In a powerful commencement address at the historic Spelman College, Dr. Ruha Benjamin reminded graduates that “Black faces in high places are not gonna save us,”. I took this to mean that while representation in government, business, and entertainment are important, it is ultimately the actions of those with Black faces in positions of power and influence that matters. A Black face in a high place means nothing if they are parroting racist ideas and upholding white supremacist institutions.
It is no coincidence that many of the Black individuals we see on our televisions or hear on our radios are not intellectuals or thought leaders, but instead are individuals who don’t mind spreading harmful misinformation designed to confuse or discourage Black participation in the body politic. Take Stephen A. Smith for instance – Smith is the face of ESPN and often spouts political nonsense. He is not a well-informed man, and a prime example of the Black faces corporate media often gives a platform to.
Smith has previously encouraged Black folks to vote Republican, stated his support for Republican candidates, appeared frequently on Fox News, and said that Black folks can relate to Trump because of his legal woes. Whenever questioned about his political or social takes, Smith pleads ignorance or says he was taken out of context. He is a hot takes merchant who doesn’t mind “cooning” for clicks and is a Black face in a high place who is not going to save us.
Radio personality Lenard Larry McKelvey also known as “Charlamagne tha god” hosts one of the most popular radio shows in the country – The Breakfast Club. McKelvey often uses his show to give a platform to Republicans like Nikki Haley, who wouldn’t admit that slavery was the cause of the American Civil War, and race baiting opportunists like Candace Owens, who disparages the Black community at every turn. McKelvey, who once sniffed the seat of Jennifer Lopez after she appeared on his show, often appears on Fox news where he criticizes Democrats and spreads right-wing propaganda. He is another Black face in a high place who isn’t going to save us.
Congressman Byron Donalds represents Florida’s 19th Congressional District and is one of the rising “Black” stars in the Republican Party. Donalds was briefly under consideration to be Trump’s running mate and comes from a long line of Black politicians like Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas – individuals who do not mind hurting the Black community if it furthers their careers. Besides his open willingness to support a party and policies that harm people who look like him, Donalds recently said that Black folks were stronger during Jim Crow – Jim Crow, a time where Blacks were locked out of society, being lynched regularly, and discriminated against at every turn. Congressman Donalds is another Black face in a high place who isn’t going to save us.
The entertainment industry is currently filled with individuals who are willing to do or say anything to further enrich themselves or build a brand, and they know the easiest way to garner a headline is to allow themselves to be used by the purveyors of white supremacy. Kanye West, son of a Black Panther and a man who once famously declared that “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people”, is a MAGA supporter of Trump. West even launched a third party bid in 2020 in an attempt to help Trump get re-elected, and he previously declared that white lives matter.
Rapper “Sexy Red”, has come out as full MAGA. She is supporting Trump for signing his name on pandemic relief checks that he didn’t advocate for – a pandemic that killed tens of thousands of Black people. Rapper 50 Cent said that Black men are identifying with Trump because of his criminality. Kodak Black, Lil Wayne and Ice Cube are all rappers who have shown support for Trump. These individuals are either ignorant or useful idiots who do not understand that they are being used to prop up white supremacy. Regardless of their intentions, these Black faces in high places are not going to save us.
The Black Community is not a monolith. We all come from different backgrounds with different political views and opinions. Everyone has the right to support any party, policy, or candidate they want. However, when prominent Black faces use their platform to endorse right-wing zealots, politicians, and policies that will bring significant harm to the Black community – they should be called out. I know that as long as they are getting their checks, they don’t care about those of us who are fighting for our past history and present lives, and this is why we must save ourselves. We must organize, mobilize, and vote; because if we are depending on those Black faces in high places who are knowingly or unknowingly doing the bidding of white supremacy, then we are dooming ourselves.
It is no coincidence that many of the Black individuals we see on our televisions or hear on our radios are not intellectuals or thought leaders, but instead are individuals who don’t mind spreading harmful misinformation designed to confuse or discourage Black participation in the body politic. Take Stephen A. Smith for instance – Smith is the face of ESPN and often spouts political nonsense. He is not a well-informed man, and a prime example of the Black faces corporate media often gives a platform to.
Smith has previously encouraged Black folks to vote Republican, stated his support for Republican candidates, appeared frequently on Fox News, and said that Black folks can relate to Trump because of his legal woes. Whenever questioned about his political or social takes, Smith pleads ignorance or says he was taken out of context. He is a hot takes merchant who doesn’t mind “cooning” for clicks and is a Black face in a high place who is not going to save us.
Radio personality Lenard Larry McKelvey also known as “Charlamagne tha god” hosts one of the most popular radio shows in the country – The Breakfast Club. McKelvey often uses his show to give a platform to Republicans like Nikki Haley, who wouldn’t admit that slavery was the cause of the American Civil War, and race baiting opportunists like Candace Owens, who disparages the Black community at every turn. McKelvey, who once sniffed the seat of Jennifer Lopez after she appeared on his show, often appears on Fox news where he criticizes Democrats and spreads right-wing propaganda. He is another Black face in a high place who isn’t going to save us.
Congressman Byron Donalds represents Florida’s 19th Congressional District and is one of the rising “Black” stars in the Republican Party. Donalds was briefly under consideration to be Trump’s running mate and comes from a long line of Black politicians like Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas – individuals who do not mind hurting the Black community if it furthers their careers. Besides his open willingness to support a party and policies that harm people who look like him, Donalds recently said that Black folks were stronger during Jim Crow – Jim Crow, a time where Blacks were locked out of society, being lynched regularly, and discriminated against at every turn. Congressman Donalds is another Black face in a high place who isn’t going to save us.
The entertainment industry is currently filled with individuals who are willing to do or say anything to further enrich themselves or build a brand, and they know the easiest way to garner a headline is to allow themselves to be used by the purveyors of white supremacy. Kanye West, son of a Black Panther and a man who once famously declared that “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people”, is a MAGA supporter of Trump. West even launched a third party bid in 2020 in an attempt to help Trump get re-elected, and he previously declared that white lives matter.
Rapper “Sexy Red”, has come out as full MAGA. She is supporting Trump for signing his name on pandemic relief checks that he didn’t advocate for – a pandemic that killed tens of thousands of Black people. Rapper 50 Cent said that Black men are identifying with Trump because of his criminality. Kodak Black, Lil Wayne and Ice Cube are all rappers who have shown support for Trump. These individuals are either ignorant or useful idiots who do not understand that they are being used to prop up white supremacy. Regardless of their intentions, these Black faces in high places are not going to save us.
The Black Community is not a monolith. We all come from different backgrounds with different political views and opinions. Everyone has the right to support any party, policy, or candidate they want. However, when prominent Black faces use their platform to endorse right-wing zealots, politicians, and policies that will bring significant harm to the Black community – they should be called out. I know that as long as they are getting their checks, they don’t care about those of us who are fighting for our past history and present lives, and this is why we must save ourselves. We must organize, mobilize, and vote; because if we are depending on those Black faces in high places who are knowingly or unknowingly doing the bidding of white supremacy, then we are dooming ourselves.
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