Tag: #BLACKLIVES

Stratus Is Here: The New COVID Variant Sweeping the Nation

August 20, 2025

By Charles Zackary King

We’ve entered a new chapter in the COVID-19 story and it’s moving fast.

The latest variant, XFG nicknamed “Stratus” is now the dominant strain in the United States. In just a few short months, it’s gone from zero reported cases to accounting for nearly half of all infections nationwide. And while the headlines may feel familiar, the threat is real, and the timing couldn’t be worse.

A Surge We Can’t Ignore

Stratus has been confirmed in wastewater across 30 states, but the CDC believes cases are rising in 45 and not declining anywhere. Emergency room visits are up across all age groups, just as schools reopen and families return to crowded routines.

This isn’t a drill. It’s a late summer surge with serious implications.

What Makes Stratus Different?

Stratus is a hybrid of variants F.7 and LP.8.1.2, and it’s spreading globally. Scientists say it’s more transmissible than previous strains including the earlier Nimbus variant. It carries unique mutations in its spike protein that help it evade antibodies from prior infections and vaccinations.

That means even if you’ve had COVID before or are vaccinated you’re not immune to infection. The good news? Vaccines still help reduce the risk of severe illness. But prevention is key.

Where It’s Hitting Hard

While the national viral level is considered “moderate,” 14 states are seeing high or very high activity. California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Texas, Hawaii, and Louisiana are among the hardest hit and surrounding states aren’t far behind.

This isn’t isolated. It’s widespread. And it’s accelerating.

Symptoms to Watch For

Stratus symptoms mirror previous variants, but with a twist:

  • Less frequent loss of taste or smell
  • More common sore throat and hoarseness
  • Fatigue, congestion, and fever remain typical

If you feel “off,” don’t brush it off. Get tested. Mask up. Protect your circle.

Why This Matters

We’ve been here before. But complacency is dangerous. Lower reporting levels mean we’re flying blind in many areas. The virus is adapting. And we must respond with urgency, not indifference.

This is about protecting our elders, our children, our communities. It’s about staying informed, staying vigilant, and staying united.

What You Can Do Right Now

  • Get vaccinated or boosted if you haven’t already
  • Wear a mask in crowded or indoor spaces
  • Stay home if you’re sick even mildly
  • Check local health updates and CDC wastewater data
  • Support vulnerable neighbors with resources and care

We don’t need panic. We need preparation.

Final Word

Stratus is not just another variant it’s a reminder. A reminder that COVID-19 is still evolving. That our response must evolve with it. That our communities especially the most vulnerable deserve truth, protection, and action.

Let’s not wait for the numbers to spike. Let’s move now.

Because when we act together, we save lives.

What’s Wrong with the Democratic Party: A Wake-Up Call from the Black Base

August 20, 2025

By Charles Zackary King

For decades, Black people have been the backbone of the Democratic Party showing up, voting in record numbers, organizing on the ground, and carrying the weight of civic responsibility while being promised change that never comes. And yet, when the dust settles and the power shifts, we’re left with empty speeches, symbolic gestures, and policies that barely scratch the surface of our real needs.

Let’s be clear: the Democratic Party has a leadership problem. Not just in strategy but in courage, conviction, and connection to the people who built their platform.

The Black Vote: Taken for Granted, Ignored in Practice

Every election cycle, the party rolls out gospel playlists, kente cloth photo ops, and vague promises of “equity.” But when it’s time to legislate, Black communities are sidelined. We don’t see sweeping criminal justice reform. We don’t see reparations. We don’t see economic investment in our neighborhoods. What we see is performative allyship and political cowardice.

This isn’t just neglect it’s betrayal. And it makes the Democratic Party look complicit with the very forces they claim to oppose.

Complicity with the Republican Agenda

While Republicans openly attack voting rights, education, and bodily autonomy, Democrats respond with press releases and hashtags. They lead from behind, always reacting, never initiating. They blame obstruction, but refuse to use the power they have when they have it.

When Democrats hold the House, Senate, and White House, they still hesitate. They compromise with extremists. They water down justice. And in doing so, they enable the erosion of democracy.

