In 1970, lyrical artist Gil Scott Heron recorded the timely classic “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.” Heron was one of the poetic voices of the Civil Rights era, along with other literary greats like Nikki Giovanni, Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, and Maya Angelou.      

Revolution is one of those words that strikes fear into the hearts of many, while it is the cry of hope for others. Those who benefit from the status quo of white privilege fear losing what they deny even exists. It might be the fear of retribution and being held accountable for the misdeeds perpetrated against other people groups. It’s the “what if they do to us what we did to them?” It’s the fear of losing power and control over the lives of others, “others” whom you may have directly or indirectly oppressed and abused in some form or fashion. It’s the fear of being undeservedly judged by the deeds of others who look like you; when you feel that you are simply an innocent bystander in the system you are ignorantly determined to be fair when you knew all too well that it wasn’t. It’s the fear of, what Malcolm referred to as “chickens coming home to roost.”

Yes, Revolution often breeds fear. But Revolution is change, and we need change. Change for progress, change toward equality, and opportunities long denied and shifted when in reach. Revolution brings hope, hope for a brighter tomorrow, and the rays of a new day. Revolution is us. Revolution is we. Revolution is unity, the people united must not be divided. Revolution creates a much-needed difference where all men and woman are given their share of the promises expressed in the Constitution of these so-called “United” States.

Revolution is Power. Power FOR the people. Power TO the people.

Revolution is conceived in the hearts of the people and delivered by the masses who have become frustrated with a long-term pregnancy that has lasted far too long already and are continually told to just wait a little while longer.

Power to the people.

But “white folks” aren’t the only ones scared of revolution. According to The Last Poets, “N*@#ers are scared of Revolution.”

“But n*@#ers shouldn’t be scared of revolution because revolution is nothing but change and all n*@#ers do is change.”

But to be fair, the Poets make a point to clarify that “n*@#ers” come in all colors, not just Black, because “n*@#er” is a state of mind followed by an accompanying behavior of inferiority. With the right conditioning and under the right set of circumstances any group of people can be set on a course of collective self-destruction. Some have made the analogy to crabs in a barrow pulling each other down when one gets close to reaching the top and breaking free.      

The Last Poets became popularized in the 60’s during the Civil Rights movement, during the height of the struggle for human rights. They were a part of the American landscape. America was ripe for Revolution and Gil Scott Heron brought our attention to the time and the need for a long-awaited Revolution, which would not be seen on our television sets. This Revolution demanded participation, not side-line observers. This Revolution demanded that its participants be woke and not found in a drunken stupor or sound asleep.     

This Revolution takes a village of committed courageous people who do not fear change but embrace it. It takes all of us who see through clear glasses that we all suffer when we embrace division over unity. Unity allows ALL of us to benefit from what America has to offer, and this experiment of democracy functions best when ALL are permitted to contribute and participate.

When “White supremacists” and “Black house slave sellouts” wake up out of their racialized slumber and choose to take the red pill of reality as opposed to remaining victims of blue pill denial, America will begin to become all that it can be and free itself from the chains of collective subliminal oppression. Yet remaining asleep and not being “woke” is promoted and sold to an unsuspecting, uninformed, and ill-informed public. But no one can afford to sit this one out.

“You will not be able to stay home brother, you will not be able to plug in, turn on, and cop out…because the Revolution will not be televised.”

Much like in the 60’s, we are again faced with another critical moment in our nation. Efforts are being made to revolutionize our entire political system and move us from a democracy to a dictatorship. It is a move of desperation led by an election-denying former president who has delusions of grandeur, who notoriously speaks with a forked tongue, and is currently steeped in judicial controversy.      

America had a chance for Revolution following 346 years of slavery when it ushered in the Reconstruction era, which led to more than 2,000 Black people entering political office, being promised 40 acres and a mule under General Sherman’s Field Order #15, owning and farming their own land, developing their own communities, schools, and businesses. It was a 12-year Revolution that was quickly squashed and brought to an end with the Presidential Compromise of 1877.  That compromise compromised our humanity and denied us justice, and the Revolution was replaced with Jim Crow, the destruction of our Black Wall Streets, over 4,000 lynchings, and the removal of previously secured political power.

America revisited the Revolution in 1965 with Civil Rights legislation after hard-fought battles, which left us mourning our courageous martyrs like Malcolm, Martin, Medgar, Fred Hampton, and many more. Following the progress of school segregation, we are now just as segregated as we were then in many of our geographical regions, and the racial wealth gap is still a reality, and corporate America still has a very intact glass ceiling that seldom cracks.

America looked as if a third shot at a Revolution might be the charm, following the 9-minute 29-second public execution of George Floyd at the hands of 4 soulless police officers. But this Revolution was televised around the world as angry protestors took to the streets around the world in a show of unity.

But once again, legitimate narratives and causes were highjacked and false interpretations were promoted in order to stop the Revolution in its tracks and protect America’s well-established foundation of white supremacy and white power. Understand the system and understand the game in which you are a participant willingly or unwillingly but understand HOW it works, and THAT it works.

Until we can solidly unite and learn the rules of the system and how to counter the strategies used to curtail our progress, we will continue to struggle through the quicksand of fear-based white supremacy hiding behind well-crafted masks of innocence.

We need a new rebellion, a new Revolution. The Revolution that we need will only come about when we remain committed and consistent and link arm in arm with other progressive-minded people on a global platform for the benefit of all mankind, standing against a system that has been designed to divide and conquer us.  

And that Revolution will be no rerun brother, that Revolution…will be live.