PICK: Choose Your Own People

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We won’t progress forward without a Black-first mindset. That means making intentional decisions that uplift us—our people, our community. It’s about building a self-sustaining system for our people in America and throughout the diaspora. No waiting for others to save us. We do it ourselves.​

 

The word pick is a verb—it calls for action. Too often, modern Black America waits for White America’s approval before making moves. Our ancestors and elders didn’t ask for permission; they led their own revolution. We must do the same, understanding no one will ride for us like we can ride for ourselves.

 

Whether it’s where you spend your dollar or how you support your people, prioritize your own.

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Pick: Choose Your Own People. Then Act. 

YOUR: A Plural Pronoun

​When you’re born Black, you’re born into a legacy—a community. With that comes responsibility. You’re not an island, so let go of the "me, my four, and no more" mindset that Western culture promotes.

 

Understand this: you’re part of something special. The Black community’s strength is in its collective power. Every decision you make—how you think, where you spend your money, how you support others—affects all of us. Elevating Black businesses, creating opportunities, and lifting each other up benefits more than just you—it benefits us all.

 

Think about your behaviors: “How will this reflect on my people?” Positive or negative, it matters. We rise together, or we fall together. When you realize this, you’ll understand that supporting us means investing in yourself.​

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Your: You Belong to Us. 

OWN: Without Black Ownership, We’re Cooked

 

Ownership is liberation. Without it, we’re stuck in a cycle that others control.

 

Here’s the hard truth: Black Americans own just one-half of one percent of America’s wealth. That’s the same percentage we owned during slavery, yet we contribute trillions annually. 

 

For centuries, we’ve been the backbone of the American economy, yet we have almost nothing to show for it. We need to own—own businesses, own land, own opportunities.

 

Taking ownership means having control over our future and our present, rather than depending on others.

 

It also means accountability. We have to care for and educate our youth, protect our elders, and empower our entire community. No Black American should have to leave the community to find support or resources.

 

Own: Control Or Be Controlled.

COTTON: The Symbol of Wealth and Slavery

 

This country was built on cotton. For America, it represents prosperity. For us, it represents exploitation. Enslaved Black labor fueled a nation’s economy while leaving us empty-handed.

 

Now, cotton is a symbol of resilience and the chance to reclaim what was taken. In the 21st century, we have the tools and resources to build our own wealth—wealth that stays in our community and benefits Black generations to come.

 

Our ancestors’ labor generated wealth that still circulates today—but not for us. They had no tangible assets to pass down. Yet, they left us something far greater: their strength, resilience, and unwavering faith. With these gifts, we have everything we need to control the narrative and create an inheritance for future generations—starting now.

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As we chart a path forward, we must also look back to honor the past. A people rooted in their history are less likely to repeat its mistakes. For too long, our story has been rewritten to highlight dependency rather than liberation, but we hold the power to reclaim and reshape it.

 

Slavery, while emblematic of a painful chapter in our history, does not define us. It is our responsibility to unveil the full truth and transform it into a source of empowerment—where it was once used to oppress and discourage us, perpetuating generations of mentally enslaved Black individuals, we must now transform it into a catalyst for liberation and pride.

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Cotton: Resilience, Reclaim, Remember.