Silence in the face of injustice is complicity. And the Democratic Party’s silence—especially when it comes to Black lives, is deafening.

Real Leadership Builds, Not Begs

Real leadership doesn’t wait for permission. It doesn’t poll test morality. It listens to the people, acts with urgency, and stands firm in truth.

Leadership means:

  • Passing bold legislation that protects voting rights, ends police brutality, and invests in Black futures
  • Centering the voices of the marginalized, not just during election season but every day
  • Calling out racism and economic injustice, even when it’s politically inconvenient
  • Building coalitions, not just fundraising machines

The people are tired of leaders who whimper in the face of opposition. We need warriors, not weather vanes.

The Struggle Between Races and the Have-Nots

The Democratic Party’s failure to address racial and economic inequality head-on has deepened the divide. They speak of unity but ignore the systemic wounds that keep Black and poor communities locked out of opportunity.

By refusing to challenge capitalism, white supremacy, and mass incarceration, they perpetuate the very systems they claim to fight. Their inaction is not neutral it’s harmful.

What the People Want: A New Balance

We want more than representation—we want transformation.

  • Economic justice: Invest in Black-owned businesses, cancel student debt, and create pathways to generational wealth
  • Political accountability: Stop using our votes as leverage and start delivering real results
  • Community power: Fund grassroots movements, not just corporate campaigns
  • Truth-telling: Acknowledge the harm, repair the damage, and build policies that reflect lived experience

We are not asking for favors. We are demanding what we’ve earned.

Final Word

Black people have held this party up for too long, only to be spit on, sidelined, and silenced. The time for loyalty without reciprocity is over. If the Democratic Party wants to survive, it must evolve. It must lead. It must listen.

Because we are no longer waiting. We are building. We are rising. And we are ready to shift the balance—by any means necessary.

Why Education Is a Cornerstone in the Black Community: A Call to Unity and Generational Wealth

August 20, 2025

By Charles Zackary King

In every movement for justice, every march toward freedom, and every prayer for healing, education has stood as both a weapon and a shield. For the Black community, it is not just a pathway to opportunity—it is a sacred tool for survival, liberation, and legacy.

The Historical Weight of Education

From the days of slavery, when reading was forbidden, to the fight for desegregated schools, education has always been a battleground. Our ancestors understood its power. They risked their lives to learn, to teach, and to pass knowledge down like heirlooms. Because they knew: education is the difference between being silenced and being heard.

Today, that truth remains. But the stakes are higher.

The Impact on Marginalized Communities

Marginalized communities, especially Black, Brown, and Indigenous populations continue to face systemic barriers: underfunded schools, biased curricula, and limited access to higher education. These inequities don’t just stunt academic growth they perpetuate cycles of poverty, trauma, and disenfranchisement.

When education is denied or diluted, entire communities suffer. But when it is reclaimed, reimagined, and rooted in truth, it becomes a force of transformation.

Why We Must Work Together

Unity among marginalized communities isn’t just a nice idea—it’s a necessity. Our struggles are interconnected. Our victories must be, too.

When we collaborate across cultures and causes, we amplify our voices. We build coalitions that challenge oppressive systems. We share resources, strategies, and stories that empower the next generation to rise stronger than the last.

Together, we are unstoppable.

From Knowledge to Generational Wealth

Education is the first step—but it cannot be the last. We must move from learning to earning, from surviving to thriving.

Generational wealth isn’t just about money. It’s about ownership. Land. Businesses. Intellectual property. It’s about passing down assets, values, and visions that outlive us.

To build generational wealth, we must:

  • Invest in financial literacy from a young age
  • Support Black-owned businesses and institutions
  • Create platforms that celebrate and monetize our stories
  • Mentor and uplift youth with tools for entrepreneurship and innovation

Education gives us the blueprint. Unity gives us the strength. Wealth gives us the freedom.

Final Word

We are the architects of our future. Every book we read, every lesson we teach, every young mind we inspire—these are bricks in the foundation of a new legacy.

Let us educate. Let us unify. Let us build.

Because when the Black community rises, the world shifts.

