Visionary Black Conservative Leader Dead At 89

The Woodson Center is saddened to announce the passing of its Founder and President, Robert L. Woodson, Sr., who died peacefully in his sleep on May 19, 2026 at the age of 89. The center issued the following statement in response:

“Bob Woodson was more than the founder of an organization. He was a visionary and civil rights leader whose life transformed countless communities from the inside out. For more than six decades, his life’s work rested on a single, unwavering conviction: that the people closest to a problem are best positioned to solve it. That conviction shaped an entirely different way of understanding poverty, community, and the latent power of the people.

“Bob founded the Woodson Center in Washington, D.C., in 1981 to empower low-income communities to solve their own problems. Over four and a half decades, the Center has built a track record of supporting grassroots organizations, resulting in enduring gang truces, transformed schools, and revitalized neighborhoods led by the people who live and work in them. 

“From his early days as a civil rights activist to his decades at the Woodson Center, Bob built a body of work that reframed how America thinks about poverty, race, and community. He stood steadfast for the nation’s founding values and virtues, including faith, hard work, personal responsibility, the foundational importance of healthy families and communities, and the ability of everyone to shun a victimhood mentality and become agents of their own uplift. Though he has been recognized with a MacArthur ‘Genius’ Fellowship, a Presidential Citizens Medal, and a shelf of award-winning books, his influence stretched far beyond any accolade. He has left behind a generation of leaders, revitalized neighborhoods, and a civil rights tradition centered on the people it was always meant to serve.

“Bob’s voice was heard across the country, and the influence he has had on the modern day civil rights movement and countless communities is immeasurable. Those who knew Bob best, however, understood that his greatest work was always personal. He didn’t just build an organization. He built relationships, and those relationships built a movement.

“The Woodson Center will continue to carry forward the mission Bob Woodson built, guided by the same principles, the same people, and the same belief that lasting change is always led from within.” 

The Woodson Center board of directors has planned for succession for several years. Will Crossley will succeed Robert L. Woodson Sr. as President of the Woodson Center. The Center, with full board support, is looking forward to carrying on Bob’s legacy under the new leadership.  

About the Woodson Center

The Woodson Center is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit founded in 1981 by Robert L. Woodson, Sr. For 45 years, the Center has worked to empower indigenous leaders in troubled neighborhoods to address issues in their communities through initiatives that increase public safety, spur upward mobility, and inspire racial harmony in America. Its work is grounded in the conviction that the best solutions to neighborhood problems already exist within those neighborhoods. Learn more at woodsoncenter.org.

President Trump Remembers Jessie Jackson

 

America's New Golden Age Of Blackness

 Six time Tony winner Audra McDonald at the Met Gala.

In recent years, America has witnessed a remarkable rise in Black achievement, influence, and visibility across nearly every sphere of society. 

This occurred to me while I watched that parade of endless extravagance known as the Met Gala the other night. The whole evening was built around the theme of "Black Dandyism" -- the generations-steeped use of style by Black people to assert identity, challenge stereotypes and claim a place at the top. While the show was fashion-oriented, the evening was a celebration of unparalleled Black achievement and the rise of Black celebrities in every walk of life. It was a showcase of Blackness, all designed to dazzle.

Without generalizing, we must now acknowledge the extraordinary progress and cultural flourishing that has taken place. America has now entered what can only be described as a “Golden Age of Black People”—a time when Black Americans are not only shaping the popular culture but also making profound contributions to politics, business, academia, sports, and beyond. It's no exaggeration to say that Black people are in the spotlight everywhere.  And it's unprecedented. In fact, the last time we came even close to seeing anything like this was the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s but that was far more isolated, sadly fleeting and a full century ago. This is different. And it's important to point this out because both Black and white race baiters would have you believe otherwise.

Cultural Domination 

Popular culture is perhaps the most visible arena where Black Americans have asserted transformative influence. From music genres like hip-hop, R&B, and jazz to fashion, film, and television, Black creators and performers have set global trends. Artists like Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, and Tyler Perry have become cultural icons, breaking records and challenging narratives about Black life and creativity. I don't necessarily understand the appeal of every artist in every genre but I cannot deny their ascent.

