Someone tweeted that it was Joe Buddens & Charlamagne Da Gawd. I wanted to disagree but had a hard time thinking of folks who were more visible and outspoken (I guess you can add Stephen A. Smith.)

But then I think that's narrowly looking at it from a guy who likes spots and hip-hop.

I love Abby Phillip. Laura Coates is the homey, and Joy Reid was up for a moment. But are people watching cable news shows like that?

Dave Chappelle?

I mean, I'd be happy if it were Ta-Nehisi Coates, and I think he starts a public conversation whenever he writes. I just don't know if folks outside of ivory towers are checking for him (though of course he influences the influencers).

The Obamas? It's kinda weird to see them making the most noise with podcasts and end-of-year lists. Feels small for them.

Kai Cenat?

20 years ago, we had, of course, Oprah and folks like Tavis Smiley, Cornel West and others who all felt... bigger (or was I just younger?).

Are we so fragmented and have times changed so much that we won't get another Oprah or a Prime Obama-like figure?

I kinda feel like we are in a Black wilderness and so adrift that black folks are starting to dabble in Trump and MAGA-ism.

Will it be like this going forward, or will Black people get our bearings and direction again?

The more I type, the more I see this post turn into the "When will Black People Unify" post, but I really wanted to focus on whether there are any public figures out there who do well at representing the "Black POV" on a large scale and representing us?

Or maybe it's back to my original question. Who are the most visible outspoken Black People in America today?




**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

Toure
Joy Reid
Jasmine Crocket
Josh Johnson
Noreaga’s show
fd signifier
And a host of Black info podcastors with various platforms on education, law, politics, spiritual healing etc etc.

and I was going to say Jasmine Crockett

as far as dudes go.

ionno, not really a fan of hip hop podcasters as leading voices


Isaiah Thomas is my dude right now in Texas. He lost but he cooks fools and makes MAGA look stupid and actually uses the verbiage needed to beat MAGA.

hope he can win a spot next time around.

down with celebrity worship, please.

i wish people could understand how much it continues to hold people back. these people are flawed humans with opinions, just like the rest of us. what exactly are they 'leading'?

d

"i do more for both our communities than you'll ever know." - Heinz
"But rest assured, in my luxurious house built on the backs of people darker than me, I am sipping fine scotch and scoffing at how stupid you are." - bshelly

I dont think its so much about wanting anyone to lead us.

I think that's a separate and different discussion. I agree that Black people don't need A LEADER but I disagree with the idea we need NO leaders. I think we need lots of leaders leading lots of different movements within the community.

For example, I think Chris Smalls is a greater leader for the movement of unionization and I am glad he is leading the cause that he is leading.

I don't understand the idea that we need NO leaders. Like I am not even sure what that looks like. I think the BLM movement fell apart partly because its decentralized model but that's a whole nother subject which I wasn't looking to get into.


Anyway, maybe it's my fault for using the word "leading" but I really just meant "prominent" as in, who are the most visible outspoken Black People in America today?



**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

But they’re not always spotlighted however can easily be found in our communities with many combine like power rangers to make great things happen.

we need them leading.



**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

Running for governor of California

starting the public conversation on black issues aint nowhere near enough

its a shame seeing the culture settle for making MAGA look stupid and reading poems to Congress begging for help

nah man

Who would you suggest today?

with ZERO interest in:
- shaming yt folks
- setting the record straight
- begging yt folks for help
etc.

.

but had to shit on everyone instead

then have the nerve to be in threads talking about “niggas can’t work together because of the culture”

lmao

He said use this template


and left.

I don't feel anybody mentioned in this entire post is "leading" anything. Some are just more popular than others. You can find a black podcaster or voice speaking to whatever idealology you already have.
Personally, I think Irami Osei-Frimpong is the best political thinker who speaks weekly. He thinks far beyond the surface and the prescribed mental complexes of "right" and "left" although he advocates for the left. He'll challenge your views no matter what you already think, so I'd say he's a "leading voice" in that regard. Not in terms of popularity but in terms of being ahead of all the other thinkers out there.

most prominent.

