NY Times Writer Charles Blow on Why Black People Should Move South for Impactful Political Power

[@andrewfiles4184]

I agree, I moved back to the south 8 years ago after 35 years in the west and my children have followed, were thriving and building businesses. Come on home black people and restore our ancestors dignity.

[@debrawhitlock6340]

Taught in NY AND NJ, two of the top segregated educational systems we have in this country. Teach your children to read, read to them, have libraries in your homes, and most importantly, let them see YOU read, comprehend, discuss, debate, dissect printed material. 🗣🙏🏿🗣

[@dorisspears5921]

This is the truth of truths. The truth above All other truths. Why do we as a people not understand this collectively?❤

[@jacklyneverage3881]

Honestly, I didn't move to the South to enjoy cultures different from my own. Or so called city life. I moved back South for a sense of home, a sense of connecting to my ancestors, to be rooted and grounded in the beautiful cultural traditions and ways of my Black American Freedmen family. To experience Southern hospitality, to be in a place where I could see visible Black wealth, to see Black men and women coming together and creating families, and to see a higher level of Black success that I have never witnessed in any place in the North or West. To own land and build a home which is far more attainable and affordable and not uncommon for Black people in the South. To be able to live in a small town or rural community and not be the only Black person there. Some reasons for moving South.

[@mrmitchell4089]

You're outnumbered by those who don't see it that way

[@jacklyneverage3881]

@@mrmitchell4089 "Jobs in prosperous parts of the South are not the only reason that Black Americans have been moving there. Social ties and large Black populations are strong draws as well. The cultural and familial bonds associated with residence within the Black community were evident in the past; although the Black Americans who took part in the Great Migration were less likely to return to the South than white southern out-migrants were during in the same period, they kept in contact with family and maintained kinship networks that promoted further migration. Black Americans’ ties to the region, whether personal or cultural, have also been evident in the southern return, especially among northern city residents who did not fare well during the deindustrialization period and found a familiar and welcoming environment among family and friends in the South. But there are ties to the region for a broad spectrum of Black residents, including retirees with family histories in the South and young professionals who want to join areas with growing middle-class Black populations. "-www.brookings.edu/articles/a-new-great-migration-is-bringing-black-americans-back-to-the-south/

[@rashakikizer9889]

💯

[@thesamardahab]

I agree. That’s part of why we moved south. But I’m ready to leave the country now.

[@02REESE]

The rural south or the whole region?

[@kashmoney7421]

Im looking at the comment section and most of you dont get it. America is designed to compete as groups. A large part of that competitive strategy is geography because of our constitution. Thats why all the Somalians moved to Minnesota or your large Koreatown in LA or the Arabs in MI or the cubans in FL. You concentrate your power giving your group a better chance competitively. Now if we dont want to come together as a group and actually play to win and compete then we dont need strategies or goals or tactics. We can just slowly dissappear and america will bring in more black and brown people from other places and nobody will be the wiser.

[@kikiboharris1010]

Great way to put the necessity of groups in perspective. Thank you 🙏🏾

[@mrmitchell4089]

That's exactly what happened. Blacks have been wiped out and don't know it.

[@michaelgarrett2266]

I agree to a point, problem I see is many in this country don't want change because it makes them look at themselves. I really hope things get better, but I don't think it will be in my life time.

[@iTuber012]

Again, his point is this strategy is not about asking for permission or sympathy. It's simply taking power, real power, via majority states. 2 senators each state, and X reps, state legislators etc... It's a whole mindset change to simply make and shape our own realities as we see fit and unapologetically like the Mormons in Utah, hippies in Vermont etc ​@@michaelgarrett2266

[@jurisgirl4479]

Mr. Blow is ABSOLUTELY correct! 💯

[@TrollinOn22s]

I'm not so sure he's right as Mississippi has the largest black population, but no democrat has won that state in 50 years.

[@Wegivesp]

Not

[@eliyahubenysrael6272]

Agreed. His plan is very good, but many of us are not convinced which allows the roadblocks to function.

[@newdawn7586]

This hit me. I was born in Park Slope…when it was just a regular neighborhood. I watched the gentrification happen before my eyes. I’m 59! I had parties for my kids in Prospect Park every year. I had my first kiss and smoked my first joint in that park. Now when I visit family I barely recognize it anymore. But every summer my family went to Macon, Ga. We would spend the whole summer. The happiest time as a kid. My southern cousins telling me “you talk funny.” Thank you Charles. I’m calling my family and see if they’re interested in getting some property in beautiful Georgia.

[@cortdarriuswoods9463]

People that don’t know or understand.. majority of the black population that live in the United States of America lives in the south. We need full control of the population of the country that we live in.

[@iTuber012]

Atlanta Georgia is the hot spot now but Delaware and Mississippi should be the first targets. It will require the least amount of total people to get to 51 percent

[@melissagreye8445]

Not a lot of people want to move to Mississippi tho. A lot of poverty and not much opportunities for young people and Delaware doesn't have much going on either .

[@joybeybeeluv4234]

I use to think like that….a friendly take over…..but I went to Atlanta, GA last summer and its extremely concerning that it appears that the government is more concerned about status and wealth than caring for people. The cost of living is very high , homelessness is very high, and the Cop City project being constructed is a very big red flag 🚩…….i just don’t see that ending well for most people. It seems like Atlanta is going to be governed as a police state. An open air prison…or “Smart City”

[@marie2511]

I agree with you, especially with the politics. We need someone that REALLY IS FOR THE PEOPLE. Politicians here are interested in elevating only themselves and their pockets.

[@tyronevincent1368]

Amen

[@kinfolk233]

I agree. Black Americans have been in the US since the 1600s. We're a foundational group to the founding of the United States. We need to consolidate our political power like every other group is doing. I see the value of concentrating and consolidating our political power in the American South.

[@Iloveswedes]

Well, if you look at what happens when we are in concentrated areas, think of ghettos. Whites created ghettos as a policy because blacks moved to cities en masse. They didn't allow us to live where we wanted to in those cities economically, and it was socially hostile. They zoned us into poverty and had labor policies to keep us poor, where possible.

[@trumanhe3326]

Charles Blow your the man. Intriguing thought.

[@iTuber012]

He's onto something here!

[@apextraxx2903]

I grew up in Florida with a lot of people from up north. Cool with them no problem there But here's the problem You come down here and try to make Florida like New York. Come down here and vote the same way as New York. Just stay there if this is what you're going to do. There's a reason you're leaving so leave The old habits where you came from please. I also lived in Atlanta briefly My sister was there for 20 years though so I went there a lot. All of the people coming there from up north have driven the cost of living thru the roof and turned it into a hustle bustle town when it used to be a laid back welcoming black mecca. Now it has a gang problem.

[@marie2511]

Agreed. How's the saying go? "When in Rome, do as the Romans". Maybe not in every single area, but in the ones that matter. People from up top forget that.

[@coleycole5344]

Agreed. The disrespect is so high that they think they can move somewhere and not respect and adapt to the culture. Who the hell would've ever thought that Buckhead would develop crime problems?

