From the Mind of Lil' Joe

Protests and pushing against the system are what truly end injustices like slavery. Waiting for change passively means nothing happens. Action is required to make things end.

Some ask why protest instead of waiting for change. My question: wait for what? History shows that without people pushing against the system, injustices like slavery would persist. Action, not passive waiting, is what causes change.

The grandfather clause was a discriminatory practice used to prevent people of color from voting. If your grandfather couldn't vote, neither could you. This highlights the fight for civil rights and the importance of the right to vote, which underpins all other rights.

We fight for freedom abroad, yet our own voting rights are under attack. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a monumental achievement, but seeing it slowly crumble is heartbreaking. The SAVE Act claims to protect voting rights, but it's having the opposite effect.

Juneteenth marks the day enslaved people in Texas finally learned they were free, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Communication was slow, and some slave owners withheld the truth, prolonging their free labor. The federal government had to intervene to enforce freedom.

Traveling as a person of color during the Jim Crow and Civil Rights eras meant navigating a treacherous landscape. The Green Book wasn't just a guide; it was a lifeline, revealing safe places to stay, eat, and refuel. Crucially, it warned of sundown towns, places where darkness brought deadly peril.

Many believe America was built solely on hard work, but historical land grants tell a different story. Millions of acres were given to European descendants, creating instant wealth. People of color, however, were largely excluded from these opportunities, facing immense barriers even when they scraped together their own resources.

A controversial perspective emerges: while segregation was oppressive, it also sparked Black communities to build their own businesses, schools, and financial institutions, leading to self-sufficiency and prosperity in places like 'Black Wall Street'.

The age-old question: Did Jesus endorse drinking wine? With so many opinions, especially from Christian communities, it's time to look beyond preconceived notions. This isn't about changing minds, but about understanding the conversation.

Witnessing the destruction alcohol can cause has led me to make a firm decision: to stay far away. I've seen too much harm, too many lives ruined. Why would I risk playing with something that has such a devastating impact?