Black directors like Ava DuVernay and Ryan Coogler are reshaping Hollywood, while TV shows such as Insecure, Abbott Elementary, and Atlanta have received critical acclaim for exploring Black experiences. Indeed, you can now routinely count Black actors, directors and other artists among annual recipients of the Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Grammy awards. A relatively short time ago, this was simply not the norm.

And this cultural power is not limited to entertainment. Black fashion designers, visual artists, and writers are reshaping the American aesthetic. And do we even have to mention Black dominance in sports? Yes, that's been a longstanding area of Black achievement but it seems to be at its zenith right now.

Added to all of this, the rise of Black-led brands, the growth of Black voices in journalism, and the widespread embrace of African American vernacular (for better or worse) demonstrates an ongoing cultural shift.

Political Power 

Black Americans have also made historic political gains. Of course, the election of Barack Obama as the first Black president (though he is, technically biracial) marked a watershed moment in U.S. history, but now Black leaders can be found across the board in both political parties. At the local and state levels, Black mayors, attorneys general, and legislators are shaping policy and governance in significant ways. And, with then rise of Black conservatives and President Trump's inclusive brand of populism, the Democrat Party can no longer take the Black vote for granted -- arguably a reflection of renewed political maturity among African Americans.

Economic Success

In business and entrepreneurship, Black Americans are breaking barriers and building generational wealth. From tech innovators and CEOs to small business owners and investors, Black entrepreneurs are also making their mark. This is happening because Black buying power is real. If you doubt that, look at the world of consumer advertising. It's hard to find an ad in any medium today that does not feature a Black person. 

The growth of Black-owned businesses, increased access to venture capital, and the expansion of Black professional networks are all signs of an economic transformation in progress. 

The advancement of Black America has by no means been limited to the leadership class -- far from it! Take a look at the statistics for everyday Black Americans in every category:

📚 Education

• High school completion:
  In 1964, only about 25% of Black Americans aged 25+ had completed high school. By 2023, that number rose to 90% — nearly closing the gap with white Americans.
• College attainment:
  In 1990, about 11% of Black Americans had a bachelor’s degree or higher. By 2023, that grew to about 26%, compared to 42% for white Americans — showing major gains, though gaps remain.
• HBCU enrollment:
  Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) now graduate nearly 20% of all Black undergraduates, despite making up only about 3% of higher ed institutions.

💼 Employment and Income

• Labor force participation:
  Black labor force participation (the share working or seeking work) has been consistently high, often above the national average in recent years.
• Black women’s workforce gains:
  Black women have the highest rate of labor force participation among all U.S. women (about 62%), and they are increasingly entering managerial, professional, and technical roles.
• Median Black household income:
  In 1967, median Black household income (adjusted for inflation) was about $28,000. By 2022, it had increased to $52,860 — a nearly 90% real increase, though still below the white median of ~$77,000.

👩🏽‍💼 Business and Entrepreneurship

• Black-owned businesses:
  There are about 161,000 Black-owned employer businesses in the U.S. (2022), making up around 3% of all U.S. businesses — a 14% increase from 2017. The growth in Black women-owned businesses has been particularly strong, rising by 50% over the past decade.
• Buying power:
  Black Americans’ collective buying power was $1.6 trillion in 2023, up from just $320 billion in 1990 — showing immense market influence.

🗳️ Civic and Political Participation

• Voter turnout:
  In the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, Black voter turnout surpassed white turnout for the first time in U.S. history. While it slightly declined after, it remains above 60% in presidential election years.
• Political representation:
  As of 2023, there were a record 62 Black members of Congress, including the first Black minority leader in the House, Hakeem Jeffries. There are also over 1,000 Black elected officials at state and local levels nationwide.

💡 Health and Longevity

• Life expectancy:
  Between 1990 and 2020, the Black-white life expectancy gap narrowed from 7 years to about 4 years — largely due to declines in Black infant mortality and improvements in chronic disease management.

🌎 Cultural Influence

While harder to measure, Black Americans’ global cultural influence is enormous — from 80% of hip-hop’s U.S. audience being non-Black to Black athletes dominating leagues like the NBA (72% Black players) and the NFL (58% Black players), to the rise of Black designers, chefs, and influencers reshaping industries.

Biden Campaign Free Fall In Black Community?