[@rodman7224]

I agree 1000 percent that we should consoldiate our powe in the South for it is the only way to change✊🏿💪🏾

[@deacon8754]

Black people don’t need to do nothing but love each other, get married, protect our women and children and make sure our children our prepared for a competitive world.

[@OhDatsJaVion]

And if you’re black, and you’re doing all that in Wyoming, where the black population is barely 2% you’re worthless and will not even last that long

[@annmhmoore0771]

​@@OhDatsJaVionActually it will be he and future generations of his who is built to last and will be successful in life. It will be you that will be left behind and become an outcast in society...

[@melissagreye8445]

@@OhDatsJaVion black political capital can be easily diluted. Black economic capital is a much safer bet no matter where you live. Obviously economic capital can most likely go further in mostly black areas but this focus on just political capital does not make any sense.

[@kingmaafa120]

Exhausted as well Thus after packing up GDF OUTTA 🇺🇸 Watching from Uganda 🇺🇬 so refreshing

[@abdulsharif6541]

I agree, I believe that the Black American Freedmen Population should relocate to the following states: ■Delaware (The only northern state) ■Maryland (And Washington DC) ■Virginia ■North Carolina ■South Carolina ■Georgia ■Alabama ■Mississippi ■Louisiana (We can still move to Strategic Black American Locations in Texas and Florida as well) The "Northeast" "Midwest" and "Westcoast" are ALL very Hostile and Hazardous for most Black Americans to live.

[@endigosun]

I love the prospect of Mr. Blow’s strategy. We’re actually working on something similar in Texas.

[@BlackAmericanHomeland]

I'm Frederick Delk, Charles Blow Copyright infringed on my work. I published my work in 2012, Black Paper: Black American Homeland is on Amazon.

[@endigosun]

@@BlackAmericanHomeland Well actually, there have been a number of people who have published the idea. We have no time to tarry. We just need to get to work on executing the idea "collectively".

[@BlackAmericanHomeland]

@@endigosun Absolutely no author has ever published a book on the the Reverse Migration Strategy to the Southern States for the purpose of Political Power using the Government system of Federalism and the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution (The only Black author that came close was ___. I can't tell all my secrets) . I have the Copyright Certificate to prove it. A person stealing another person creative thoughts, ideas and using all my talking points and terms especially a relative famous person such as Charles Blow is like some one stealing my car or taking my money. It's very devastating. I'm almost 60 years old, lived, worked and traveled to 30 Countries on 5 Continents, it took me almost 20 years 1994 - 2012 to conceptualize this vision & concept, 1994 - 2024 it's now 30 years. While Charles Blow Book covers the basics, my book goes into extreme detail on every aspect of governing a State, future demographics & projection on what a Super Majority Black State would look like in 2040, 2050, 2060, up to 2080. Charles Blow has already seen much of my work. He published his book in 6 months, already had a HBO deal before he started writing his book. I have KZbin videos, graphs, illustrations, maps, charts, pictures, flags, unique terms i have created from 1999 - 2016. He's been following me since 2014 - 2020 on twitter and my website.

[@BlackAmericanHomeland]

I project Texas as a Super Majority Mexican State by 2036. The Mexicans will control New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California by 2040 and 2044. Spanish will be the language used in Government, Public School system, State Court system, and business. Most Black Americans will be forced to leave these Southwestern States.

[@altonmckenzie8587]

This is a common sense argument.... Numbers equal power.... If you want things to stay the same keep doing what you doing....

[@MissHumanity1016]

Um, I have to digress as my experience since I moved south (SC/NC) has taught me not one thing has changed. The slavery mentality from our oppressors and our own skin folks haven't changed. Our freedom fighters are turning over in their graves. Our today is not what they fought, bleed or were killed for. If you're NOT APART OF ANY GIVEN SECRET SOCIETY you're not celebrated but tolerated. This includes our own family members. The best way to embrace our truth is knowing there's nothing new under the sun. Live with and under God's words and truth. This world is falling and these conversations are only emotionally manipulative. It's NOT a carnal war but a spiritual war. Rooted southern and raised northern. Truth tellers and seasoned by experience. 👁️👂🏾👣💡🙏🏾❤️

[@siriuslyspeaking9720]

Toure got close to the heart of the problem with Blows proposal at 6:12 when he asked if its success is predicated on everyone having the same political point of view. What is more in question is not positions on politics but more fundamentally values. If the values are the same, the political manifestation of it in people who share the same values, are more likely to be the same. This is the fundamental problem with the idea of us thinking of ourselves as a homogeneous people who largely all share the same fundamental values and aspirations. The aspirations may to some degree be the same but our values are not the same - not even the same in regard to the value we place on our lives. Many who once sang songs like 'We're Headed For Self-Destruction' today say Black on Black Crime is not a thing because people are more likely to commit crimes where they live - against the people they live around. Many woke Black intellectuals (I must call them "woke" to denote the clear demarcation between past stances vs those of today) place more value on how White or other people perceive the phrase BonBcrime, as opposed to how we think Black people should respond to it, when they hear it. It is an attempt to shame us for being so self-destructive. We say it to attempt to save Black lives. It was one of the ways we showed that our lives mattered to us - most and first of all - as it naturally should be. Those who now discredit its use, do so because they believe its use has more value to White or other people, than it does for us, if in fact they see it as having any value at all to us anymore. They say us using this phrase makes us look "pathological". These are the same people who say we should not see things through the "White Gaze" - meaning through the eyes of White or other people - to not do things out of first consideration of what they will think about it. This is also the thinking behind the term respectability politics, which they also use against, it seems, any Black person who says anything critical of Black people. They are blatantly hypocritical in all these positions they take, because they are in fact the ones who are worried about how our behavior looks in the eyes of others. They are the only Black people who even uses the word pathological in connection to us. I say all this to say that it will not matter where we are. How we are in our individuality we be with us no matter where we go. If we can't make it work together, wherever we are now, I don't see just moving, giving us a better chance of it. We have to start first with the family - more specifically good parenting. Conservatives focus on the structure of the family, but families today especially, can be of many structures. Good parenting is the fundamental aspect that must be in place. To say to start with community would seem intuitive, but I think to start with the smallest social unit may be better. All of these aspects go hand in hand, but values and then standards, especially community standards, are the foundation blocks that society stands on. When I hear the term 'community policing' it brings to mind the community policing itself. The first level of which is the values people have and the standards they set for the communities they live in. It makes no sense to me, to talk about new migrations of Black people and not show that we have a greater understanding of past mass movements of Black people in this society. So far I'm not hearing that at all. It certainly is not starting out like I think it should.

[@MrSteadfast]

I read his book, the devil you know. As someone who pays attention to politics, I fully appreciate his idea. It's absolutely brilliant.

