Observations From The Trenches

0:00The following commentary does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff and management of WBCA or the Boston Neighborhood Network. If you would like to express another opinion, you can address your comments to Boston Neighborhood Network, 3025 Washington Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02119. To arrange a time for your own commentary, you can call WBCA at 617-708-3215 or email radio at bnnmedia.org. The last night was September 1st, voting, and as usual as the Boomer, you know, I can just put my thoughts for the young folks to consider.

1:20As I said, they're watching the returns, and I did vote, you know. But this is what I want you to think about. This summer I came to the conclusion, or say, a revolution about three and a decade ago. I was questioning a lot of things I've been talking about my parents and other caregivers. Voting being one of those things, you know, how important was it to make you like better. So my phone for the young folks today, they're after the election this year. What is voting achieved for American blacks in the past five decades? What is voting achieved for American blacks in the past five decades? He's in the Boston. What is the chief was? And what I want you to think about this here, your own individual situation. What has voting done for you? Today, after the voting has your home improved? Did your situation improve better housing, better employment? How has it made your life?

2:25And what really changed my mind three, three and a half decades ago when I started questioning the importance of voting was that when I stepped back and looked at it, right? And the end of society found in capitalism, pretty market based on property, America's the business. It really is a business that how you are going to fare, how you want to live really comes down to you. Even the person that you want to win vote one, or if they lost. But at the end of the day, how well you are fair and how well you are doing young people come down to you. That's when I came to realize, it's been at that case ago that although voting has a place, but the significance that has been placed in black America. And I do understand why they chose to see it passed to go because we had no rights in this great country, but I was.

3:25So you had to have laws passed that way, give us right. But at the end of the day, laws might change behavior to some degree, but laws will never change the person hot or the two conviction. In this thing called free enterprise in the day, how you are a fair and going to come down with you can afford your skills, your income, not who's in office. And as I thought about that three and a half decades ago, it let me realize that although voting plays a role, but it has a very minor role in how you're going to do. So whether you candidate one last night or lost here at the Boston, most of you, all of you, my seven career, are in the same predicament. I was doing well before I voted. I'm doing well now. And the reason why I'm doing well now because three and a decade ago when I came into a new height and awareness, I knew that in this thing called free enterprise capitalism.

4:29All right. Skills are important and no skills are directly related to your income. So no matter who wins or loses, your personal situation doesn't change. And yes, they may follow, oh, yes, we're going to improve schools. Oh, yes, we ought to pay the bills. You know, bring down food prices, whatever. And for more information, if you just research that, you'll see that it too is a planned demand market. Government has very little in order to bring it down food prices or all prices. If you have more and more and more for making you this, you know, research that you'll see that all price and has all market. Now, yes, all price and spike. They can they can they can they can tick up with somebody do something similar like perfect Trump. Go there. It's time to find with the Iranians. It can just wrap the flow. But the market to terms, how much those barrels or go up or go down. The market does that.

5:38So again, when you hear politicians say that they can control or going reduce prices are going to make house more affordable. They're lying to you. And for more information, if you just do your own research, how how how how how's in prices set? You'll see government has very little to do with that. Now, government can, you know, prevent, you know, to be price gouging. Well, you know, just blame, you know, a hanky picker going on. But for the most part, we live in a free market economy. And it is based on supply demand. And government has a role, but it's most of them make sure that you know contracts are enforceable. You know the rules of the game. But the outcome, right? Well, the price go down. They are very, very, they have very little to do with that. And so as I watched Lee results in last night, I just I was reminiscing, you know, three decades ago when I just sat there and said, hey, the same worker.

6:46We're voting in the 90s, perceptive Democrats. But you ain't get no return reason, being because they can't make it like better. They cannot put up, they cannot create a policy. It's going to determine how well you're going to do. They cannot create a policy. And the twin, what kind of home you going to get? What kind of salary you going to make? What kind of job you're going to get? That's all on you. And so as I came into height in the way and it's 3 1 1 2 decades ago, it became very pantomy, apparent to me. If I really wanted to really enjoy a great country, it takes a certain level wealth. We income and do that. And that's why I became very, very committed to have to go back and upgrade my scales. And what really ticks me out with the Democratic Party, who have been a lifelong sucker for, yes, indeed. I must admit, I voted blue no matter who for that case. And then I asked, where's the return?