From Dylan Johnson at Trump for President: Biden has DROPPED 16 points overall among Black voters from 2020 — but Black voters are not only ditching Biden, they are throwing their support behind President Trump.   President Trump has *TRIPLED* his support among Black voters from 7% in 2020 to 21% today.   Among Black voters aged 50+ — Biden has dropped 9 POINTS.   Among Black voters under age 50 — Biden nearly *HALVED* his support, dropping 43 POINTS.   It only gets worse for Crooked Joe.   In a head-to-head matchup with President Trump in battleground states, Biden drops to 63% support with Black voters.   If you include third-party candidates, Biden gets LESS THAN 50% of Black voters.    Biden is hemorrhaging support among Black voters for the same reasons he's hemorrhaging support among every other voter group: Bidenomics has decimated Americans' finances and Biden has imported millions of unvetted illegals into American communities, to name a few.   While Biden was being led off-stage by Obama at some ritzy Hollywood celebrity party, President Trump was listening to Black voters and community leaders at 180 Church in Detroit.   Watch the clip here.   Watch the clip here.   Watch the clip here.   In the meantime, someone do a welfare check on Phil Bump.

Dylan Johnson Deputy Director of Communications Donald J. Trump for President 2024, Inc. Follow @TrumpWarRoom | @RealDylanMO

VIDEO: Could This REALLY Be Happening?

‘I'm Like Speechless': CNN's Harry Enten Says Trump 'Careening Towards A Historic Performance' With Black Voters pic.twitter.com/aEKh3WPIDG

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) June 17, 2024

Impressive Group Of Black Americans For Trump!