[@mrmitchell4089]

Idea vs reality

[@cmathews5909]

@@mrmitchell4089 ??? My bruh, anything YOU made a reality, came from an idea in your head. That said Mr Blow provided several examples in his book where groups migrated and aggregated their political power. Not for nothing, if you live in a large city, note how immigrants move; they aggregate, create closed economies where everything they need is in their neighborhood. 20 years later, they own that neighborhood which was black. The REALITY is that blacks do the exact opposite, but it would idea that black folk today would be as half as smart as our ancestors who aggregated their economic and political power during the Reconstruction; white folk had to destroy their self efficient towns to get black labor.

[@okeafia5630]

Charles got me thinking about Raleigh, NC.

[@siriuslyspeaking9720]

The part of the conversation starting at about 38:48 is really telling. It dealt with the old issues /problems of Black support of Black businesses and the impact of violence/crime in general on Black people and our communities, but even beyond that the whole idea of us thinking of ourselves as a homogeneous group, but we don't function no where near how one would expect a people to do. I can hear the same old arguments made in this debate, but I will try to present some not often expressed. The first point is that those who have been speaking to these issues continue to do so dishonestly. I'm speaking of the intellectuals especially. It didn't take Blow long to argue that we should not hold ourselves to a higher standard than society has for everyone else. There is some irony in this in that some Black people say we are the true Chosen People, and we are often compared with the Jews. Jewish people compensate for their unique situation of being a despised and targeted people. We once had a similar attitude if not to the same degree as they have. They have orthodox people among them, but we have various sub-cultures, ideologies, and beliefs among us. The orthodox among them especially live by this higher standard. They set the foundation for the development of Jewish communities. Black self-help groups, institution, and organizations, in the past, did this for Black people. The Black Baptist women who Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham wrote about in her book "Righteous Discontent.... " are a prime example of early Black self-help advocate/practitioners who employed methods of compensating for our unique precarious position and condition in this society. Black woke intellectuals today have twisted this and call it practicing "respectability politics". 'We had to be twice as good to get ahead', was a common saying among us baby boomers. We knew it was unfair but we dealt with the reality of it, but not as well as previous generations. I attribute much of this to pop/youth/adolescent/consumer pop-culture. Nealy Fuller Jr. and the late Dr. Francis Cress Welshing continued that tradition or tried to revive it in some way, in their advocating that we employ Fuller's ideas contained in his 'Compensatory Code Concept System To Counter Racism White Supremacy', which really was a precursor so to speak, to 'Critical Race Theory' or the original CRT. Because of issues like self hate, distrust and especially disunity, Black businesses cannot afford not to be better than other businesses. What is wrong with being more demanding of ourselves, again, especially when our situation demands it? We have no problem giving an extra effort in the areas of sports and entertainment, so why not in all aspects of life? We say racism is in all aspects of our lives. Why talk of being spiritual, resilient, creative, some say even magical, if we are not willing to do more than just enough to survive or get by? Is just to survive really that difficult to do in the richest country in human history? 'Black on Black crime/violence surely is a crime, because this is the context in which we use this term. Proximity is used by woke intellectuals to use as an argument against it, but they obviously have it wrong or are just being dishonest. The proximity they speak of is the wrong idea of proximity. They wrongly focus on the physical proximity in Black on Black crime/violence. That is not the consideration. It is the proximity (closeness) of the relationship between victim and perpetrator that is the consideration. Why is this difficult to understand. Have they never heard of the words fratricide and suicide, or even incest? They are seen as even greater wrongs/harms because of the relationship that exist.

[@02REESE]

I'm from a small town in Georgia but I did live in Atlanta and started a family there. I had more than a few coworkers and friends from NY,NJ and Illinois among other places that ended up in Georgia because it's cheaper and they still have family here because they're the kids of people who moved away. The situation is the same with people as it relates to Atlanta and my hometown. I noticed the divide and questions between black people during the last three presidential elections. Some are pissed at the Democratic party and wanna see something different but they're all from these different places and see things play out in different ways because of that like in his comparison of the New York and Mississippi poverty rates. People from up north would say that things are cheaper but at the same time the wages are horrible so the move feels most beneficial to a person with a career or some type of training instead of someone in search of a job. Our state minimum wage is $5.15/hr so that's a reference point to what the Republicans think of their people. Then both the northerners and Atliens like to say that talking about racism is a hindrance and the Democrats are racists too. They only know the cities though and don't believe their votes count because they don't understand what goes on outside the urban areas. I had to explain to them that it's all connected and how the numbers work in some cases but not others. People like me come from places where we don't see black politicians very often(at least not until the last 15yrs or so). They feel they're further removed from racism because their neighbors are a bunch of other black people but I grew up around the corner from an old white couple with the same last name as mine. So yes it's still real and Charles is right about his migration theory. Take a state at a time until we can't help but be noticed. I think Georgia is ripe for the taking along with North Carolina. Then Mississippi just has the sheer numbers of black people to do the same thing.

[@debrawhitlock6340]

People who stay where they are born, raised, and entrenched in the ways of whom they deem powerful, have a different way of viewing/ moving in their world.

[@chuckc7239]

If all Black people move back south, it would be martial law before sundown

[@tcalip2968]

I have to agree unfortunately. My problem with using the term Migrants for born Americans is because of this term being used in Slavery. People were told that they could not move to other parts of America during Slavery. These were born Americans. We are not Slaves any more. I prefer to call birth right born Americans just that. They are welcomed to wiggle any way they want as long as they are not committing serious crimes. It is sad though because now with all that freedom. They are hurting one another. Black People have to bring back the love from being in the struggle for some long. Thanks for sharing.

[@cmathews5909]

@chuck, respectfully, I think the point went over your head, but to be fair, I also read his book years ago. Those former sundown towns only have a few thousand folks living there, and are virtual ghost towns where the average family wage is around $22k. If 3000 colored folks move in who make $70k+, the natives won't have the political or economic power, for it will be our group creating the jobs via spending power.

[@marcharris1976]

Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama are absolutely ready for black power level energy to come South. Georgia and South Carolina and in some ways Tennessee are already headed that direction. Brilliant concept Mr. Blow.

[@coleycole5344]

There are places in Georgia where Northern blacks have gotten positions and only hire other Northern blacks and whites. Don't trust them. They come down here with the same superiority complex but try to hide it. They simply want to take advantage of the free economy down South. We gotta judge by character and not by color.

[@anpdm1]

Many times I wanted to move from the Arctic back to my family's homeland in Florida. Every time I visit, the black communities which used to be our safe spaces had shrunk and Hispanic spaces and economies had increased. Since the end of the Civil War the intent of the US was to keep blacks in ex-slavery states. Many who stayed have adapted and accepted the conditions whiteness created for them. Unfortunately that means many will side w/the evilness of whiteness in order to keep paying their bills. Ex-slavery red states w/high poverty rates, use their federal funding to benefit those that have controlled their states since Reconstruction. That's our present situation. I don't think it's fixable until we understand the game. Example: The 3 Johns: Casor, Johnson and Punch. 3 were indentured laborers. Colony courts used a labor term disagreement between 2 black men (freed from indentured & indentured) to set precedence to enslave for life. That game is still in play because it produced mad wealth. It's hard for Whiteness in it's parasitic and predatory habitat to stop being itself. So, for now I'm making like Matthew Henson and staying in the Arctic.