7:50Then I asked that. And I'm proud to say that I see many of the young people, genexular disease and millennials, they're not being so foolish, foolish as my group were, the boomers, who just followed our leaders regardless. We didn't question, we didn't ask no question, we just followed them. And although nothing got better, we just kept voting Democrat no matter who. I'm proud to say that young, many young people are looking to tick-tock another platform. You guys ain't having that. No, you ain't not having that. And so I want to also caution you that in this free society called capitalism, right? Voting has to be a limitation. It does not determine if your kid is educated. Like I said, I won't, I won't qualify to be all the kids. I won't qualify to be the education for all children. Whenever you get a word all, we're actually myself three decades ago. Where has that word all ever been fulfilled?

8:53Where we all ever got what they said we was going to get. Jobs everybody clean this everybody, clean that everybody. When is that ever ever ever ever came about? Let's set back three decades ago I said nowhere. So basically it'll be going to make sure all your kids educated. That's a lie. Just a lie. Just like anybody in the city of Boston who got anything going on, their kids are not going to wear BPS. The kids ain't there. No way know how. Cause they know that the product is suspect. So, but politicians keep saying that education for all our children sounds good, but they can't deliver. I want to have a quarter of a house and everybody. Sounds good. They can't deliver.

9:54So last night as I said and watched the results, I was really just thrilled to realize that I'm no longer on that miracle round of illusions. This is what I call illusion. In this thing called free enterprise, they really can't do much to make your life better. It's going to get place of roll. That's you. But the end of the day is what you get out there and do that matters. Not what they do. And they can always say, I'm working for you. I'm going for you. I'm looking for you. But the you don't get any better. Because why you're not doing anything to make you better. So let's see if they have the election. Of course, I want to put out there to my group. American blacks. We can watch speak to my group. Really. All these so-called redress policies came about because as a redress was labelled Jim Crow.

10:55From a reaction, D.I. you name it. All these things. Set aside you name it. All these policies benefited everybody but the group that came into existence. To benefit. That's why I speak to my group. And my group only disparaging no group against no group. But to my group. Politics is not it, baby. It is not it. And yes, you're going to be bombarded. Like you've never been bombarded before. Next two months, you know, for November. They're going to make Trump the second coming of Lucifer. Because when I think about it, they got always find somebody that they can blame as a reason why your life stinks. Reason why your life is where you reason why you are where you are. You never bring it back home to you. Reason why you can't afford to house now and see the boss.

11:57You don't have the income. Numbers don't work. And so we can talk about a full of billion all we want to. If you make a 50% of the grand, you can't afford to be here. That's the bottom line. But it can't take the Kavai. They got to keep this disillusion going that they're working for you. But in fact, they know numbers don't work. It doesn't work. So when they see it, they have to after Tuesday, after voting, my question to GNX, GZ, and Lenny, American Black youth. You guys. This boomer actually this one question. What is voting at she for American blacks in the past five decades? And for the boomer to listen to my to my program, you know nothing. I can't say nothing of substance has been achieved in Boston. And I've been this is 1963. Nothing. Even having black figures in city hall or city halls have done nothing for the collector.

12:59Nothing. There's been no trickle down in other words. Because the focus was on the wrong end. The focus was on politics and not on self development. The focus on voting and not on creating and owning entities that produces wealth or that polluted or that producer employment. And so at the end of the day, many of you become disillusion because when you were voting, you see you see nothing change because they can't change it for you. Our luck. Our luck at the picture cannot change the outcome of your life. Even those who don't need to go to a program. But poor for. This against people. Be section eight. Where fair. Food stamps. The work. Staffing crap. Snap crack on pop all programs. Those program have not made you made yourself efficient or independent. And in fact, since the war on poverty was launched by LBJ in the 60s, it's created a permanent underclass.

14:12And one thing Trump administration has shown that many people have been on this program for generations. Style with a mama. Now they're kids. Now they're kids. Kids. Kids. Kids. Kids. Kids. Kids. It was never meant for that. But in fact, what these program did? They took your driving ambition to what prosper and thrive. So instead of a safety net, it's become nothing but a weight that keeps you 10 to the bottom. But democratic party won't tell you that. Because they want you to believe that they are fighting for you. They aren't they're making sacrifice for you to make life better for you. And the truth is, they are not. They're not. The veterans, you're the black Americans, right? I just getting by. And when I look at many of the families that I worked with last 20 plus years, they're working by the way. They're working.