Trump Campaign Announces  “Black Americans for Trump” Coalition

Today, President Donald J. Trump announces “Black Americans for Trump,” a coalition with endorsements from elected officials, athletes, entertainers, community leaders, and pastors who love our country. The coalition launches ahead of the Juneteenth holiday acknowledging and commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States.     President Trump accomplished more for Black Americans than any other president in recent history by implementing America First policies on the economy, immigration, energy, law and order, and foreign policy.  Historic rates of Black voters now support President Trump, and  the reason is simple: Black voters know that President Trump is the only presidential candidate who can deliver results on day one because he already has, including landmark unemployment rates for Black Americans, increased median income for Black households, historic permanent funding for HBCUs, comprehensive bipartisan criminal justice reform, and nearly $50 billion in funds to revitalize Opportunity Zones.     “Never has it been more clear that Joe Biden’s reckless reversal of President Trump’s America First policies is the very reason why Black communities have been utterly decimated under his Administration with sky-high grocery and gas prices, untenable housing costs, an invasion of illegal migrants and rampant violent crime,” said Team Trump Senior Advisor Lynne Patton. “On day one, Donald Trump will reinstate all his proven policies on immigration, law and order, energy, and the economy and put Black America First.”       Black families have paid the cost of Bidenflation, spending more per month under Biden on groceries and gas than they did under Donald Trump. Coupled with rising violent crime in urban cities and teachers’ unions taking control away from parents in our schools, it's clear why the Democrat party is hemorrhaging Black voters in record numbers.     "While Black Americans have been left behind by Joe Biden, President Trump has prioritized the Black community," said Team Trump Black Media Director Janiyah Thomas. “Donald J. Trump’s coalition message to the Black community is simple: If you want to return to the policies that created rising wages, more quality jobs, stronger borders, and safer neighborhoods, then join Black Americans for Trump and vote for President Trump in November."    “Black voters are rallying around Donald J. Trump because of Jobs and Justice. There is a clear contrast this election, as Black voters experience the loss of spending power under Biden, the ravaging of their neighborhoods because of crime under Democrat leadership, and Biden's border disproportionately hurting communities of color. Donald Trump offers the best path forward. It's not just a Black agenda, it is an American agenda.” - Senator Tim Scott (R-SC)    “Beginning on day one of his presidency, Joe Biden shattered opportunities to attain generational wealth, access capital, and achieve the American Dream through overregulation and inflationary overspending. Black Americans are ready for change in November.” - Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL-19)    For far too long, the Democrat Party and Joe Biden have taken black voters for granted. Biden’s policies have been devastating to minorities. The economy, hyperinflation, crime, and Biden’s alarming migrant crisis have disproportionately harmed voters of color. This is why I am confident that black voters will deliver their verdict on Biden’s Presidency this November." - Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX-38)    “I know President Trump’s heart and I know he is the man to return America to We the People. As the famous saying goes, “A Republic, if we can keep it” has never been more so important than it is now. It is our duty to keep this Republic and President Trump is the leader we need to ensure it is secured for generations to come.” - Ben S. Carson, Former 17th Secretary of HUD and Founder and Chairman of the American Cornerstone Institute     “Ever praying for my friend and forever President Donald John Trump. His support for our communities; life, liberty and pursuit of happiness and beyond is unmatched.” - Dr. Alveda King, Chair, Center for the American Dream, America First Policy Institute    "Through President Trump’s leadership, I witnessed the transformation of the Republican Party to party that advocates for America's underserved and working class.  Legislation like the First Step Act, Opportunity Zones, USMCA and the Futures Act, which gave permanent funding for HBCU’s, are just a few examples of how Trump Policies put America First and created a system that works for everyone." - Ja'Ron Smith, Partner at CGCN & Former Deputy Assistant for Domestic Policy to President Trump    “Donald Trump has done more for the black community than any other president since Abraham Lincoln. His America First agenda led to record-low inflation, closed borders and tripled the Black support for the Republican party.”  - Diante Johnson, Founder & President of the Black Conservative Federation    “President Trump has proven that he is dedicated to the advancement of the black community, not through lip service, but through action.  He has made inroads into the heart of the black community in ways unprecedented by a Republican Presidential candidate.” - Dr. Darrell Scott, Founder, National Diversity Coalition and Pastor, New Spirit Revival Center    “President Trump championed economic policies that spurred growth and created jobs, benefiting our communities and fostering economic prosperity for all Americans. His renegotiation of trade deals and commitment to securing our borders showcased his dedication to protecting American workers. We need his vision and leadership now more than ever.” - Corrin Rankin, Vice Chair, California GOP    "This is not a Party issue, this is an American issue. After a catastrophic 4 years under the Biden Administration the world is no longer a safe place. We need a strong, steady hand to reclaim our place in the world and guarantee peace and prosperity here at home." - Nicole Bennett, Vice-Chair, Maryland GOP    “For far too long, I have watched the generations of my parents and grandparents be used and abused by the Democrat Party. As a member of Generation Z, I have long pledged to break that generational curse and that is exactly why I’m supporting President Trump..” - CJ Pearson, National Co-Chair, RNC Youth Advisory Council    “I can never thank President Trump enough for what he's done for me and my family by giving me freedom. But I believe this election and the issues involved are personal to every family and every person in America.” - Kwame Kilpatrick, Former Mayor of Detroit & Michigan House of Representatives     “President Trump will bring America back to Greatness.” - Troy Rolling, Chairman, Frederick Douglass Foundation    “As a Black American I enthusiastically endorse Donald Trump as President. Like many other Black Americans, I have become disillusioned by decades of exploitation and broken promises by the Democratic Party. Donald Trump has a vision of success for America and Americans - including Black Americans.” - Leo Terrell, Civil Rights Attorney & Fox News Contributor    "Donald J. Trump’s love for America goes beyond color to the success of every American.  