Will check out Irami Osei-Frimpong.

I would love to hear from someone who goes beyond left/right and is starting to think Post-Trump.

Just feels like we are in an ideas Wilderness and Black Thought (not the rapper) is in total disarray.



>I don't feel anybody mentioned in this entire post is
>"leading" anything. Some are just more popular than others.
>You can find a black podcaster or voice speaking to whatever
>idealology you already have.
>Personally, I think Irami Osei-Frimpong is the best political
>thinker who speaks weekly. He thinks far beyond the surface
>and the prescribed mental complexes of "right" and "left"
>although he advocates for the left. He'll challenge your views
>no matter what you already think, so I'd say he's a "leading
>voice" in that regard. Not in terms of popularity but in terms
>of being ahead of all the other thinkers out there.
>
>


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

None of these are boulé democrat shill approved outlets. Shout out to Breuck.

Ben Crump could be, but he is truly working to help people.

Tier 1- Black lower class, low-skilled immigrant, urban, hood, ghetto or whatever you want to label them as do not look to any current figures as influential or representative of their issues. Small business owners, social media or some stroke of luck athletes/ entertainer may be the only relatable figures who make an attempt to get on eye level with everyday working class blacks. (Kai Cenat, Cam Newton, Shannon Sharpe, Kat Williams)

Tier 2- A vast majority of today's so-called black intelligent leaders are married to non-black people, don't live with black people and are not educated with or among black people. Their perspectives are socially engineered for and consumed by a small population of PWI educated blacks, white academics, white liberals and and any middle to upper class group of lighter hued issues (see Middle East/Latino immigration social causes).

Tier 3- Middle Class Boule Blacks are just trying to hold on to what they have acquired, ensure their children don't get looped up with lower class black struggle and preserve the remnants of Black Americans success of yesteryear. Think Cosby/Black Greeks/Vineyard Blacks/Black Suburbanites.

Tier 4 Upper Class/Wealthy Elite black voices are completely detached. They intentionally seek out race neutral spaces because their income and financial longevity is no longer dependent on race. They must build within a system to keep wealth flowing. That usually includes procreating with a non black person or aligning their causes with a global beige issue. (Jay Z NFL, Black Arts, Oprah, Pharrell/New Black, Nigerian Oil, Silent Tech Investors)

At least publically facing black folks.

Everyone sucks?


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

the part about who people are married to. imo, that isn't reflective of anything in particular, unless there's an intentional pattern over time. Operative word being 'intentional'

but other than that, yes. there is no Black monolith. and in a capitalist, white supremist and deeply patriarchal system, those tiers will persist because that's exactly what serves the oppressive systems.

in general, Black people don't need a leader, leading figures or anyone who says the right thing. what MAGA thinks or feels is irrelevant

the only thing that makes anything change is to dismantle the oppressive system..that is NOT done on the individual level; ONLY the systems level.

How do you change, shift or dismantle an oppressive system?

History has already clearly, and repeatedly, taught us that. and that's all imma say on it.

d

"i do more for both our communities than you'll ever know." - Heinz
"But rest assured, in my luxurious house built on the backs of people darker than me, I am sipping fine scotch and scoffing at how stupid you are." - bshelly

https://x.com/i/status/2009275479627305334

Like dude tried to sound deep, high road and tried to be a centrist when the situation doesn't call for it.


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

As in, when you hear this person speak on their platform, you almost always agree.

I think it's Van Lathan for me (but then I actually don't listen to a ton of him so if you shared a clip I disagree with I wouldn't be terribly surprised).


**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

each have their own shows and also do shows together.

in addition to the content, I like the dynamic between the two. he's reserved in his delivery. she's cusses a lot and I like it lol.

https://www.youtube.com/@ReecieColbert

https://www.youtube.com/@claycaneshow

also Elizabeth Booker Houston
https://www.youtube.com/@bookersquared