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<\/p>\nGuest commentary<\/p>\n
Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., holds a news conference regarding the Supreme Court Voting Rights decision on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Rod Lamkey Jr.)<\/p>\n
By George R. Burrell<\/p>\n
Preamble<\/p>\n
Is the life-threatening heat and storms that disrupted America 250, recurring national floods, airplane accidents and the ICE \u201cwild west God\u201d telling those of us afflicted with comfort and deferring responsibility to protect our self-interest and summer holidays on Martha\u2019s Vineyard to \u201cGet off your butts?\u201d<\/p>\n
Love the saying \u201cWhen they go low, we go high,\u201d but Trump\u2019s continually going low and is winning, putting Blacks and Black businesses in harm\u2019s way. The Democrats\u2019 substantive response to this and racism, white male supremacy and white silence is weak.<\/p>\n
At this make-or-break intersection, Philadelphia\u2019s ascending political power, which we all believed was the lynchpin to unfettered access to the American Dream, must deliver or expand the team. From my perspective, facts call for a co-ed, intergenerational public private sector team operating with Black specific intent and sense of emergency. Trump\u2019s threat demands all hands-on deck. Today, what grade would Black history professors give Philadelphia\u2019s Black leaders \u2014 an A? B? C? D? or F?<\/p>\n
Juneteenth wisdom from Nikole Hannah-Jones<\/p>\n
If motivation is required, heed the words of warning Nikole Hannah \u2013Jones shared during her Independence Mall speech: \u201cWe come from a people who were not protected by a single law in this country, who did not have, as the Supreme Court said in Plessy v. Ferguson, any rights that a white man shall respect, and yet we are all the product of a struggle that gave us rights nobody in our lineage ever had in the history of our country since 1916. How dare we lose it. So, every one of us better figure out what that thing is that you have the power to do, and don\u2019t wait until it\u2019s too late, until the suffering makes it unbearable.\u201d Black outcomes and futures are on us.<\/p>\n
Take the reins<\/p>\n
Black leaders, whose thinking parallels advocacy are referenced, not for ego, but information and motivation. In Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock\u2019s book, \u201cCrooked Places Made Straight: \u201cPresident Johnson told MLK he could not pass voting rights legislation, because his power was exhausted passing civil rights legislation. MLK told his team, the president said he had exhausted power passing civil rights legislation, so we got to go down South to replenish the president\u2019s power. Getting and exercising power is what we\u2019ve got to do in this moral moment. It\u2019s not about the people in power, but the power in the people.\u201d \u2014 TEAM!<\/p>\n
Revs. Warnock and Freddie Haynes both advocate and preach, but Black freedom requires partners, including churches, delivering life changing outcomes at scale. Philadelphia\u2019s elected power has intentionally benched private sector power while poverty, education and Black quality of life demographics prove them wrong.<\/p>\n
Reminders<\/p>\n
\u2022 African American Chamber of Commerce [AACC] member CEOs routinely default on recurring education, and inclusive growth promises with no Black imposed consequences. Until we leverage white behavior and decision making, Blacks will continue running in place.<\/p>\n
\u2022 A Black mayor, as well as a council president and council majority, operate in silos and competition, despite a Black state of emergency and the Trump power equation. A public education bloodletting, regardless of who\u2019s right, does not reflect partnership.<\/p>\n
\u2022 CEOs of Black leadership organizations, businesses and institutions have serious daily responsibilities, but equally critical Black community at large leadership responsibilities. Your constituents win only if the Black community at large wins.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Asking whether Blacks are speaking truth to power and negotiating in rooms where whites control a majority of votes, thus outcomes, more a white asset than liability? The possibility makes a TEAM imperative.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Governor Josh Shapiro winning is a priority. However, Black leaders must know his Black specific agenda and outcomes. Campaign priorities become governing priorities.<\/p>\n
Ready \u2013 set \u2013 go?<\/p>\n
Racism, white male supremacy and greed are re-empowered American core values. The \u201cland of the free and the home of the brave\u201d remains fictional, while Blacks compete on dirt roads with potholes, chasing speed boats in canoes.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmerica is in deep trouble with no certainty the country survives. Only Blacks will determine what happens next for Blacks,\u201d Princeton professor Eddie Glaude said.<\/p>\n
\u201cJesus told disciples they only win by sticking together,\u201d Warnock said.<\/p>\n