We need a president who lifts people with fair opportunity, understands the need for morality, and who will work for all people." - Bishop B. Dwayne Hardin, pastor of The Embassy ATL and founder of Spiritual Legislative Council     "President Trump is the only president in modern history that signed policies that directly elevated the healthy, safety and wealth of Black Chicago. Through his America First agenda, my community is treated like full Americans rather than a pity party because we too are America." - Patricia "P-Rae" Easley, Chicago Radio Host, Black Excellence Hour    “When the South Carolina African American Chamber of Commerce asked all Presidential candidates to present their platforms to Black business leaders, then candidate Trump, was the first candidate to speak with us. We need a "show up" President, one that will show up for education, show up for economic opportunities and will show up for the American people!” - Stephen Gilchrist, Chairman & CEO of the South Carolina African-American Chamber of Commerce    Elected Officials:  Representative Byron Donalds, U.S. Representative (FL-19)  Representative Wesley Hunt, U.S. Representative (TX-38)  Senator Tim Scott, U.S. Senator for SC  Representative Burgess Owens, U.S. Representative (UT-4)  Representative John James, U.S. Representative (MI-10)  Mark Robinson, Lieutenant Governor for NC and Candidate for Governor of NC  Melanie Collette, NJ County Commissioner, Community Engagement Director for the NJ Legislative District 1 Office    Endorsements:  Melik Abdul, Fox News Contributor, Author  Ottis "OJ" Anderson, Former NFL Running Back for the New York Giants  John Anthony, Black & Right Radio Host and Former Illinois State Representative  Robin Barnes, Regional Advisor, Project 21 Opportunity Zone Initiatives   Gina Barr, Former and Current Director of Black Coalitions, RNC  Angela Beckles, Former Public Policy Advisor, U.S. Housing & Urban Development  Pastor Leon Benjamin , Founder, New Life Harvest Church  Nicole Bennett, Vice-Chair, Maryland GOP  Martell Bivins, Candidate for U.S. Congress (MI-13)  Kodak Black, Hip Hop Mogul  Deneen Borelli, Author and Media Personality  Jack Brewer, Former NFL Player, Jack Brewer Foundation, AFPI  Pastor Mark Burns, Evangelical Minister and Candidate for U.S. Representative (SC-3)  Necho Carroll, Vice President of Operations, Black Conservative Federation  Mark Carter, Founder, The GoRED Initiative  Vivian Childs, Pastor & Former GA Congressional District Chairman  Rod Dorilas, Esq., Former Counsel at the Department of Commerce  Patricia “P-Rae” Easley, Chicago Radio Host, Black Excellence Hour  Larry Elder, Conservative Radio Host, Author & Attorney  Mashi Epting, Business Mogul, Philanthropist and Author  Harrison Fields, Former White House Assistant Press Secretary  Day Gardner, President, National Black Pro-Life Union  Stephen Gilchrist, President, SC Black Chamber of Commerce  B. Dwayne Hardin, Pastor, The Embassy ATL and Founder, Spiritual Legislative Council  Kristal Hartsfield, Former National Director of Strategic Initiatives, RNC  Cecila S. Johnson, Former RNC Black Outreach Director  Diante Johnson, Founder & President, Black Conservative Federation  Jalen Johnson, GA City Commissioner  Vernon Jones, Former GA State Representative  Quenton Jordan, Co-Founder, Black Conservative Federation  Kwame Kilpatrick, Pardoned by President Trump, Former Mayor of Detroit & MI House   Alveda King, Best-selling Author & Speaker, Chair of the Center for the American Dream AFPI  Don King, Famed Boxing Promoter  Kim Klacik, Former & Current Candidate for U.S. Representative (MD-2)  Ayesha Kreutz, Chaplain & Frederick Douglass Foundation, State Ambassador  Kareem Lanier, Co-Founder National Diversity Coalition & Longtime Counselor    Bruce LeVell, Newsmax Contributor & Founder, National Diversity Coalition  Darius Mayfield, Candidate for U.S. Representative (NJ-12)  Michaelah Montgomery, Cofounder, Conserve the Culture  Scherie Murray, Former NY GOP Committeewoman  Madgie Nicolas, National Director African American Voices of Faith and Freedom Coalition  Lynne Patton, Senior Advisor to President Trump  CJ Pearson, National Co-Chair RNC Youth  Billy Prempeh, Candidate for U.S. Representative (NJ-09)  Corrin Rankin, Vice-Chair CA GOP  Rochelle "Silk" Richardson, Influencer  Troy Rolling, Frederick Douglass Institute  Amber Rose, American Model, Television Personality and Singer  Pastor Darrell Scott, Founder, National Diversity Coalition, Pastor, New Revival Church  T.W. Shannon, Former Speaker of the Oklahoma House  Charles "Duke" Tanner, Clemency Recipient under President Trump  Linda Lee Tarver, PhD Theology and Education, Author, Michigan Election Integrity Activist   Lawrence “LT” Taylor, NFL Hall of Fame, Former New York Giants Player  Leo Terrell, Civil Rights Attorney & Fox News Contributor  Janiyah Thomas, Team Trump Director of Black Media  Apostle Ellis Smith, Founder of Jubilee City Church  Bernadette Smith, Ethnic Vice Chair, MI GOP  Ja'Ron Smith, Former Deputy Assistant for Domestic Policy to President Trump  Carla Spaulding, Candidate for U.S. Representative (FL-23)  Darryl Strawberry, Former NY Mets, NY Yankees and Celebrity Apprentice Contestant  Melissa Tate, Author, Speaker, Influencer  Scott Turner, Former NFL Player, Chair of the Center for Education Opportunity at AFPI  Stacy Washington, Host, Stacy on The Right SiriusXM, CEO Sharent Ministries  Herschel Walker, Former NFL Player and Former U.S. Senate Candidate for GA  Lisa Watson, Former ACLU Chapter President & School Choice Activist   Terrence K. Williams, Influencer/Comedian