Democracy on Trial: Louisiana, the Supreme Court, and the Fight for Voting Rights

August 17, 2025

By Charles Zackary King | August 17, 2025

The Supreme Court has once again placed the Voting Rights Act on the operating table—this time in a case out of Louisiana that could redefine how race is considered in redistricting. The Court has requested supplemental briefs and scheduled a re-argument for the fall term, asking whether the creation of a second majority-Black district violates the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Amendments.

Let’s be clear: this is not just a legal debate. It’s a moral reckoning.

Civil rights groups and legal scholars have sounded the alarm. If the Court narrows protections under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act—the last remaining shield after Shelby County v. Holder gutted Section 5—we could see a rollback of minority voting power across the South. Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina are already in the crosshairs. And while some federal courts have upheld the need for race-conscious remedies, the Supreme Court’s posture suggests a willingness to revisit—and potentially reverse—decades of precedent.

What the People Are Saying

Public sentiment is growing restless. Many voters, especially in Black communities, feel betrayed by a system that seems more invested in preserving power than protecting rights. Legal experts warn that the Court’s actions could “turn the clock back to the early 1960s,” as Professor Richard Hasen put it. Justice Elena Kagan cautioned that unchecked gerrymandering could “irreparably damage our system of government.”

And yet, where is the outrage from Democratic governors? Where is the coordinated resistance from blue states that claim to champion equity and justice?

California has taken steps to protect minority representation. Texas, under Trump-aligned leadership, continues to redraw maps with impunity. But too many Democratic-led states remain silent, watching from the sidelines as the foundation of democracy is chipped away.

A Call to Action

We cannot afford complacency. This is a moment for moral courage—not political calculation.

  • To Democratic Governors: Use your platforms. File amicus briefs. Mobilize your legal teams. Speak out publicly.
  • To Civil Rights Organizations: Amplify the voices of those most affected. Host town halls. Educate communities.
  • To Everyday Citizens: Call your representatives. Share this story. Demand accountability.
  • To Faith Leaders and Advocates: Remind the nation that justice is not negotiable. That silence is complicity.

This is not just about Louisiana. It’s about every voter whose voice is being diluted, dismissed, or denied. It’s about the soul of our democracy.

Let us not wait for history to judge us. Let us act now—boldly, unapologetically, and together.

The $37 Trillion Wake-Up Call: What the Big Beautiful Bill Isn’t Telling Us

August 13, 2025

This week, the U.S. Treasury confirmed what many economists feared: the national debt has officially crossed the $37 trillion mark. That’s not just a number—it’s a flashing red light on America’s fiscal dashboard. And it’s happening years ahead of schedule, thanks to pandemic-era borrowing and a new wave of government spending.

But here’s the twist: this milestone arrives just weeks after the passage of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” a budget law championed by President Trump that promises tax relief for overtime workers. On the surface, it sounds like a win for hardworking Americans. Dig deeper, though, and you’ll find a policy that’s more cosmetic than corrective.

Debt Is Rising—Fast

The Congressional Budget Office had projected we wouldn’t hit $37 trillion until after 2030. But between COVID-19 stimulus packages, economic recovery efforts, and now a $4.1 trillion tax-and-spending law signed earlier this year, we’ve accelerated into dangerous territory.

Michael Peterson of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation warns that we’re now adding a trillion dollars to the debt every five months—twice the rate of the last 25 years.

The Big Beautiful Bill: A Mirage of Relief

The “Big Beautiful Bill” was marketed as a game-changer: no federal income tax on overtime pay. Retroactive to January 2025, it promised workers a bigger slice of their paycheck. But the reality is far more limited:

  • Only the “half” portion of “time-and-a-half” pay is tax-free.
  • State and local taxes still apply.
  • Social Security and Medicare taxes are untouched.
  • There’s a cap: $12,500 per person annually.
  • High earners are excluded entirely.

In short, it’s a partial tax break wrapped in political branding. And while it may offer modest relief to some, it does little to address the structural issues driving our debt skyward.

What’s Really at Stake?

Unchecked debt has real consequences:

  • Higher interest rates on mortgages, car loans, and credit cards.
  • Lower wages as businesses scale back investment.
  • Reduced public services as interest payments crowd out funding for education, infrastructure, and healthcare.

