Habitual line-stepper
One of the most memorable Chappelle Show skits featured the late Charlie Murphy sharing personal stories about his encounters with the late Rick James. During one of Murphy’s engrossing tales, he talked about how James was notorious for engaging in acts that crossed the line between what was allowed or sensible and what was insane and foolish. In fact, Murphy said James was a “habitual line-steeper.” That tag fits y’all’s president perfectly. He, like all tyrants of history, makes it a strategic point to cross the line of morality, common sense, fairness, etc., to see just how much the general public will allow him to get away with. The arrest of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort was a distraction from the Jeffrey Epstein files and growing white anger about their own people being murdered by “them laws” as if they were Black. It was operant conditioning, meant to silence truth-telling journalists for fear they could be next. It was an affront to democracy and the rule of law. But most of all, it was Donald Trump trying to see how far he can go before “We the People” push back. Trump will continue stepping over the line. The question is, will we continue to step up and push back?
White fragility gone wild
Everyone knows that Black women are the global standard of beauty. Point blank. Period. Even the most ardent racist knows this to be an objective fact, even though they proclaim otherwise. Enter Elon “colonizer” Musk–proclaiming otherwise. When rumor spread that stunning African beauty Lupita Nyong’o might be cast as Helen of Troy in filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s upcoming movie, The Odyssey, Muskrat lost his mind. On X, Musk posted, “Helen of Troy was fair-skinned, blonde, and ‘the face that launched a thousand ships’ because she was so beautiful that men started a war over her… Chris Nolan has lost his integrity.” Despite his immense pilfered wealth, Musk has never been mistaken for the smartest person in the room (any room). So, he may very well not know that Helen of Troy was a fictional character. But if he does, in posting that nonsense, Musk continued the longstanding tradition of whitefolk losing their minds when anyone but a white person is cast to play a mermaid or member of Asgard. Here’s a free Black History Month fact: If Helen of Troy was supposed to be the most beautiful woman on the planet, that role was literally written for a soul sister.
helen of troy was fair skinned, blonde, and "the face that launched a thousand ships" because she was so beautiful that men started a war over her
— vittorio (@IterIntellectus) January 31, 2026
casting choices that make the premise incoherent are admissions that the story was never the point and an insult to the author https://t.co/6Nmnur96ID
Helen of Troy is a mythological figure. She can be played by anyone. Her race is unimportant to the narrative. Diane Kruger’s not Greek either. Lupita Nyong’o hasn’t even been confirmed for the role but she’s one of our most beautiful actresses. Don’t be a stupid, racist grifter. pic.twitter.com/rP63wgBZmu
— Richard Newby – Illegitimi non carborundum (@NewbyRichard3) February 1, 2026
The Blackest ever
By now, you should know that Black History Month 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the month becoming “official” in the eyes of the “gubmint” via then-President Gerald Ford’s designation. But more importantly, 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s founding of Negro History Week, now Black History Month. So, for that reason alone, this BHM should be the blackest ever. How can we do that? Learn and teach a nugget of Black history every day this month. Vote. Learn a new skill. Improve upon the skill(s) you already have. Join a community that is unashamedly for the empowerment of Black people. Align your purpose and your skills with a problem in your community that needs solving, and solve it. Do something to make yourself and your world better today than it was yesterday. We don’t need anyone’s permission to move toward becoming our best selves and to create a world around us that reflects our greatness. Is that Black enough for you?
On the web
- Dallas County exonerates Tommy Lee Walker 70 years later.
- Artist Alexus Rhone embodies ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ spirit.
- Chavez wrestling is moving from afterthought to contender.