And MSNBC Just Now Discovered This?

MSNBC goes to a black barbershop:

“We’re broke with Biden… we weren’t with Trump… With Trump, we had money”

pic.twitter.com/PvlQEE4M2C

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 2, 2024

Worth Watching Again And Again . . .

Happy Black History Month pic.twitter.com/x0PVOq5WLP

— Wojciech Pawelczyk (@WojPawelczyk) February 1, 2024

It's About Time SOMEBODY Told Him!

Larry Elder hit Charlamagne with a headshot on The Breakfast Club by bringing up Joe Bidenpic.twitter.com/O7r8Bgn3CX

— Anthony Brian Logan (ABL) 🇺🇸 (@ANTHONYBLOGAN) August 18, 2023

And This STILL Has Not Changed!

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It's All True: You Can Go Back And Check!

 

Black History Month? Sure, We're All For It!

 

Life Lessons: Remembering Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier stood apart.

But if you're of a certain (younger) age, you might not even know he was. That's because he's been pretty much out of the public eye for quite some time. And if you only know what comes to you via TikTok or Instagram or Snapchat you've likely not heard of him. That's your loss.

Let's put it this way: before Denzel Washington was Denzel Washington, there was Sidney Poitier. And if you were lucky enough to be around when he was one of the biggest stars of Hollywood (and a cultural icon as well) the first thing that comes mind might be A Raisin in the Sun or A Patch of Blue or Lillies of the Field or Guess Who's Coming to Dinner or To Sir, With Love or The Defiant Ones. Those were some of the landmark movies that he starred in. He was a trailblazer and the first African American man to win an Oscar for Best Actor.

And we rushed to see all of those movies. And we loved them. They engaged us emotionally; they made us think; they touched our souls; they reconnected us to something real, something visceral, something human. And they did all this in a way that many movies today do not. Poitier's movies didn't need mega screens or supersonic sound or, in some cases, even technicolor. These movies told stories -- stories that unfolded in a civilized, sensible manner. 

But what we really think of, above all, when we think of Sidney Poitier is dignity. He carried himself with dignity. He acted with dignity. His voice carried the timber of dignity. And he conducted his life, personally and professionally, with dignity. And people respected this. They respected it and actually loved him for it because what they saw was a disciplined professional who brought his very best to everything he touched, to every aspect of his life.  But Sidney Poitier would be the first to remind you that he was far from perfect. “We're all somewhat courageous," Poitier once said "and we're all considerably cowardly. We're all imperfect, and life is simply a perpetual, unending struggle against those imperfections.”  And this man certainly had his share of struggle.

Poitier often brought to his roles a sort of quiet rage. It emerged from time to time. You could see it in his eyes, in the tightening of his face, in his demeanor. It gave his acting depth, authenticity, authority. But this was not acting. This was part of the man -- a deeply imbedded anger that he learned to deal with. “I've learned that I must find positive outlets for anger or it will destroy me," he observed.  "There is a certain anger: it reaches such intensity that to express it fully would require homicidal rage--self destructive, destroy the world rage--and its flame burns because the world is so unjust. I have to try to find a way to channel that anger to the positive, and the highest positive is forgiveness, " he concluded.

The lessons of this man's life are monumental and vastly instructive. And they're all there for everyone to see in the body of his work, in his movies and in his splendid "spiritual autobiography", The Measure of A Man.

Thank you Sidney for reaching and teaching without ever preaching. You showed the way!

What The Hell Is 'White Privilege', Anyway?

White privilege. 