At Philadelphia\u2019s historical intersections, change agents \u2014 primarily private sector leaders \u2014 have met the moment: Leon Sullivan, Sadie Alexander, Cecil Moore, Leon Higginbotham, Emma Chappelle, Connie Clayton. As we ride their fading waves, more is required than honoring their memories and protecting history. No Black individual \u2014 regardless of education, economics or address \u2014 is safe in Trump\u2019s world. Would you jump from a boat, during a rising tide, to save drowning brothers and sisters? Go \u2014 or no go?<\/p>\n
Republican racism, Black response and Black culture<\/p>\n
Trump is the next generation \u2014 not founder \u2014 of Republican racism. The Heritage Foundation, Tea Party and FOX media laid the foundation. Trump\u2019s version designates Blacks as servants and uninvited guests, not citizens who made America the most powerful and once the most respected country in the world. Failing to aggressively reject and confront Trump\u2019s reality puts Blacks and Black businesses on isolated islands, while Trump laughs, enriches his family and flips the finger.<\/p>\n
Philadelphia\u2019s Black community in 2026 will go forward, backward, or run in place. Going forward demands leveraging white behavior, decision making and competitive access to the mainstream economy, where the overwhelming majority of life changing individual and business opportunities are created and funded in America. Without forcing the door open, Blacks remain captive and brokering white permission.<\/p>\n
Warnock has said that \u201coperating in counterproductive silos is a nonstarter; prayer must be followed by walking with specific purpose; and biblical teachings require going beyond personal salvation to accepting proactive responsibility, uplifting individuals and community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Too many embrace the \u201camen corner\u201d on Sunday, but have selective memory, self-interest and protecting or achieving power control from Monday through Saturday. But priorities need structure.<\/p>\n
Professor Glaude affirms, though not as a singular priority, that, \u201cBlack history and culture must be protected and preserved.\u201d<\/p>\n
For example, watching Jamaican and African athletes and fans wearing their culture and history as badges of honor at the Penn Relays is cathartic.<\/p>\n
Jews, not white in the 1930s, became white in less than a century without their culture or history being disturbed. The American Jewish Committee keeps them connected to culture, history and Israel. America knows how to be selectively inclusive.<\/p>\n
What could\/should have been<\/p>\n
If the AACC, over a decade ago, had held CEOs accountable for zip code and inclusive growth promises, Black procurement and employment would mirror that of white women \u2014 businesses would have power to negotiate with self-interested prime contractors, and more than prophylactic corporate citizenship and sponsorships would have been invested in public education, Black quality of life and business growth.<\/p>\n
The AACC\u2019s CEO has said that \u201cthe organizations that will matter in years ahead are the ones willing to ask an uncomfortable question: are we designed to accommodate the people we say we want to serve? Are we willing to do the work until the answer is \u201cyes?\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n
Today, \u201cno\u201d members hold all cards with no pressure or consequences. \u201cYes\u201d requires member accountability for internal and external inclusive growth outcomes. Black board members and staff must be internal advocates and periodic disrupters.<\/p>\n
The power of white wealth<\/p>\n
Increasing dollar turnover in the Black community, growing neighborhood and larger businesses are key to a strong internal economy, but elevating overall quality of life and crating generational wealth requires competitive access to the mainstream white economy.<\/p>\n
For instance, Jews, when not considered white, built a strong internal economy, anchored by law firms. Despite the firms and strong dollar turnover, they insightfully concluded the lifetime security required access to the mainstream white economy. They leveraged access, and the rest is history.<\/p>\n
America 100, 250 and beyond<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Photo\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n
\u201cwhite America is destitute of political memory.\u201d
\u2013Frederick Douglass<\/p>\n
Consider what Frederick Douglass observed about July 4, \u201cwhite America is destitute of political memory.\u201d<\/p>\n
W.E.B. DuBois observed: \u201cwhite leaders celebrated the superiority of white people, affirming the country and promise belonged to white America.\u201d<\/p>\n
Professor Glaude in 2026 calls centennial and semi-quincentennial celebrations \u201cdouble consciousness,\u201d segregating based on color, intentionally disremembering Black history and America\u2019s dependence on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Americans have legitimate differences on July 4 and race. Free will enables finding compromising \u201csolid rocks\u201d that reject racism. God, however, does not intervene when racists put stakes in the ground and faithful pray, but with no walking or assuming responsibilities. After Sunday tithes, contributions, prayers and sermons, responsibility exists to help those working overtime, multiple jobs and living unpredictable futures with children attending failing schools. More often than not, Blacks intentionally pass.<\/p>\n