[@coleycole5344]

Stop belittling Southern black folk. The blacks that migrated out of the South are a VERY small minority. They were deceived into thinking they could live in white neighborhoods and continue the Industrial Revolution. The trick was the North was segregated by choice, so most white Northerners were more racist and violent towards black people than anybody, and the Industrial Revolution was at its end. Those jobs were outsourced overseas after one generation. Most black folk stayed South because they were Southerners. Culture not color. You know the biggest slave states were Delaware and New Jersey? The biggest slave port was NYC. The same reason Southern black folk stayed South is the same reason other blacks are trying to move back.

[@anpdm1]

@@coleycole5344 The military took people out of the south and for some out of the country. I'm not belittling southern black folks. I still have family and friends in the south. I've lived in the south during Jim Crow. My great grand who was born before emancipation was still living when I was in grade school. My perception of the south from the arctic is outside looking in over decades and seeing every push forward gets pushed back. Once one knows the history, the current conditions of Black America seems intolerable to me. ijs. Does a fish know it lives in water?

[@coleycole5344]

@@anpdm1 When did the military take people out of the South and to other countries? Never heard that from the older folk or a book. What's the 'whiteness' stuff all about? After the Civil War, Lincoln wanted to send black Americans on a Trail of Tears to Nicaragua. The South needed enough labor hands to help rebuild the destruction left by the North economically and infrastructural.

[@anpdm1]

@@coleycole5344 People were drafted into 3 foreign wars and some enlisted were shipped overseas.

[@coleycole5344]

​@@anpdm1Oh okay I get you now. Yeah a lot of people got stationed out.

[@paulaparker6587]

Thank you Charles Blow. I appreciate your views and ideas on how we can become a more powerful voting block in states that typically try to take away our rights. Your answer at the end regarding how you feel as a black person was stellar and captured everything I would have said for myself! By the way, I enjoyed watching you on MSNBC! I am happy, you've found your happy place in which to live and have your family grow! As always Toure thank you for your very insightful and engaging interviews!

[@josryder7841]

My family moved to Florida 4 years ago from the Northeast. We are here and doing our part to help shift the tide of political power. As a community we have strength and talent. I’m ready to reclaim our land and the environment that was ours. Heck the air is better in the south lol

[@KUqdah]

I agree woth Mr. Blow, except when AA politicians are elected, they seem to forget from whence they came, and all of their promises dissipate in the wind....

[@marylander3798]

I like the idea because I live in MD which is included in his 9 states, not because its the south but because we're already 32%. I personally love the political power we have here. I originally moved here because there were so many Black people and a strong Black culture. its not utopia but alot of things are moving in the right direction. as far as legislation we put through police reform, an entirely new equitable public school investments plan, and investments in majority Black portions of the state like Baltimore City are shifting. my only problem with the deep south is taking into account the impact of climate change. I am worried about how people in the south are not prepared to adapt to how climate change will increase heat and hurricanes.

[@rt80life]

I was going to say the same thing. The infrastructure of the deep south, outside of Atlanta, GA is at least a century decades old compared to the Maryland, VA, NC. It would take us a century or more to even catch up to the modernization of the infrastructure. Look at Jackson, even TX whole electric system is not modernized.

[@MyTruth1771]

Yep! But Maryland is categorized as a Southern state.

[@MyTruth1771]

​@@rt80lifethat mans we could hire people to rebuild those infrastructures.

[@charlesislaw]

@@MyTruth1771 Black Men told be specific

[@charlesislaw]

You can tell now that no region of the country will escape the wrath of climate change.

[@linzierogers5024]

I agree. He has read my mind.

[@p.f.luxenberg3881]

Oh my god, I am such a fan of Charles Blow

[@rt80life]

The difference between the state of MD and GA is MD legislation is majority Democratic, but as a whole the legislature believes is advancement and true progression. Meaning if they have pipes that have lead, the legislature as a whole Republican and Democratic find ways to fix the issue. No matter what party the governor is. GA's legislature body believes in sticking with party, even if it means people are getting sick from the lead pipes. Where you will have the mayor's from the city of Atlanta and the metro areas come together and fix the lead pipes in those areas. That is the difference between the two states and how they function. And I know because I lived in Atlanta and area for 20+ years and lived in MD for the past 6.

[@rayjones9819]

For anyone who has never moved before, it is one of the most expensive and stressful things you can do. Black don't have the financial resources to just move at will. It seems he has good intentions but is too far removed from the lower income bracket to understand simple economic logic.

[@Cakebattered]

Especially moving to places with zero or poor infrastructure and few thriving industries.

[@cmathews5909]

@@Cakebattered I recall him stating moving to the twelve southern capital cities; plenty of infrastructure and industries are moving those locations to avoid organized labor. But the point of it all is aggregation. Chinese, Mexicans, Africans, etc.... like whites, aggregate their resources when come here, and in ten years they make their own stores and push us out of their neighborhoods. I think its far more expensive to be dense. Blacks produce NOTHING and it will come a time when we'll get the Palestine treatment. No? In case you weren't paying attention, Trump's lawyers proposed yesterday that any crime a president commits is not a crime. If the Republican packed Supreme Court agrees, then its a wrap for blacks as we know it.

[@coleycole5344]

Financial resources? Weave alone gets $11 BILLION a year! If Black America was a nation it would be the 13th richest nation on the earth. 13th out of 195 nations. Most Black Americans' priorities are just assed backwards.

[@lashonjones6846]

Don't move to Atlanta unless you are independently wealthy- he wants wealthy people to move south and take over - the racism is very overt here - the systems are antiquated and the overt racism is palatable- if your willing to put in the work of course it's a cause worth fighting but the systems here are dangerous and what I'm not sure where he lives in Atlanta but I don't agree with his position- it is easier to start new business here but housing here is just as expensive as every other major city- his experience is completely different from the average citizen- he's wealthy and has social currency and connections- he will do well the average 25 yr old coming to Atlanta will not have this same experience at all

[@katielindsey5674]

Blacks built the northern cities,the Great Lakes that provide water is in the Midwest.So it is hard to leave when our soul also is in the north.We got our energy levels from our living in the north and we created great music,art etc.that people all over the world copy.The south would have to be improved there is deep racism in the south.Economics is important so moving back is a consideration.More debate is needed among our people.

[@LeapFrogHopShop]

I agree on not leaving the places black people built. Although I will say that black people built the south as well. I think black people need to not only spread out but reinforce and renovate what we have. Focus more on building or controlling our own communication system and cultural zeitgeist. We are still being relentless propagandized and demeaned often times by our OWN artists, performers, news casters etc BECAUSE they are subject to or even outright "owned" (Think football players) by people who literally hate their guts and think of us as less than worms. Even steeped in CENTURIES of addiction, abuse and whatever form of targeted malice that's been thrown our way, we are STILL one of the single most powerful communities in the United States. We need to focus on utilizing that rather than trying to get the people that tell,show and demonstrate they hate us to do a 180 and suddenly start treating us with the love and respect that should be demanded of and given to any human.