Wendy Edelberg of Brookings warns that the new law means “we’re going to borrow a lot over the course of 2026, we’re going to borrow a lot over the course of 2027, and it’s just going to keep going”.

A Call for Real Reform

Maya MacGuineas of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget put it bluntly: “Hopefully this milestone is enough to wake up policymakers to the reality that we need to do something, and we need to do it quickly”.

Call to Action: From Debt to Dignity

This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about values. It’s about whether our government prioritizes short-term optics or long-term equity. If we want a future where economic justice is more than a slogan, we must demand:

  • Transparent fiscal policy that serves people, not politics.
  • Equitable tax reform that uplifts working families.
  • Community-centered budgeting that invests in education, housing, and health—not just interest payments.

Let’s raise our voices. Let’s organize. Let’s hold leaders accountable—not just for what they spend, but for who they serve.

Join the movement. Share this post. Start the conversation. And let’s build a future where our national budget reflects our national values.

Nick of Time: The Heart and Vision of Nate Paxton Jr.

August 13, 2025

In a world that often celebrates noise over substance, Nate Paxton Jr. stands out as a man of quiet strength and unwavering purpose. Rooted in faith, family, and a deep sense of responsibility, Nate doesn’t just show up—he shows up with intention. Whether mentoring young leaders, supporting community initiatives, or simply offering a listening ear, he brings compassion and clarity to every space he enters.

Nate is known not just for what he does, but for how he makes people feel—heard, valued, and inspired. His leadership is grounded in resilience and a commitment to growth, always striving to be better for himself, his loved ones, and the legacy he’s building. At his core, he’s a connector—someone who sees the potential in others and helps them rise.

That spirit of connection and purpose is the foundation of his nonprofit, Nick of Time.

The Mission Behind Nick of Time

Nick of Time was born out of a simple but powerful truth: too many student athletes in under-resourced communities are overlooked—not just in sports, but in life. Nate saw the gap and decided to build a bridge.

The organization’s mission is clear:

To mentor, guide, and advance the academic and athletic careers of underprivileged young student athletes. Through personalized mentorship programs, comprehensive educational support, and first-class marketing systems, Nick of Time creates scholarship opportunities and prepares youth for life beyond the game.

This isn’t just about getting recruited. It’s about being equipped—for college, for careers, for adulthood.

Vision for a Greater Future

Nick of Time envisions a world where student athletes aren’t defined solely by their performance on the field or court. Instead, they’re empowered to become professionals in whatever trade or endeavor they choose once their playing career ends.

By providing tools, resources, and mentorship, the organization helps young people transition from athletic identity to professional purpose. It’s about creating leaders—educated, equipped, and ready to succeed.

Who Nick of Time Serves

  • Male and female student athletes in low-resource environments
  • Youth from 8th to 12th grade
  • College athletes seeking career guidance beyond sports

These are young people who often lack exposure, guidance, and access. Nick of Time steps in to fill that gap—with heart, strategy, and consistency.

The Problem They’re Solving

Too many student athletes in underserved communities fall through the cracks. They have talent, drive, and dreams—but not the resources to turn those dreams into reality. Nick of Time is changing that.

By compiling academic and athletic resumes, gathering film, and distributing it to hundreds of coaches and universities weekly, the organization ensures each student finds the right fit. But it doesn’t stop there.

Weekly mentorship through Zoom calls, in-person meetups, seminars, and trips keeps students grounded and growing. Live events throughout the year bring speakers, career opportunities, and internships directly to them—building not just athletes, but professionals.

What Nick of Time Offers

  • Academic and athletic resume building
  • Film distribution to coaches and universities
  • Weekly mentorship (Zoom, in-person, seminars, trips)
  • Live events with speakers and career/internship opportunities
  • Guidance for life after sports

This holistic approach ensures that every student is seen, supported, and set up for success.

Final Thoughts

Nate Paxton Jr. is building more than a nonprofit—he’s building a movement. One that says to every overlooked student athlete: You matter. Your future matters. And we’re here to help you claim it.

Nick of Time is proof that when purpose meets preparation, lives change. Communities transform. And legacies are born.