15:16It's their skills. And my telephobe. You got to go back. You got to go back up with your skills. There's no get around that. And we don't want to think many folks don't. 15 years prior, for 20 years prior, they were sitting in that seat and both numbers school, getting nothing. Many graduated, not reading or comprehending at a 12-way level. Many of their children are in the same predicament. That's why in our system, BPS, by the full grade, you got about seven or eight of the students, the kids, or even more. Can't read the four, three, eleven, eleven or above. And it gets no better and grade eight or grade 12. So for those folks who do stick around, graduate with that degree from BPS, right? It's worthless. It's worthless. If they go to college, most have to enter a immediate education school at Bucking Hill or RCC. Because they didn't get it.

16:26So what I'm trying to get you to think about is your call now. At the end of the day, everyone must decide how you are going to roll out here. So I'm asking you, the day after Tuesday, the day after voting, what is voting a cheat for American blacks in the past five decades? That's the question. Who have you seen life improved from voting? I'm asking the question. These are the things I asked myself three decades ago about myself. And the answer that always came forth was nothing. I've seen nothing improved because why? I couldn't afford to improve it. I didn't have the means to pay for the things I wanted. So despite me voting for these candidates, right? I'm sure they're good people. But politics is not all illusion. It's all a deception, baby.

17:34Because no matter who gets in office, you know, they cannot make your individual life better. Even if you own these programs, you know, get them welfare, whatever, right? All they can do is keep you in poverty. So you never become self-sufficient or independent. Where you have for deliverable, you want to live, pound your children to type a home of your choice. So your kids are programs of your choice. Why? You don't have the income. So the whole political operation really is a root. It's really a facade. Somebody got to run the country this true. But the way it's been rolled out to us that these folks are going to make your life better. It's not so. It's not so. And for more information, that's research. What is the role of government? What can they do? They got to role the play. It's mostly as a referee, really. But read what they can do.

18:51And for your own, you know, your own quality of life, it comes down to you. And once you come to realize that, then you realize why you've got to be about getting your skill on, getting the name out there in the field of your choice. And the money going to come because one thing, not great society called capitalism, right? It's the best thing for poor folks to why it allows you to elevate yourself. I'm doing proof of that. So are my friends. Through all my friends came home like my working parents, humble people, you know. There was no inheritance moved up home. There was nothing. You know, but we understood a few things. You need to be skilled out here. We also understood, you know, being a criminal in a kind of criminal activity was a no no. You know, and we knew that instant gratification was not the road. It was not going to happen overnight.

19:56What are you going to do? What are you going to do? I'm going to take time to go back get the skills. That's true. Why you get no skills you're going to need to be working these low paying jobs as I did that's true. Once you get these skills and once you get the skills that you have in the marketplace and build a name for yourself takes time. Okay. Once you do that, you're going to start to see the results. Because folks do want quality people who can do quality work. And if your skills in demand right in that particular field of your choice, you will be sought after. And things will be can get going so well you need to hire people to keep up with the volume. Then you're really going to be off the money. But there is no get rich quick scheme here. And delay revocation is also part of it. And I think in the last 30 years having all these young people, you know, like slinging, bling, bling, bling, bling.

21:00We know the rap, this he wrapped that, you know, and being an athlete, there's really given us a false sense of reality. How do folks become successful here? It's not overnight. Not in the teen. Most making the ads right, occurred in the 40s. And these are folks who were not giving anything because their skill or occupation just able to create. And do well for themselves. And matter of fact, I read a stat with 77, 77, 77% of first time being there's got no inheritance. They didn't only own what the feeling might be. So that's why I said, it's hopeful you and me. But listen to the politician. They give you impression that's a Democrat and also Republican. If you don't vote for them, you do.

22:01And they're always going to find somebody right to point to at the reason why your life is miserable. It's a lot, you know, because they want you not to look at your self and say, what can I or should be doing to make my life better? What could I be doing? Why is my life not moving away? I want to move. What am I doing? This is hindering me. They want to tell you that. They want to just stuck. They want to just say stuck on the so called their political vote, which is Donald Trump. I'll be sorry, everyone. President Trump leave office. I'm going to say, what are you going to say now? Who's going to be the boogie man now? Who? Because they can't change your life. You couldn't change mine. I can't realize that. I can't realize that three decades ago. If you don't vote, they can't change your life. Only you can do that. It's great. It's great country. Only you can do that.

23:13So again, to the young people I'm talking to, they have a voting. What is voting a cheat for American blacks in the past five decades? Seriously, you should sit there and ponder. If your parents, your grandparents, what has it done for them? We're seeing some of our parents vote religiously in every election. What has it done for them? How has it improved their home? How? Oh, they can put more police officers out there for everybody. They can be a role. That's everybody. But what has voting done for you to make your life better, to make your life more comfortable, what has done for you? And the push that came through three decades ago, he didn't ever meet me. And I started to have this here, say, you know, like a lesson, this deep thought, when Reagan beat the farmer, Jimmy Carter.

