languish without healthcare. As I became a voluntary member of the Jewish community, any pretense of not being engaged politically evaporated - our own ranks are a fraught battleground right now as many of us try to extricate ourselves from the default assumption that we all must support Zionism. It was a choice based on learning to become engaged, a choice not everyone has.
And, these are all things I can keep close to my chest out in public - not things people see the second they look at me. I can choose to reveal the ways in which I am marginalized - I do not have to exist in the world, constantly, as a visible member of the out-group. Because of my solely European ancestry, I can theorhetically turn off and turn on my engagement at will and assume, for the most part, I'm not in danger running to the grocery store because of who I visibly am angering someone who wishes me erased. If I had been living with what the Black community lives with my entire life, I can only assume I, too, would be exhausted and in need of prioritizing rest urgently.
Thank you so much. I truly appreciate you taking the time to read my work! I value that you bring this level of self-awareness to the conversation. These kinds of honest realizations about privilege help foster solidarity that doesn't require explanation from those most impacted.
Thank you so much, that means a lot.
Thank you for your thoughtful piece “I Understand Why Black Folks Aren’t Participating in the No Kings Protests.” The issue you address is central if we are to be successful in building the kind of movement that is capable of making real and lasting change.
I was especially moved by your concluding suggestion which I have long considered central: “Instead of asking, “Why aren’t Black people showing up?” Ask instead, “What barriers have we built into organizing, and who do they keep out?”
I would like to draw your attention to one line in your discussion that might be an unintentional error. Referencing Pew Research Center, you write “Black voters accounted for 83% of the Democratic vote in 2024...“
Although 83% of Black voters went for Harris, they didn't make up 83% of Harris's votes which is what PEW actually reported: “Still, 83% of Black voters backed Harris.”
Thanks again for your work here.
Ed Goldman
A very thoughtful piece. From my perspective, in Trump’s America, I wouldn’t think Black and brown people would feel safe at any protest though I’m sorry there wasn’t an effort to at least discuss this with Black organizations. And the type of activities you describe the Black people are doing to resist are probably more important. Besides, one thing that the musical Suffs reminded me of is that it takes a lot of different types of efforts to make a change in regime. It doesn’t even have to be orchestrated together. We make change when everyone works for it, even with different agendas.
Thank you so much! I appreciate you taking the time to read my work. I absolutely agree that it takes many different types of resistance to make change happen, in big and small ways, front-facing and behind the scenes.
Hi Ed, thank you so much for reading my work. I'm glad you found it thoughtful. And I appreciate you for pointing out that error! That was an unintentional oversight on my end. I made the correction. As the fight continues, I hope the barriers to organizing are continually confronted so Black, brown, and other marginalized groups feel safe and valued enough to participate.