[@coleycole5344]

Quit lying. Mostly White folk built those Northern cities. Northern blacks just migrated to them. The great music and art was birthed and popularized in the South. Northern blacks are a very small population in comparison to Southern black folk. The North is by far more so-called 'racist' than the South as well. That Southern racism narrative is from Hollyweird and public schooling.

[@felixx8279]

Toure please stop interrupting your guest. Let him finish his thought.

[@adefolarinalugbin6353]

This is a very close facsimile of Dr. Claude Anderson’s powernomics but with a. prescribed location. Interesting thesis

[@JayNeely-b8d]

Great conversation.

[@cherylbrown9456]

Love Mr. C.Blow!

[@misterjahi]

The opening line speaks for ALL of US.

[@consuellamccoy5217]

I am here for it!! Let's GOoo!!!fr DMV -MISSISSIPPI

[@dbapeman0698]

Well done Charles. This is one of the best tactics proposed for black people in America in a while. Imagine Georgia becoming Bahia.

[@AminaPhilosophy]

Becoming Bahia in what way?

[@paul1foreman]

He’s so right about NYC

[@newaccount5891]

If black people can't hold their position in cities the north, you won't be able to hold your position in the south either.

[@mansur-mars764]

I moved from the Bay Area in California 4 years ago to retire in Tupelo, Mississippi. People I know in Cali asked "Why Mississippi?, I couldn't take all that heat and humidity". I told them being closer to family was the main driver, not to mention the huge benefit that is economic; the cost of real estate here, and financial retirement incentives for seniors are generous. Anyone owning a home gets a homestead exemption, which saves thousands of property tax dollars per year, so the monthly house payment is comfortable, plus more space to live and more peace of mind are hard to beat. Our history of birth and struggle are in the south despite the rough times during slavery and post slavery. I think we should embrace that part of our history. I guess deep down, I feel like the ancestors would be happy to see me reclaim what they struggled to have.

[@davetheman2615]

This is absolutely 100 Percent Brilliant

[@a.sam.2976]

I agree with Chuck. Black people need a stong economic base , political parties don't dictate policies, Money does. Reverse Migration all the way. Build a power base and defend it unapologetically. I agree!

[@adjoaayye]

This is the first time I'm learning of Charles Blow and with all due respect...the defensiveness to most of the questions was a BIT much. When Toure is talking about Keith Lee and Atlanta businesses, Mr. Blow was giving major deflection. He needs to be real for a minute and give critique on the culture that it desperately needs. The egotistic energy of ATL is very real. Why? How did this happen? Dig deeper into the culture to understand it - that is all Toure is trying to do. I reside in Maryland. And the reason I decline to move further down South is because I want to live in a Blue state. Maybe I'm delusional and need to educate myself more, but living in a red state as a Black women for me means: less public transit (transit = access), less protection and access to healthcare, less DEI initiatives in employment and education (this is important for health education so that practitioners actually understand my body as a Black woman) - the list goes on and on. Anywho, I think Maryland is definitely a good spot to be in as a Black person. You're in the South, its is a Blue state, AND you have proximity to DC, NY, Philly. You're tapped into the culture, you ARE the culture. I heard recently at a film lecture I attended in SF that there's a Black bohemian renaissance happening in Baltimore. I'm excited about this and eager to learn more.

[@bishoptatum8737]

Charles Blow is talking about political and socioeconomic power and you bring up a food critic? Lmaooooo come on let’s be a little more serious. 1) Georgia is a swing state as of now. That’s in large part due to the influx of Black people moving to the state primarily Atlanta. 2) Charles Blow is advocating for Black Americans to move in mass to states where there’s already a large concentration of us there. Why? Because you can start to change the political and socioeconomic landscape of Black Americans in general with an already large base there. 3) If you read his article or looked at the documentary he encourages Black Americans to move to 9 states. Maryland is one of those states. Maybe you should actually read his piece and check out his documentary to understand his points a little better. 4) You brought up Philly and NYC as being Black Bohemian spaces and access to that “culture”. The problem with this is that those 2 cities are LOSING Black Americans. Having access to Black Bohemian spaces is a 1st world problem. That’s not gonna empower Black America just to hit up a few Black owned coffee shops and yoga spots in Brooklyn or Philly. Especially when the cost of living is going up and forcing Black folks to look elsewhere. Not to mention cities like Atlanta, Charlotte and Houston has those same cultural nodes.

[@adjoaayye]

@@bishoptatum8737 you're coming for my edges and I didn't ask for this. My comprehension of the video was the same as yours. Your tone sir.

[@willis7404]

" I want to live in a Blue state. Maybe I'm delusional and need to educate myself more, but living in a red state as a Black women for me means: less public transit (transit = access), less protection and access to healthcare, less DEI initiatives in employment and education (this is important for health education so that practitioners actually understand my body as a Black woman) - the list goes on and on" But that's exactly the point! A majority of black people in America already live in the south and since southern states are governed by white leaders who don't care about us, we live in the worst conditions and lack the same resources provided to the white communities. All the things you mentioned would be possible if we gained stronger voting power in these southern states. Example, you mentioned transit and Blow talked about how Ossof and Warnock got elected. Transit is an issue that a lot of black ppl here in Atlanta care about and with the massive black voter turnout we were able to elect leaders who understand this concern and now there is more momentum on the transit front with federal dollars going into a high speed rail initiative. I'm not getting too excited about it, but that's just an example of what can be done with a stronger black voting bloc. Other issues like maternal healthlcare can be better addressed and improve more black lives if we think and move more as a collective

[@mariejane1567]

I live in Georgia and there is a bigger focus on diversity and inclusion and I enjoy access to my black doctors. I grew up in Pittsburgh. I think people should stop assuming things about other communities.

[@mariejane1567]

Baltimore?? Ma'am be real......the kids can't even read.

[@lutrailahobbs3086]

I like his point of view. Why should we have to move to Africa to be around majority black.

[@Trendsetic]

Back in the 70's, our great aunt offered my mother land if she chose to move back to Georgia. My mother siad: "I'm not moving to anybody's south.' Now, I'm seriously considering a mobe to Atlanta. The indifference here in MA is palpable.

[@teaspoon103084]

A very good interview I like how you challenged him on certain points. I love the discussion look forward to working.

[@iTuber012]

Toure was annoying the whole interview. If you want to stay in NYC and live in your rich privellege, then just say so. Charles is speaking to folks who are living in the real world and want real solutions

[@dbapeman0698]

💯

[@thames308]

Loved interview. Having a large numerical majority does not translate into consolidated political power if it is not backed by sustained economic power that translates into owning the assets that drive economic and social commerce.

[@tbyas4406]

Moving south lends better opportunities for blacks.

[@smartmouthriveria]

Man please!!! I’m never moving down south .

[@andreroy8141]

I had this same idea, my thought was North Dakota and South Dakota. Both have population numbers of somewhere in the 500k range from each state. The unfairness is evident when you see California with the population of 20 million. So you have 2 US Senators for North Dakota representing 250k people. While in California you have two Senators representing 20 million. That's a flawed system. If only a Million people moved to each state. You could likely control the Senate and the House of Representatives.

