Your Silence Won’t Save You
By Former Senator Dwight Bullard
Host of Politics for the Culture
Your silence won’t save you! Black people have always known authoritarianism. We have lived under a constant barrage of racist actions, policies and people (emboldened by racist politicians) who have questioned our very existence.
In spite of it all we have continually progressed. We’ve progressed without land. We’ve progressed without citizenship. We’ve progressed without money. All the while contributing our labor, genius and creativity without fanfare or compensation. When we say that we are the Culture, we mean that and we have receipts. So now having gotten all the things that our ancestors fought and died for, what makes us believe that we get to be comfortable and quiet? The opposition has never conceded. We have just won more than they have. All of those wins have come through sacrifice and tenacity.
So here we are in 2026 confronted with yet another assault on our station. Once again we see a direct assault on Black voting power and it should come as no surprise that the states inflicting the most harm are the former Confederate states like Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas. Using the Supreme Court’s weakening of the 1965 Voting Rights Act as justification to deliberately attack majority Black cities, districts and precincts. Even more nefarious is the assault on the 14th Amendment and “Birthright Citizenship”. The Black community needs to pay close attention to the conversation and not be duped into believing that voices that attack “immigrants” don’t have ill will towards Black people too. Efforts to weaken or undermine the 14th Amendment could have a long lasting negative impact on communities of color across the board, but especially Black communities.
As we approach these 250 year “celebrations” be reminded to not get complacent because of your earnings, degrees or (assumed) proximity to power. Black people have fought too hard and too long to get where we are to watch it slip away now. Your individual voice and collective voices have always been a tool for liberation, so don’t silence yourself because of fear. Now more than ever we need “One band and one sound”. We need our drummers to remind us to stay on beat as we fight once again for Democracy. We need our horns loud and clear, sounding off that freedom is ours and not some gift that can be given or taken away by racists. Most importantly we need to be on one accord. That means no tolerance for sellouts trying to pacify us with symbolic gestures while licking the boots of those who are actively trying to oppress us. That requires you calling out those who stand to profit from harming our communities. That means having long term plans for community growth like business planning, wealth building and educating those in our homes and throughout our community. Of course it means voting, but not just as a practice, but as a strategy for self and community empowerment. Think about the legacy you want to leave and center that in your decision making. You get your first bite at the apple during the upcoming August elections. Do your research! Frederick Douglass once asked “What to the slave is the 4th of July ?” and if we are not diligent in fighting for our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness we’ll find ourselves asking it again.
