Joy Reid is all of us
Joy-Ann Reid, the beloved host of MSNBC’s “The ReidOut,” was let go by that network, and her show was canceled. But make no mistake; Reid wasn’t the only one canceled. All of Black World was shown the door. Reid was that rare cable news host who reported on the news as if she was conversing with her girlfriends and homies at the spot. She spoke in a language familiar to us all because she was saying on TV what we were saying in our homes and on our phones. And not only that. Unlike other shows on MSNBC, CNN, Fox, etc., Reid and her crew of producers chose guests that represented the wide, broad and deep diversity of this nation. In other words, Reid had all of us on her show as guests, speaking our brilliant, diverse minds on issues. She refused to fit into that confining, restrictive box of cookie-cutter whitebread reporters. Reid was always her full, authentic self—as we’d all like to be. And for that, she was canceled (and all of us with her) by folk who colonized our “rhythm” and caused us the “blues.” Here’s an idea: let’s support ourselves by going all in on supporting Black-owned media where we have the freedom to be who we really are.
Banana in the tailpipe
Like Eddie Murphy warned in his movie “Beverly Hills Cop,” we shouldn’t “fall for the banana in the tailpipe.” In other words, don’t be fooled by foolishness. But that’s exactly what’s happening right now. Trump offered federal workers the opportunity to quit their jobs now with the promise of getting paid (for not working) through September. But hundreds who took that banana in their tailpipe and quit, found out 1) they’re not getting paid, 2) they can’t get their jobs back and 3) they’ve lost their retirement benefits. Yet, there are still members of Black World who believe anything this “Grifter-in-Chief” says. Trump is now promising $5,000 DOGE “stimi-checks” to be paid out “some time” in 2026.. even though Trump has for years bragged that his number one business strategy is promising to pay folk, then refusing to pay them. What in our Black minds makes us think this dude who lives for getting over on people, is suddenly going to deliver on his word? Oh yeah, and any potential funding for these wishful stimi-checks will come from the hundreds of thousands of essential workers Trump and President Musk fired, and the funding they cut from Title 1 schools, Headstart, SNAP, medical research, HBCU scholarships, and other things essential to children, single parents, seniors, the disabled, and more. Trump and crew are banking on Black people being as stupid and ignorant as they believe us to be.
White tears
One of the biggest trending topics on all social media platforms is the thousands of posts being shared by white and off-white Donald Trump supporters who are now regretting their November votes. Why the regret? Because they’re finding out that all those cruel and unusual Project 2025 campaign promises Trump made loud and clear for over a year are now being enacted. And they’re not just destroying the lives and livelihoods of Black and Brown people like they thought and voted for. Trump’s promises (now policies) are destroying the very foundations of white life. They’re finding out that it wasn’t superior white intelligence or work ethic or morals that allowed them to thrive. Rather, it was government-subsidized white privilege in the form of all those government programs and policies they were told only went to undeserving, lazy Black people. So, now that their Title 1 jobs are no more, and the subsidies that financed their farms are gone, and the funding for their parent’s healthcare workers is being redirected to gazillionaires, they’re crying a river of white tears. Let me share all the words of empathy I have for those who voted against Black people: boo-hoo.