Where we stand in 2026<\/p>\n
Trump racism, white male supremacy and the cementing of Jim Crow have taken center stage as 24\/7 priorities. Trump and his legion, despite incompetence, corruption and nepotism, are confident. Black voter withdrawal, which preceded Trump\u2019s attacks on voting rights, strengthens that confidence. Although Democrats have a self-interested responsibility, defeating Trump\u2019s momentum and racist agenda requires organized Black leadership not blinking, and a TEAM that operates with Black specific intent, long term stamina and no retreat.<\/p>\n
Black power has never won without an organized team, and the Civil Rights Movement demonstrated the deliverables. The voting rights legislation Trump and Republicans are attacking is part of their plan to restore Jim Crow. Leaving the legislation unprotected for 60 years created a political liability and learning opportunity.<\/p>\n
Self-evaluation for leadership<\/p>\n
How long have you been a leader? What were Black demographics when you started? Have they changed, A-B-C-D-F-? After 50 years of great, good and bad days, Black demographics are painful and periodically depressing. Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder can see Democratic and Black leader dysfunction have put Black futures at risk. Community stakeholders, led by Sam Staten Jr. and Ryan Boyer, are positioned to organize a TEAM. Saturday Morning Group, populated by deep pockets, subject matter experts and political influencers could be a powerful partner.<\/p>\n
Black leaders willing to exercise POWER as immovable forces are in demand. The late Bill Gray, my first client out of law school, once the most powerful Black man in America, told me that Black elected officials are responsible to constituents, but also the Black community and Black owned businesses. Speaking at his funeral, it was stressed he exercised power with purpose, and was never intimidated. Nelson Mandela told me, \u201cBut for the Congressman exercising power and taking an unnecessary political risk to stare down President Reagan, I would have spent more years in prison.\u201d<\/p>\n
Listening is imperative<\/p>\n
Black Democrats every election cycle are screaming \u201clisten;\u201d potential voters who could have nominated Senator Sharif Street or elected Senator Bob Casey and Hillary Clinton. Chairman Bob Brady, along with elected and private sector Black leaders, should convene community leaders at round tables, share a Black specific strategy, listen, host follow ups, give and take and engage progressives. Dogging them is a self-inflicted Republican pro bona asset.<\/p>\n
Women, men, generations<\/p>\n
I recently rewatched \u201cHidden Figures,\u201d \u201cSix Triple Eight,\u201d \u201cHarriet,\u201d and \u201cRustin,\u201d and read Blondell Reynolds Brown\u2019s \u201cWalking A Tightrope Backward in High Heels.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Cropped image from flyer<\/p>\n
Knowing Blondell\u2019s Council leadership, male egos struggled with tightropes, high heels and backwards. The movies \u2014 and recalling conversations with JoAnn Bell, Marian Tasco, Gussie Clark, and recently, Linda Miller \u2014 affirmed my disrespect of Black women\u2019s selfless leadership, rationalized by Black man \u201cTonto,\u201d must protect Black women.<\/p>\n
Meetings where Black women are excluded or symbolically represented, but still assigned mission critical responsibilities, must become history. To the guilty men reading this memo \u2014 wake up, be secure. The Trump war demands our best co-ed, inter-generational TEAM on the field participating in planning and decision making.<\/p>\n
My youthful ego, ambition, confidence, arrogance and disrespect for elders was corralled by Bill Gray, Wilson Goode and Connie Clayton.<\/p>\n
They taught me seniors were strategic assets, who provided advice based on success, failure, experience and skill, not guess work, instinct or arrogance.<\/p>\n
Though we operate in a technology-driven world, our community is best served when generations operate with respect as a TEAM and LISTEN!<\/p>\n
Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the article belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the author\u2019s employer, The Philadelphia Sunday SUN, the author\u2019s organization, committee or other group or individual.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Guest commentary Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., holds a news conference regarding the Supreme Court Voting Rights decision on…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":262480,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[69,71,70],"class_list":["post-262479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-philadelphia","tag-philadelphia","tag-philadelphia-headlines","tag-philadelphia-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262479","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=262479"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/262479\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/262480"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=262479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=262479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=262479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}