Black women, DEI backlash, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Black excellence, Black women in education, Black women in leadership, systemic racism, affirmative action, white women and DEI, labor history, Black success, racial discrimination, Kamala Harris, merit vs. DEI, Black women in the workforce, educational attainment, media bias, Black resilience, historical labor trends, corporate diversity, Black professionals
A.G. Gaston believed that Black economic power was the path to true liberation. He saw wealth as the key to breaking the cycle of oppression. He built institutions that served Black people in an era where few others did. His success proved that Black communities could create their own wealth, their own businesses, and their own economies. His life laid out a blueprint for financial independence, proving that ownership was not just about money but about power, survival, and dignity.
Coaches helped because they believed in players, not because they saw them as a check. Gyms were open, and kids had real opportunities to develop without paying for exposure. Now, trainers charge hundreds, teams cost thousands, and even getting in the gym has a fee. This is not about saying people should not get paid. It is about asking, who is really benefiting?
Black American culture, forged in the fires of resilience, has given the world immeasurable gifts: jazz, hip-hop, the civil rights movement, and countless innovations in art, literature, and science. Yet within this brilliance lies a dichotomy. The glorification of success often becomes tied to entertainment and athletics, eclipsing the quieter triumphs of engineers, scientists, and mathematicians.
Tomorrow marks four years since Thoughts Cost began with one student and a mission to create meaningful change during the uncertainty of the pandemic. From humble beginnings with no plan or income, we have grown into a movement that builds programs, develops EdTech tools, and secures state-level contracts to empower students, families, and educators. This journey has been defined by resilience, creativity, and a commitment to equity and inclusion.
The recent settlement involving TD Bank, where the institution paid over $3 billion to avoid prison time for laundering hundreds of millions tied to drug trafficking, exposes the glaring double standard in America’s justice system. While individuals in Black and Brown communities are incarcerated for far smaller drug-related crimes, TD Bank executives walk away with fines and no jail time. This disparity highlights how corporations are shielded from the consequences that ordinary people face and points to the need for education and financial literacy in our communities, as Dr. Amos Wilson emphasized, to avoid the systemic exploitation that traps so many.
The Black community can gain economic empowerment by building grocery chains similar to H Mart and Uwajimaya, which have successfully combined business with cultural preservation. Drawing on Dr. Amos Wilson’s ideas from Blueprint for Black Power, we must take control of industries that serve our communities and keep wealth circulating within them. This could lead to greater economic independence, job creation, and a renewed sense of community for Black Americans.
he Wayans family’s use of satire was not just about laughs, it was about reclaiming Black identity from limiting stereotypes. Keenan and Damon challenged the idea of being the "safe" Black man, while Marlon and Shawn refused to fit into any mold at all. Together, they showed that true representation is not about conforming to someone else’s expectations but about being fully authentic.
Anthony Washington, Educator/Business Owner, founded Thoughts Cost in 2020. Since then, he has navigated the peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship, learning the importance of not relying solely on grants and state contracts. With a focus on developing innovative EdTech products, Anthony is committed to revolutionizing education while balancing the challenges of growing his business and managing personal financial needs.
True power comes from what you own, not what you manage for someone else. Dame Dash didn’t just work for a paycheck, he built something that many are still profiting from today. He is a legend, and it’s time we start treating him like one. I know we joke about stuff, and I get that sometimes we make light of serious issues. But I’m talking about the people who genuinely enjoy seeing these guys fall, who take joy in it for all the wrong reasons. There’s a difference between cracking a joke and reveling in someone’s downfall. It’s corny to take pleasure in the struggles of a man who has done so much, especially when those struggles stem from the very system he fought to rise above.
Thoughts Processed 