24:25I like Jimmy Carter. I thought Jimmy Carter was too honest for the job. You know? And it's just a question. Some believe that my parents had passed down to me about voting, civil service and civil rights and stuff like that. Say, man, you know, this stuff ain't working out here. And I started to think, well, trying to appease white to have them like us or see us in a different light, that shouldn't be our problem. The problem is there. You can't make nobody think, think, think, I live you. When you're done and do them. I thought I found it was the waste of time. I thought starting to think, hey, I need to focus on me. And be around folks who want to be around me. If you don't be around me, that's fine. I just started to question a lot of the things that I had been taught the young man. I think God I did.

25:27Because I don't know where I'd be right now if I stay on that same, had that same belief system. It's a great country. You know, you need politician, you need them. You know, but you're not going to make your life better. You're not going to make your life better. We live in a free enterprise society. It is for individuals. That's why they always try to demonize right? The big and as a making as. And what's so really ironic that the policies that govern whose tax, how, how their tax, then make those laws. It's not the big and as to decide, you know, the rate for corporate taxes or individual or like, or, you know, individual. It's Congress in the Senate. They do that. Mr. Presley does that. You know, it's mocky does that. She might he's fighting big and as a lot. Please.

26:28And you can't fall to big and as, but trying to get things in their favor because you know, think about it's him. The highest tax rate right now at 37%. If big and as took their salary instead of and stop and income, can you make it being taxed on a big and all at 37%. Come on man. And most both in mocky and Bernie Sanders and Mr. Presley and this one know that wealthy people don't take income. They're not drawn to salary. They take this and stock equity. And the stocks I'm pre increasing in price and you can't tax that because why is that income. And mocky knows that. Mr. Presley knows that. This one knows that. Bernie certainly knows that. But I was telling you, we can we gonna make the billionaires pay their fifth. They pay that this year.

27:29The who make the laws they do. Congress does say does. So if they ain't paying at Bernie, Mr. Presley, Mr. Warren because you ain't doing your job. You can't blame the beginning of the millionaire. Matter of fact, I'm trying to get there. Because I can take my salary and those sorry and stock I should would I should it would know no relevant. I would take advantage of this legal option that folks who are safety wealthy have. They take this their salary. What you call setting stocks. You don't take it in stocks or earnings. That's why it's not taxable. But I partition know that young people. They know that. But they want you to think, oh, they ain't paying their fifth year of garbage. So my thought for you to think about. I have to take a break in a minute.

28:31Probably the young people. GeneXan, GeneZee's and millennials. What is voting a cheat for American blacks in the past five decades here? See the boss. Just talk about it. What is a cheat for you who voted last night? You come on to a better home. Better resources. More money in the bank. You know, I better credit score. Did you come on to that? And says no. Because it's all a charade, baby. At the end of the day. Your income and skill will determine how well you're doing in our great country. But it won't tell you that. So again, you're listening to WBC one or two point nine at them. I'm your host, like him about him. Name my show, baby. From a trenches, baby. I'm absolutely from the trenches. I speak about things I see. How do you have effect my group? My thought for you to think about young people this year. What is voting a cheat for American blacks in the past five decades? I'll be back. Don't go nowhere.

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31:57Have a good one y'all. What do all these and more have in common? They're all sites where you can stream and download to WBCA Radio Show Podcasts. WBCA 102.9 FM Boston is Boston's Community Radio Station. What do you think about the revolution? The revolution wasn't televised in the 60s. Is it going to be televised in the 90s? Well, you know the catch phrase, what that was all about, the revolution when I was talking about, that was about the fact that the first change that takes place in your mind. You have to change your mind before you change the way you live and when you move. So when we said that the revolution would not be televised, we were saying that the thing that's going to change people is something that no one will ever be able to catch you on film.

33:01It'll just be something that you see and all of a sudden you realize I'm on the wrong page or I'm on the right page but I'm on the wrong note. And I've got to get in sync with everybody else to understand what's happening in this country. But I think that the Black Americans have been the only real damn hard Americans here because we're the only ones who carry the process to the process. That everyone else has to sort of like skip stages. We're the ones who marched, we're the ones who carried the Bible, we're the ones who carried the flag, we're the ones who tried to go to the courts. And being born American didn't seem to matter because we were born American but we still had to fight for what we were looking for. We still had to go through those channels and those processes. I'm back Boston again. I'm your host, Larry Kimballton. You're listening to WBCA 102.909th film. Name my program baby from a trenches baby from a trenches. Ah, the best of the trenches! I'm a trenches. As they minted up professional in the last 20 years, I might be in folks homes looking to see how things are going.