If you’re looking for a model of mentorship, leadership, and impact, look no further than Nate Paxton Jr. and the work he’s doing—right on time.

Please click on the link below and become a part of our family and growth:

http://nickoftimementor.com/

🪑 Fade in the Water: Remembering the Montgomery Riverboat Brawl Two Years Later

August 6, 2025

Two years ago today, the calm waters of the Alabama River became the backdrop for a moment that would ripple across the nation. On August 5, 2023, a confrontation at Montgomery’s Riverfront Park escalated into what is now known as the Riverboat Brawl—a flashpoint that exposed deep racial tensions, ignited viral solidarity, and reminded us that history is never far from the present.

What Sparked the Brawl?

The Harriott II riverboat, carrying over 200 passengers, was returning from a dinner cruise when it found its designated docking space blocked by two pontoon boats. Despite repeated announcements over the public address system, the boaters refused to move. After nearly an hour of waiting mid-river, co-captain Dameion Pickett and 16-year-old deckhand Daniel Warren went ashore to resolve the issue.

Accounts differ on whether Pickett asked the boaters to move or attempted to shift the vessels himself. What’s clear is that a white man shoved Pickett, and the co-captain responded. Warren tried to intervene and was punched. What followed was a chaotic melee involving fists, kicks, and a now-iconic folding chair. A Black teenager swam across the river to help—earning the nickname “Black Aquaman”—and Pickett’s airborne hat became a symbol of resistance.

The Viral Aftermath

Captured by dozens of phones aboard the Harriott II, the footage spread like wildfire. Social media lit up with memes, reenactments, and commentary. The brawl was dissected on talk shows, podcasts, and comedy stages. For many, it wasn’t just a fight—it was a cultural reckoning.

Stand-up comics likened the moment to a Marvel-style call to arms. “Who knew Wakanda was in Alabama?” joked Josh Johnson. The folding chair became a symbol of Black defense, and Pickett’s hat toss was seen as ancestral invocation.

Legal Outcomes & Community Response

The FBI found no evidence of a hate crime, but the court cases played out over months. Richard Roberts, who threw the first punch, served 32 days in jail and completed 100 hours of community service. Others received suspended sentences, fines, or anger management orders.

Montgomery responded with increased surveillance and security around the riverfront. On the first anniversary, a commemorative walk was held to promote healing. Women wore yellow and pink, laying roses in remembrance. Organizer Candyce Anderson called it “an opportunity to bring some much-needed positive energy”.

Residual Effects Today

Two years later, the Riverboat Brawl remains a cultural touchstone. It sparked conversations about race, respect, and community accountability. It also inspired creative works—from aquatic-themed comic books to spoken word pieces and visual art.

The incident reminded us that Black history isn’t confined to textbooks or museum walls—it lives in the everyday, in the resistance, in the refusal to be disrespected. It also showed how quickly solidarity can rise when injustice is visible and visceral.

As we mark this anniversary, we honor not just the moment, but the movement it sparked. The Montgomery Riverboat Brawl was more than a fight—it was a mirror. And what we saw in it continues to shape how we show up, speak out, and stand together.

Missing: Long-Haul Trucker Eric Darnell Vanishes During Routine Cross-Country Route

August 4, 2025

In a case that demands national attention, a 38-year-old Black truck driver and father of four has mysteriously disappeared somewhere between Phoenix, Arizona and Memphis, Tennessee—and his family says they’re fighting this battle alone.

Eric Darnell, a respected veteran of the trucking industry and loving husband to Yolanda, was last seen early Tuesday morning as he departed a distribution center near Phoenix. His trip was nothing unusual—a straight shot along I-40 to a Memphis delivery drop. But somewhere between the coffee stop he mentioned in his final phone call and the Arkansas state line, Eric vanished.

Timeline of Events:

  • 3:40 AM: Eric called his wife Yolanda, saying, “I’m stopping to grab coffee, then I’m back on the road.”
  • 9:00 AM: GPS tracking from his company’s fleet system went dark near a notorious surveillance dead zone along I-40.
  • Later That Day: His rig was found abandoned outside of Little Rock, Arkansas—locked, engine off, wallet inside, but keys and logbook gone.