[@cinattra]

😂 North Dakota and South Dakota. Not even yt people want to live there. What are we going to grow? What are we going to do? We need to at least have a place where our people want to come. The south is where we have been. Not to mention our melanin is perfect for the climate.

[@jerrysamuels1113]

Black People Should Move South for Impactful Political Power. I disagree. There are enough Black people in the south already to impact the political system, if that were possible. The law in the south is just too brutal to Black people. There is no solution. We are all on the Titanic together. So all we can do is just keep dancing until we no longer hear the sounds of the music.

[@C1K450]

You have no choice but to move down south. Most black folks moving to the south are not moving because of some Wakanda type of agenda, but because the economy is rough, and the government is gentrifying and kicking blacks out of northern and western cities, being replaced by Mexican and Chinese immigrants in those same neighborhoods. Blacks have no other way of affordability either outside of the city of moving back to the south.

[@melissagreye8445]

@@C1K450 How do you know gentrification will not take place in the southern cities?

[@BlackAmericanHomeland]

Absolutely Toure, More than one State is needed. 8 States Southern Region offers Black Americans 8 Governors, 16 US Senators, 66 Congressmen, 80 Electoral College Votes, 1,500 State House/Assembly and State Senators, and 90,000 other State and Local Elected Position. by Frederick Delk

[@BlackAmericanHomeland]

@@muffetnellon How are you doing Muffet

[@abdulsharif6541]

The "Southern States" in the United States of America is the best location to exercise Dr. Claude Anderson's #Powernomics Five Building Blocks to establish a successful Black American Community. ■Black Group Economics ■Black Group Politics ■Black Group Judiciary Oversight ■Black Group Media/Public Affairs ■Black Group Education Currently, the Southern States have the highest percentage of Black Americans to aggregate our ideas, skills, and available resources to establish successful "Black American Communities"

[@willgee7777]

He’s absolutely right

[@mdrewery]

People are studying reverse migration. It is being looked at by the US Census Bureau (i was part of that research), and i lecture on it in my class.

[@rt80life]

Atlanta and its metro area is an anomaly. It has been that way since the 60s because they believe in the grassroots of black neighborhoods and black wealth and reinvesting economy into black businesses. However the lack of education development is still slow when it comes to options in educating our children and the state level is still ran by conservatives that believe in black dollar but not black growth. The level of change that would need to have that type of power(Atlanta anomaly) in those 9 states would need to happen today. Infrastructure in those states are not even operational, agriculture is being changed due to climate change, medical and educational resources are decades lacking. Anything can happen, but it would take decades and the level of investment compared to the fast growing Stem in northern and western states, would happen very slow.

[@lasha4585]

I’m with Charles on the move back to the South!!! ✌🏽❤️🏹

[@Bronxguyanese]

In NYC their are 4 types of black groups who don't see eye to eye with each other not because of white supremacy, but due to the American nature of being an individual and one to support his or her community. In NYC you have black Americans who came from the 1st and 2nd migration, many of these kind are moving back to the south especially to the Georgia, north carolina and florida corridors. Than you have afro latinos mainly Dominican about 800k afro latinos live in NYC, than you have afro Caribbean like Jamaicans, and west Indians who come from the Anglo Caribbean, and last you West African immigrants and migrants who tend to be the poorest yet entrepreneural within their own communities. I wish this guy focused more on African American community instead of just using black, not all blacks are a monolith and not all are in lock step with each other. Good luck telling afro latinos, afro Caribbean and Africans to move to the south.

[@renee6146]

I must say I agree with you. This has been something that I always thought about but second guessed because it was not being done on a higher level. The Southern states put me in the mind of South Africa in the sense of a large African American population but whites control it especially politically

[@muhjahshakir7567]

Loved Blow's pronouncement. I moved from Oalkand, CA, 23 years ago and now live in Tuskegee, Al. I'd be interested in helping with this vision. Remember, the New Afrikan Indepence movement (5 states as our national territory, i.e., SC, GA, AL, MS, and LO was/is all about this. Would be awesome to dialogue with brother Charles Blow. I believe in divine unity, overcoming differences for higher purposes.. . our redemption is at hand. Can you tell me how to reach out to him???

[@OhDatsJaVion]

You’re in a great state to get this going! Luckily its already happening

[@BoyTheBlack]

I never thought about being the majority of a state before...and if Georgia was predominantly black, do you know the polical powerhouse we would have...not just locally but nationally AND globally...I'm all in!...let's do this!...

[@onceagain6184]

🤣🤣🤣 Go for it

[@BoyTheBlack]

@@onceagain6184 yea, I will🖕

[@onceagain6184]

@@muffetnellon LOL.

[@mrmitchell4089]

You're on KZbin. Stop.

[@BoyTheBlack]

@@mrmitchell4089 ok..

[@sharlinemoore8549]

I understand,in CT now sold house in 2019 from Bklyn. Taxes high and lacking night life. No mortgage kind of boring. But couldn't stay in NY. I'm retired. We must elevate new young voters.

[@katielindsey5674]

Excellent show.

[@naturalmoments9319]

3:44 National Geographic magazine has captured the migration. It think it was in their 2016 March or April edition. It showed that their was a significant uptick of a Black population in southern cities versus a decline in cities in the north, mid-west, and west. And showing where the majority moved to. For instance, it showed that most Black folks who left the cities in California moved to Texas and Louisiana. Indicating to me that they went back to where their grandparents came from.

[@nicoleford4654]

A lot of black people move to the south and love it. It depends on the city and state.

[@willis7404]

I'm on board, mainly because I've always done it lol. When you think about the black political represenation we enjoyed following reconstruction, you realize how much power this idea has.

[@mariejane1567]

move to Chicago then?

[@willis7404]

@@mariejane1567 chicago is south? Guess I gotta retake US geography

[@mariejane1567]

@@willis7404 no but its the largest black area with concentration of blacks politically and that's what matter not the weather

[@BarLadyy]

I get why we migrated back in the day. We were being lynched in large numbers in the south. There wasn’t going to be an opportunity to become the voting majority back then….

[@urielriley]

My Maternal Grandfather refused to ever go back down south to even visit. They would bring family up to stay every summer to N.J and Philadelphia since the 1800's to be free. My Paternal Grandfather also didn't like going down south and refused to drive while he was ever past the mason Dixon line. My grand parents knew how to keep us free. When I moved to Florida and lived there for 15 years I soon realized why they moved the families up north. In the south the racism power wants masculine black men in jail or dead.

[@charlesislaw]

The North is Not any different.

[@bishoptatum8737]

Black Men are the biggest incarcerated population in Northern states too. This ain’t the early 1900’s south anymore. And the North is not the land of milk and honey for Black folks. Especially places like New Jersey and Philly.

[@carlinwoods245]

At approximately 10:55 in the video the host seems to suggest that Black Americans that stopped voting due to "vote hopelessness" would not help Mr Blow's theory. I would counter that if black American population began to concentrate significantly, the potential power of the Black voting block would combat the sense of "vote hopelessness."

