Where do we go from here? That is the 5-billion-dollar question pondered by many Americans today. When the NYC New Year’s Eve celebration ball dropped in Times Square on January 1, 2025, it delivered untold chaos that would ensue twenty days into the new year.

It is not the chaos that comes from ushering in another political party to govern America for the next four years, but something much more sinister. Most Americans voted out of their hate for people perceived as different from them. And this hate that they have was fueled by fear. The November 4th election had many Black and Browm Americans asking, “How did we get here? And for those allies who are not black or brown, they are asking themselves, “Where do we go from here?”

I am always thinking about what our ancestors would think of the state of America right now. I think about the days of my long conversations with my father and grandfather about the state of Black America.  I was in my thirties, well-educated, and living the dreams of my ancestors. My father and grandfather knew of the struggles that ensued so that I could live my dreams.

During my grandfather’s visits, we would have after-dinner conversations that turned out to be history lessons and mountain-top debates. My father and grandfather loved to talk about politics and culture. I loved to listen to those debates, and whenever I interjected, I was gently reminded that I had lived a pampered life.

One heated subject was the question of whether life was better for Blacks before integration. I did not have enough wisdom, experience, and candles on my birthday cake to debate that subject with my dad and grandfather.

Now that I have a bit more wisdom and a lot more birthday candles on my cake, I understand what they were talking about. Before integration, was life better for people of color? My grandfather argued that life was much better for us collectively before integration. My father, on the other hand, thought that like for Black Americans was more beneficial for us after integration.

As a point of reference, we are defining “Before Integration” as the period of 1865 – 1965 and “After Integration” as 1966 – Present. Many Black scholars have argued that real “Democracy” in America did not begin until the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Until that time, only a small population of white males who had wealth could vote in our so-called Democratic America. Up until 1965, and in some cases a few years beyond, Black Americans had to pay a poll tax and/or take a literacy test just to vote. 

We might score one for the post-integration team. Political power and economic wealth typically go hand in hand in America. Many people have argued that Black Americans might have gained a seat at the table of political power, but it was only a guest invitation. Why? Because the wealthy, white elite would never permit you to feast on all the privileges of economic wealth. The wealthy white elite always owned the dining room, dinner table, chairs, and full-course meals.

My grandfather argued that Black Americans can never acquire wealth and power as long as they are integrated. He was adamant that the real wealth for Black Americans lies in their families and communities. He said that without these two staples, we would crumble as a race of people in America. Score one for the pre-integration team.

Dr. George C. Fraser, a renowned author, entrepreneur, and speaker, spoke about the value of the black family unit in a forum. He attributes our financial loss to the declining marriage rates of black people versus other races of people in America. “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”

Fast forwarding to 2025, I ponder what Martin Luther King and other prominent civil rights leaders would think of our “Democratic Society?” What would Martin think about the dismantling of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?  What would Thurgood Marshall think about the US Supreme Court and its recent judicial decisions? Would Thurgood think that his fights for civil rights and equality be in vain?

 It makes me think that Martin and others would be so very disappointed with us as a people to permit these heinous acts to happen under our watch. I believe Martin would want us to fight, not with violence, but with the power of our minds, voices, and pens. He would want us to work collectively together with others to reject this hateful rhetoric.

I receive a daily inspirational message from Pastor Jamal Bryant. They give me courage and strength. He recently wrote, “Dear Lord, rewire mindsets towards achievement, purify our hearts in all pursuits, clean our hands so we can help others, open our eyes to inequity around us, and put fire in our bones for the fight.”