Due process is the idea that everyone should be treated fairly under the law no matter who you are. But during Donald Trump’s time in office, this basic American right is pushed aside in favor of politics and power.
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The headlines are oppressively constant with more shootings, more hate crimes, more senseless deaths. The air feels heavy with a thick musty smell of fear and rage. It’s hard to ignore the feeling that we’ve slipped into a lawless, dangerous era trumped with more weapons of human destruction. like a modern-day Wild Wild West where life feels cheaper, and anger burns hotter. But even as the chaos seems to grow louder, I believe there’s still a quieter force like the smell of Jasmine rising in the background: the Booker will of the people to bring us back from the brink.
We’re watching the slow corrosion of our institutions, our sense of truth, and even our own humanity. Trump is killing us—not just with policy, but with spectacle, with distraction, with division. America has become the “stuff” jokes are made of. And while the political circus keeps spinning, others like Elon Musk are suffocating us with his unchecked wealth and power, disguised as a friend. As he floods public conversation with his arrogant tech leaders with ideas about having Freedom without any rules. I don’t know about you, but it seems like we’re being set up for an episode in the movie Purge.
As a Black publisher and proud steward of a media platform that uplifts and informs our community, I’ve long witnessed the power of the Black dollar. We are a trillion-dollar consumer force—one that fuels the American economy with every swipe, tap, and trip to the store. Yet, despite our economic impact, far too many corporations, including the household names we frequent like Target, Walmart, and others—continue to fall short when it comes to investing back into the very communities that help them thrive.
Look at what has happened. Books that tell the truth of our past are being banned. Black history is being rewritten, diluted, and erased to protect the fragile sensibilities of those who cannot face the sins of their forefathers. The very essence of our struggle, our triumphs, and our pain is being stripped away from the educational system, ensuring that future generations remain ignorant of the contributions and sacrifices of Black Americans.
We need wise and responsible leadership, something sorely lacking in the reckless governance we have seen. The future of the nation depends on leaders who prioritize wisdom over impulsiveness, truth over misinformation, and service over self-interest.
The Westside Gazette Newspaper, as part of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, Public Education and Selective Buying campaign, proudly stand with the voices of nearly 230 Black-owned media companies nationwide. Together, we serve 22 million readers weekly, sharing stories that matter, uplifting our communities, and fostering self-awareness. Our mission is clear: to empower our audience with the knowledge and tools to make a difference in where and how we spend our hard-earned Black dollar$
Sixty years have passed since the brutal events of Bloody Sunday, when brave men and women risked everything to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in pursuit of justice. Their sacrifice shook the nation and paved the way for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Yet, as I stood in Selma for the first time, I could not escape a sobering truth: we are still climbing the rough side of the mountain.
As we begin Women’s History Month, we honor the resilience, brilliance, and unwavering courage of women especially Black women who have long been the backbone of justice, progress, and change. Their sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs have shaped history, often without the recognition they deserve.
In the words of the late gospel singer Lee Williams, I can’t give up now. I can’t turn around, come too far. These words ring true today more than ever. No matter what the Musk/Trump administration manipulates or concocts against us, we must remember—nothing they do can be worse than what we’ve already endured. And through all that we have come through, we did not come through it alone.