[@FarOutAtl]

What a great point, brother!

[@bradforddolo1]

Voting means nothing if you don’t ask for anything and have a plan for the resources received.

[@dphd5164]

Illinois is RED outside of Chicago too!

[@jshyoungblood]

Quad cities is blue on Illinois and Iowa side. Unions. Unions areas are blue. Union areas tend to have less racism. Outside of that, yes, that is true.

[@ATACXGYMCAPOEIRA]

There are powerful, powerful reasons pro and con for the argument to move back to the South. The most likely operational solution is a mixture of both. We're already moving back South ( I know a growing number of us who've moved back South over the last 15 years ) but pushing our numbers to over 50% of the targeted states' population is probably the least likely to hold majority in the next 10 years. Our Latino cousins will be the numerical majority in The South in that time. But. Insofar as socioecoculturalpolitical power majority or at least true fairness is concerned? He's absolutely right.

[@eliyahubenysrael6272]

It ca be done, but would require larger families, stable communities and a focus on obtaining power.

[@JaeSwift10JamellaSwift]

I think that we should go even further south and leave the country all together. I’m exploring Mexico and Costa Rica. Time to get out of this abusive marriage.

[@cinattra]

❤❤❤❤❤💯

[@muckmuckthageneral2691]

Who the hell cares about all the "stuff" you can do in new york if you're surrounded be a brutally hostile enemy, smh.

[@siriuslyspeaking9720]

What does liberations mean? The average Black person does not think in terms of "liberation". How does one escape racism in all its forms, while living within a racist country? Harold Cruse in his book 'The Crisis Of The Black Intellectual' posited that ethnic political power followed the formula of cultural unity, fostering economic development and power, which then is used to gain political influence and power. We have surely not followed this blueprint. We don't even have cultural unity, as Hip-Hop is now the face of Black culture to the world, and KRS One, who codified it has said Hip-Hop in itself should be an ethnicity. Whitin Hip-Hop this statement has not even widely discussed, it at all. One would think something of this magnitude would have been a part of their 50th anniversary celebration.

[@jman1562001]

You can never imo escape racism. Prejudice and bigotry IMO are short hand human categories to divide folks. If it wasn't skin color, it would be something else arbitary like height, eye color, etc. It's part of the human condition. Most working class and poor black folk are concerned with day to day living, economics, and socio-economic mobility. Question: how can hip-hop be an ethnicity when for one, all the practitioners of the artform are not all black or the consumers are all black. And on top of that, the rap industry that reflects Hip-Hop perpetuates negative stereotypes of a certain element of the black community but HAS NO CONTROL over it's image, market, or infrastructure. We have influence, but that influence is a commodity that serves to benefit NOT the wider collective black community, but some would argue to WEAPONIZE it. And more to the point benefical to white consumers, white controlling interests, and black capitalitsts.

[@siriuslyspeaking9720]

@@jman1562001 Good points and thanks for engaging the points I have made. I get very few responses to them. I think what KRS-0ne is really suggesting is to expand the concept of ethnicity to include a commonality of culture. This is how I interpret what he has said. It raises many questions. This is a pattern among us. Things are done or said, which are highly questionably or ambiguous, but they are ignored - left un-questioned/un-clarified. I question to what extent Hi-Hop is really a unique culture, just on the level of art. From my perspective, it has been highly pretentious from the start. How widely are the elements other than rapping practiced, especially graffiti writing? The only element that likely did not exist in some form prior is scratching. For most people H-H is rap music - nothing more. Is there much of a market for any other element? As for non Black/Latino people being a part of Hip-Hop, many likely just play at being a part of it. Many likely go back to who they really are, at any time they desire or need to. I doubt they take it as seriously as do Blacks and Latinos and maybe not even as much as some Blacks and Latinos, who are not of the earlier generations of Hip-Hop. I have not heard or seen anything from people like Michael Eric Dyson and Tricia Rose, who have written much about Hip-Hop. Dyson at least at one point, seemed to have made himself the self-appointed spokesperson for Hip-Hop, having gotten it as a course at Georgetown Univ.. One would think in celebrating its 50 anniversary, people like this would have taken the time to write or say something about it during this time of celebration and commemoration. As for control over it. It along with all of our culture, especially the performing and visual arts, should/could have been the foundation of collective economic development in Black communities. It should/could have been the foundation of our form of community development that gentrification has not been. We should have marketed our culture over the internet and attracted the consumers of it all over the world, into our communities and into venues we own, to partake of our culture, which so many of us like to boast that the world loves. Our cultural talent is the most plentiful and easily marketable natural resource we have, in every community we have. The traffic to consume our culture could spill over to support other kinds of businesses. There would be obvious problems to overcome, but it is something that one would think we would have tried. KRS-One also said in the same video he said that it should be an ethnicity in itself, that Hip-Hop should have a section in every major city in the world dedicated to Hip-Hop. Why would he step over Black communities to put them in one central location that likely would not be within Black communities? I've been saying on social media for over a year now, that how in celebrating its 50th anniversary could it do so by saying "it changed the world", when it did not change the communities it came out of? I have yet to get a response to that question, let alone an answer.

[@jman1562001]

@@siriuslyspeaking9720 deep. Well it's ironic that the rap community places a premium on lyricism. And rightfully so it does take skill to manipulate words combine them, and have mutiple meanings. But what about the performance, the DJ, the dancing. Graffiti was always a unique skill on its own and only a handful could do it well. I believe it was a deliberate attempt by industry figures to muffle the other elements precisely because they required SKILL. DJ scratching required skill on the tables, ain't to BSing or mumbling your way on that. Same with dancing, you had to practice your routine to do it well, otherwise you look like a lame stiff. 😏. And the performance of incorporating both along with an MCs delivery made him stand out. It's ironic that this generation does not emphasize any of those elements but rather record sales, lyricism, and influence in fashion and style. That's what rap pushed but imo hip hop is more dynamic when the dj and dancing styles were still apart of the movement. It was participatory and coorporeative. It was display of skill as well. The message was dope too. It's why folks judge Jay z the best because of his lyricism and wit. But take the other elements into account and he a stiff in comparison. I remember he was kind of a wack performer and has improved over the years, but part of that is the lack of reference point for the younger generation to the Golden Age. Remember when it was common for a DJ to scratch on a album, or to see dancing in a video or at a show. That's the part of hip hop that got lost as time when on precisely because I don't believe you commodity SKILL. You either got it or you wack and got to practice some more. It demanded more then just a simple rhyme. It's also seen in lyricism where ABC rhymes could not cut in the golden era. Lyricism elevated and then descended when industry big wigs found rappers who could rhyme a little could get hits and not demand more. Slowly the DJ was segregated out of the rap industry along with the dancing element. It's why when you go to most rap shows unless you got a strong delivery like a Krs One or Busta l, a lot of rappers just look WACK and typically such. I'm ranting but my point is hip hop got lost in the sauce to the rap industry.