Since then, Eric’s phone has gone silent. No pings. No new information. And with no widespread media coverage, his loved ones are left pleading for help and visibility.

“We just want someone to care enough to look,” Yolanda said tearfully. “He’s out there somewhere—and we won’t stop until we find him.”

How You Can Help:

  • Share Eric’s story across social media and news platforms.
  • If you were traveling along I-40 between Arizona and Arkansas on or after July 30, please check your dash cams or reach out with any unusual sightings.
  • Contact the authorities in Little Rock, AR or Phoenix, AZ if you have any leads or information.

This is not just another missing person case—this is a family’s heartbreak and a community’s call to action. Eric Darnell deserves to be found. His children deserve answers. And silence should never be the end of the story.

Let’s amplify Yolanda’s voice and demand justice—for Eric, for every Black man whose disappearance deserves dignity, urgency, and full attention.

Black Fathers Are Kings: Reclaiming the Integrity of the Black Household

July 30, 2025

There is no complete family structure without the presence and leadership of a father. This truth is especially poignant in Black households around the world, where fatherhood has been under siege—not by choice, but by design.

Beginning with slavery and continuing through Jim Crow, redlining, mass incarceration, and economic gatekeeping, Black families have endured generational repression. Systems were built to break the home—emasculate the father, overload the mother, and confuse the child.

The Breaking Point

  • Fathers stripped of jobs, dignity, and access to opportunity
  • Mothers forced into dual roles without adequate support
  • Children growing up witnessing survival-mode instead of stability

It wasn’t uncommon for families to crumble under pressures they weren’t equipped to navigate. The pain wasn’t personal—it was systemic.

It’s time to break down this destruction decade by decade. We must understand:

  • Who orchestrated these policies
  • When they took root
  • Where the pressure hit hardest
  • Why these patterns persist
  • How we can repair, reclaim, and rebuild

The Damage is Economic and Emotional

Rifts run deep. Family members divided by shame, silence, or survival. Communities stereotyped and criminalized. The planting of drugs in Black neighborhoods wasn’t coincidence—it was a strategy. The criminalization of poverty birthed the “thug” narrative. Redlining was a red flag we still live beneath.

And through it all, the Black Father stood tall—whether he was seen or not.

Celebrating Black Fathers: Kings in Every Sense

Today, we stand to declare: Black Fathers are Kings. They are not failures—they are foundational.

  • They navigate impossible odds with courage.
  • They pour into communities with wisdom and strength.
  • They deserve not just celebration, but reverence.

The time to honor them isn’t next month, next year, or someday. It’s now. And it starts with us.

Reversing Fate: Imagining the Modern World Under Black Rule

July 30, 2025

What if history bent the other way—not as fantasy, but as justice fulfilled?
In a world where Black brilliance, strategy, compassion, and cultural legacy shaped modern governance, economics, and education, what truths would emerge? What wounds would heal?

We call this Reversing Fate—a speculative meditation on what the world might look like if Black leadership wasn’t stolen, stifled, or shadowed. It’s not escapism. It’s a reckoning.

Power Reimagined

  • Cities built on ancestral wisdom, where innovation honors heritage.
  • Justice systems centered on restoration, not punishment.
  • Education led by griots and scholars with deep cultural fluency.
  • Media platforms amplifying truth, joy, and generational resilience.

Economic Structures Under Black Rule

  • Wealth distributed through communal equity models rooted in Ubuntu.
  • Black-owned banks and cooperatives reshaping global finance.
  • Reparative economic policy that doesn’t just “close the gap”—it flips the board.

Cultural Currency

  • Language, fashion, and music as global standard bearers.
  • Afrocentric curriculum as core instruction worldwide.
  • The seat of world diplomacy hosted in Dakar, Nairobi, or Atlanta.

This isn’t a utopia. It’s a challenge.
A challenge to imagine beyond what we’ve been told is fixed. A challenge to look at systemic exclusion not as a closed door, but a call to rebuild from the ground up.

And maybe most importantly—it’s a tribute. To every ancestor whose brilliance was buried. To every living visionary forging futures in spite of broken beginnings.