Hello family, friends, and comrades. Welcome to the first official post of BGR. If you're an OG, you know the drill. If you're new here, I'm happy to see you.This is a pretty light-content day. I'm saving the heavier essays for next week and beyond.
Why did I end BGR in the first place and where have I been?
Once I ended this publication, I started a handful of short-lived, uninspiring projects. I had an obsession with creating more content because I felt like I wasn't producing enough. Then when the other projects weren't hitting, I felt discouraged and stopped doing anything altogether.
So I took a break. I wrote a few pieces here and there, but I wasn't really doing much. But this itching feeling of guilt for staying silent has finally got to me and pushed me to end this hiatus and get back to work. So here we are.
What is BGR
BGR is my publication for revolutionary change through discussions, education, and action. The colors all mean different things.
B for Black - Black Liberation
G for Green - Climate Justice
R for Red - Solidarity (with all marginalized groups)
Black
Black liberation is probably the one I feel most deeply connected to of the three. As I have shared multiple times, my general activism started with Bernie, but my revolutionary mindset never developed until I became exposed to black liberation figures.
Kwame Ture, Fred Hampton, and Malcolm X, the non-white-washed version of MLK would be on my Mount Rushmore of my personal black revolutionary beliefs. Discovering their works is what began to open my eyes.
I think in times like this, black liberation is paramount. Especially when we have white supremacists in every group of political thought. Yes, every group of political thought. While you may believe being an anti-black leftist is antithetical to true leftist beliefs and can't exist, let me hold your hand as I say this, it absolutely exists. Many non-black leftists have problematic beliefs and approaches when it comes to black liberation. I call them the CWO (Class War Only) leftists. They took the "No war but the class war" phrase in such a way that they literally interpreted issues like misogyny, racism, and homophobia as simple "distractions" from the "real problems".
For example, sorry to drop this bomb on you, but a lot of Bernie bros are racist and misogynistic. I used to think it was a cop-out used by liberals to criticize him until I saw the way his supports speak to black women (specifically black women who voted in their best interests in 2024 because no one else ever prioritizes black women in their activism despite being the most at risk for basically fucking everything). I don't fuck with that AT ALL.
These types of leftists are the exact opposite of those liberals who only care about social issues and never stop to examine the ways capitalism exacerbates these issues. Because if they did, they'd realize the billionaire-backed Democratic politicians who they Glaze so much are compromised and care more about their dividends than any marginalized group.
My point is that Black liberation and the class war while interconnected in many valid ways, are not the same thing and are still equally important. If I see you ignoring either of them, you are my opp.
Green
I have a confession to make. Part of the reason I ended BGR was the guilt I felt for not representing the Green aspect of this publication. One of the reasons I am bringing it back is because I can't overstate just how important this issue is for human survival. I think the climate crisis is the most pressing issue today. This shit will literally fucking kill us all.
A lot of the mainstream environmental activism, even from when I was a kid, is based completely on personal changes. Personal changes to be more eco-friendly are dope. Personally, in 3 years, I hope I am completely plant-based with maybe the occasional steak. We cannot however personally change our way out of this. These billionaires and their corporations are destroying the planet to unfathomable degrees which makes comparing it to the impact of the average consumer ridiculous.
While discussing climate change and any environmental topic requires more research than a lot of the other issues I cover, I am fully willing to put the work in. Especially because it relates to different topics. Green Capitalism is a problem. Environmental racism is real. I won't ignore these issues.
Red
Solidarity is by far the most powerful tool for change. It's not even close. Beyond the kinda transactional reason I just gave, it's basic human empathy, something many lack.
I can explain in simple words the overwhelming feeling of disgust I felt seeing black people say "It's not our fight" in regards to the deportations because of anti-black Latinos. I felt the same level of disgust seeing black people say the same thing about Gaza because a few Palestinian activists were racist.
Call me crazy, but when I see this innocent, hardworking people get taken away by ICE, or people in Gaza being bombed, starved, and amputated, the thought "I wonder how they feel about Black people" or "Well maybe their people should've voted for Harris", has never crossed my mind since I'm not a fucking psychopath.
Solidarity ain't easy. Building community isn't either. We don't need it to be easy, y'all need to understand it's needed. When Malcolm X said by any means necessary, Solidarity is absolutely one of those necessary means. So yes anti-blackness within the non-black communities needs to be addressed, we can do so without insinuating they deserve the oppression because of it.
In other news
Embracing communism
It's a well-established fact that many today still see communism and socialism as scary words. So it's been the advice of many, including me in the past, that we should push the agenda and advocate for the changes without saying those words. I no longer believe that is necessary. In fact, we should begin to embrace the words.
For starters, the opposition doesn't suddenly change when you don't use those words. The democratic establishment will start plotting against your ass the millisecond you even suggest taxing the rich or not giving billions to Israel. Fox News and other republican politicians and media will call you a radical left socialist, whether you're a warmongering neoliberal democrat like Obama or an open socialist like Zorhan Mamdani (if you live in NYC, rank him first and don't rank that sex pest Cuomo). These mfs literally called Kamala Harris a Marxist. I fucking wish!
So I'm gonna be open and transparent about my beliefs. I'm a filthy communist and will probably be first in line once the Fascists start rounding us up.
The BGR Podcast
This is coming back. I am not sure when, what it will look/sound like, or anything like that. All I know is it is coming and will be available via substack.
How you can help?
I need something from all of you. If you enjoy my thoughts, writing, and other content, please don't hesitate to share and subscribe. My crazy goal is to hit 100 subscribers on BGR before my birthday (August 8th) . I think we can do it.
Post a screenshot of your story with a link. Share with a like-minded person in your life. I want to hear your thoughts. Your actions and input are what really make BGR what it is.
Anyway, thank you all for reading. See y'all next week!
Peace