[@jr.9008]

We won’t find it here in America!🤔

[@okeafia5630]

I agree. I think we should find it in an established black nation preferably a west African one.

[@jr.9008]

@@okeafia5630 you took the words right out of my mouth brother!

[@charlesislaw]

Pharoah aka the CIA aka The Pentagon will follow you there. They can send their drones wherever you run to. But if Black people take power in America, you can free Africa and the Diaspora at large

[@obiewordlaw4640]

"Follow the Money from A to Z 100% "We should be at this Day and Time to always Check All Angles knowing what is in our Interest. and what is Not .So we can know how we should Play Offense and Defenses For the Black/African Diaspora Every Every Thing is Related to Economic .It's Time for us stop being the Margin of Profit in Every thing WE TOUCH NOT JUST LISTEN ,"GET INVOLVED .WHAT EVER LANE YOU IN THAT WILL IMPROVE THE BLACK,AFRICAN ISSUES ,BRING IT TO THE FOREFRONT AND LET'S SEE WHERE IT FITS A TO Z 100% GROCERY STORES HARDWARE STORES ETC,ETC, AND BEYOND ....FROM A to Z 100

[@rexracernj7696]

Poor idea. The South is mostly poor, esp. Mississippi, northern La., most of Ark. & Ala. Stagnant w/little potential for any growth. This plan would doom blacks to poverty, among a lot of reactionaries as well. Now admittedly Tenn. seems to have very strong growth, so maybe that's a target; grow "blue" political power there (but never be a black majority there).

[@AminaPhilosophy]

With remote work, strategic family planning, and development the South can grow exponentially. Blk people bring cultural elements that are very appealing to others. This will attract tourism and have a positive economic impact. I’m no economist, but I try to be an optimist.

[@daydreamerz]

Remote workers, entrepreneurs, real estate investors, healthcare workers, technical skilled workers.... That's a lot of black people who can make an impact in the South.

[@melissagreye8445]

@@daydreamerz There are a lot of black people who live in the south already why haven't they made the impact. You don't need more people from the north to do any of the things you mentioned. You already have the numbers.

[@melissagreye8445]

@@AminaPhilosophy You guys would have already done it if that were true. The lack of economic development among black people themselves in the south is the issue.

[@lillieharris1371]

Thank you.

[@darrylwilson9579]

I guess nobody wants to state the facts that MLK fail us with integration Bulls#t. We had everything we needed during segregation. We are more divided today, because the government has set systems to keep us as consumers. Migrating south. I’m a homeowner and I’m here already. The price of homes are skyrocketing. Just saying!

[@tcalip2968]

I just like you Guys to call Yourselves birth right born Americans because we have all been through so much to live where we want in America without apologies. We do not have to cater to Anyone who may have lived in a City or State longer than us in our Homeland. I view other People from other Countries as Migrants. Thanks for sharing.

[@kashmoney7421]

Just to be clear if you have a state legislature and governor seat thats everything. We only get 2% of contracts in GA at the state level. Even in Atlanta blacks dont get contracts. If you have control over the state you control the budget and how contracts are handed out. You control everything on a state level. You could actually provide the correct amount of public funds to public HBCUs in your state versus the dorms looking projects with rats and roaches. You control policing and criminal justice. The governor could pardon everyone in a state prison if he wanted to and most of our people are incarcerated on the state level. Also voting rights. Each state makes its own rules about voting. If the prospect of this doesnt excite you then you do not care about self governance or power or economic viability as a group. The only time Toure perk up is when the discussion turns to the parties or how this might hurt republicans or help democrats. We do not care about that we care about helping black people. I care about my people versus either of these racist parties.

[@willis7404]

you're on the money. And I read your other comment about reading the book for more data so I'm adding it to my list. I read Michael Harriot's Black AF History and was fascinated by the political represenation we had early during reconstruction, which is why the backlash was so vicious because they had lost control. To me, this project of capitlalizing on a reverse migration is more important than the upcoming general election. If we can start getting black people elected as governors in the South it would be a huge benefit to the community and also make the black voting bloc more respected in national political discourse. Blow makes a good point about how with the little power and representation we have now all we can do is beg for support and resources.

[@kashmoney7421]

@@willis7404 I also read Black AF and it was very good as well. I have 2 kids in their early 20s. I try to teach them the importance of being intentional and planning and setting goals and benchmarks. People who don't do that are not serious people and are usually headed where other people put them versus where they would like to be. As a community we have been derelict in all of this.

[@mariejane1567]

This won't help poverty rates. People need to understand how contracts work. We need to focus on local and residential needs to build our communities. I can't even find a black contractor to build a house or give me a loan. Why? Because these men don't want to build or get an education or skilled trade.

[@kashmoney7421]

@@mariejane1567 these are lies and racist stereotype tropes. Black men have always wanted and tried to work and own businesses in this country. I don't know if you are Klan but this is Klan talk. And as an MBA I know how contracts work and I know we get none. A huge portion of white wealth is the govt taking tax money from everyone but only giving it primarily to white citizens.

[@willis7404]

@@mariejane1567 if you can't find a black contractor you aren't looking hard. I had 3 seperate black contracting companies replace my floors, install my garage doors and upgrade my heating and air conditioning units.

[@ebonysimpsonCNM]

Let’s move all the way south to sub Saharan Africa

[@charlesmartin2888]

Solution is real simple. If every HBCU investing in a manhattan project, then they won’t disrespect you again.

[@vanessasmith3628]

this is what tone was talking about. we have to unite for political power and not give away our vote!

[@Jooooooooooooooooiijj]

Washington DC...PG county and Atlanta Georgia has the richest most educated blacks in America

[@bucksst8821]

I live in LA, but I always enjoyed my visits to Atlanta. The people are friendly and there is always something to do. But Atlanta has always been a rules oriented city. When I was going there in the 70's and 80's the top clubs required men to wear suits. I went to a comedy club. The parking lot was almost empty, But they had a specific area where they wanted me to park. Then they said I could not come in because I was wearing blue jeans. I had to explain to them that they were not jeans, but Bill Blass slacks. Atlanta is still the South and that southern way of thinking and doing things still prevails. it's a nice place to visit but I would not want to live there.

[@Jooooooooooooooooiijj]

You can't make it in Atlanta All those middle class blacks

[@bucksst8821]

It's not the middle class back that would stifle me. It's the guys with all those guns.

[@Jooooooooooooooooiijj]

@@bucksst8821 stop lying Los Angeles and Chicago is the gang capital's of the united states all the gun play out here in L A ... that's why I know the large black middle class blew your mind.... Washington DC prince George county Maryland and Atlanta Georgia has the richest most educated blacks in America

[@MariJohn1267]

Kings but not Queens. So Kemp instead of Stacey Abrams. Got it.

[@ATACXGYMCAPOEIRA]

The brutha Charles Blow is making excellent. Excellent points. I agree with most of what he says. However if we Black folks move back to The South? The prices will spike sharply.

[@eliyahubenysrael6272]

Politics shouldnt be our only focus...

[@heirchurch5730]

His concept is an idea whose time has come.