It’s a term we hear all the time now and it’s become accepted almost as a kind of fait accompli. But what’s it really mean and where did it come from?

Apparently it had its origins in (big surprise here) academia and was concocted by a professor of women’s studies at Wellesley College, the alma mater of Hillary Clinton and many other white liberals. This professor made up a list of all the “white privileges” she thought she had. That’s it. Sounds quite arbitrary, doesn’t it?

Even now, white privilege has never been clearly defined. For example some people say that it can roughly be defined as follows: “White privilege doesn’t mean your life hasn’t been hard. It just means your race isn’t one of the things that make it harder.”

But the notion that the color of your skin alone prevents you from succeeding (or even retards your success) is mostly a fallacy — especially in America. Because many non-white people in America actually do better overall than whites. For example, Japanese Americans (a group that suffered oppression and marginalization in America) now outperform whites in this country in test scores, educational achievement and income while having lower incarceration rates. And this is generally true for Asian-Americans as a whole. Furthermore, a recent study that examined ethnic groups according to economics, education, crime and health outcomes found that several non-white groups in America surpassed whites in median family income and other categories. Among these were Lebanese, Chinese, Cuban, Pakistani, Filipino, Nigerian and Iranian Americans. 

And this isn’t limited to these groups alone, nor is it a sudden occurrence. Would you believe the percentage of Black high school graduates enrolled in college jumped to 71 percent eight years ago, exceeding the enrollment rate of whites (67 percent). It’s true! Hard to find any white privilege there.

Here’s something else that may surprise you: today, in America, almost twice as many white Americans live in poverty as Black Americans. Again, where’s the white privilege?

And there’s more. For example there are a whole host of maladies and diseases that white people are far more likely to suffer from and die from than African-Americans. And the suicide rate in America is more than twice as high for whites than it is for Blacks. In part because of suicides, whites are dying faster than they are being born in most US states. But we hear virtually nothing about any of this from the mainstream media. 

That’s because, despite all that I’ve pointed out, the idea of white privilege persists. 

And now it’s being perpetuated in our schools via curricula influenced by critical race theory which teaches that whites are privileged and benefiting from an all-pervasive systemic racism that holds Blacks back and turns them into permanent victims. 

But, as we’ve just shown, in 2021 America there’s no basis in fact for any of this. 

Of course, that could be why it’s called critical race theory. 

But when a mere theory becomes an ideology (and that’s what’s happened here) and that ideology is presented in the classroom as fact — indeed, as a matter of faith that you dare not challenge— then, we’ve got a Big Problem. It’s almost as if the idea of white privilege itself is promoting  a sort of reverse racism.

And this dangerous notion is becoming pervasive throughout the region, including right here in Cherry Hill where some of the disciples of critical race theory are apparently guiding the district’s new mandatory curriculum on African American studies and race relations while the superintendent talks systemic racism and repeats the “Black lives matter” mantra. 

You’d expect such simple minded sloganeering from a rabid ideologue. But from a supposed learned educator? C’mon!

So, in the end, what should we be teaching our kids?

Obviously, we should teach them how to think; not what to think.

And maybe we should start with this: always be suspicious when people make up words and slogans to advance arguments. Be very, very suspicious. And never be afraid to challenge them!

For more on the fallacy of white privilege, please click here.

Teaching Toxic Victimhood In Our Schools

Take a close look at this video. Pay attention to it as it is very important. It's been brought to our attention that the Cherry Hill school system is recommending that parents and teachers read the two toxic books mentioned in this video -- the ones by Kendi and DiAngelo. These books are teaching toxic victimhood.

Here's more from noted journalist and commentator John Stossel:

The new "woke" movement hurts minorities by pushing a "victim" mentality, says professor John McWhorter, author of "Woke Racism." Ibram Kendi, the media's favorite race “expert" says: "Every person, every idea ... is either racist or anti-racist." McWhorter calls this CULT-like thinking. It does sound a little like a cult. Kendi says things like "the heartbeat of anti-racism is confession." "A new religion has arisen!" McWhorter says. "And more to the point, that it's a shitty religion."

The religion leads some people "to fashion a victimization identity ... a luxury available to people who aren't really suffering that much.” The video above, explains how this new religion hurts minorities.

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