34:06The sea resources, behavior, policies made them high. Are they working? They ain't working out here. They ain't working. So my thought to you, they have to voting to my group, the young people. What is voting a cheat for American blacks in the past five decades? Think about it. What has voting a cheat for American blacks in the past five decades? Did they after voting, whether you're a person wanting to lose? How was your home? Was it any better? Better resources? Wanted in the bank? Better position? How was it? When I came to realize three decades ago, when I started to have this revelation about voting, they'll have a role, but it's a bit downside. It has nothing to do with making your life better. That after you vote, your life's the same.

35:08If you're doing great, toozie, you're doing great now. If all your needs are more than met toozie, they're being met now. If you're struggling toozie, you're struggling on with you. If you cannot take care of yourself on toozie, you can't take care of yourself on wazzy. Your life's in change. When I started to realize that, you know, I was there, where did it went now? This is here. Vote like a life depended on it. It's nonsense. Come on, life's in get any better. And I'm not pro-occur, I'm gonna come to voting. Sometime, I vote, sometime, I don't. But my quality of life should not be dependent on who's in office. That's one of the biggest lies that's been told to black folks in the last... Mmm. I'm 10 years. Vote like a life depended on it. That's nonsense. Because nowhere, after you vote, doesn't increase or improve your life.

36:14Your home doesn't change. If you didn't have no food in there, when we were out of the vote, you came back no food in there. If the life was full of the flickering, you came back as still flickering. But change your life is you, your income. And the reason why I like playing that little intro by brother, Gifts by Harron, that he really, I think, hit the head on the head, hit the nail on the head, head on the nail. He said, at the end of the day, the revolution stars in your mind, in your mind. Three and a half decades ago, there was a revolution going on my mind. In my mind, there was a revolution questioning what had been taught by my parents and other caregivers about like Greek country. He wasn't working. And I had many of my father's friends and other folks in the community to look at how he was living.

37:20Just humble life. You know, working people, yes, God-friending people, but none special. But they'd be quick to say to you, we are blessed and highly favored. We are blessed and highly favored. But just getting by. And I said, is that it? Is it all I got to look forward to just getting by? That's not the question things that have been taught, things that have been raised on. I said, no. In our Greek country, that's not working. And as I said, it's willing to just reflect on those things. You say, man, how does one become the system right here? And if you think about what they tell you about capitalism, it's wrong. It's the only system that will allow poor people like me and you to elevate ourselves.

38:22Why? Once you acquired those essential high-income skills, right? Which are needed in that production process, they're going to pay you well. They're going to pay you. And from there, you can now work. Create your own stock portfolio. From there, you can work. Create your own real estate holdings. Living the town of your choice. In the home of your choice. You've got to be around as nonsense in the community. You can move to a better part of town. So I started to see things from a different light. And with that light shown, you've got to go back and upgrade your skills Larry. Just looking around at. And so what about me voting? I got back home. You were the same. You know, you're going the same street.

39:22You know, nothing change. Despite them hollering, hey, I'm going to make life better for you. It never did. Because my skills and I put me in my skills and I put me in a new, did not put me in a different category. And so even those of you who might be on public assistance, they don't help you become self-sufficient or independent. It keeps you where you are. And for most of you, you've launched your ambition to drive, to drive and prosper. It was even worse. So on this here, nice Wednesday, they have to vote in my question to the young people, Jim X Jim Zs, and Millennial. What has voting achieved for American blacks in the past five decades? What have you done for us in the city of Boston? What is that?

40:22I can't say anything. They said back in 2015, black American had a net worth of $8. Recently, we put Kim out and said the blacks. And then bring it down by groups or, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, and this is him. We don't know if it's African-American or Caribbean or Haitians or black American. You said blacks. Now, I think it's $8,000. Network. Because why? If houses cause in the city of Boston $900,000, well, you know, you're going to be making my $300,000 a year to afford to be here. Well, that's not us. But I don't see any politician taking up a mantle to address that. None of them. Not Ms. Presley, not Mayor Wu, not Governor Healey.

41:22None of them. Even touching that. Anything that remotely benefit black American, nobody has the nerve to, it's a third rail. Don't, don't, no, no, no, no, no, we don't, we don't do it. Who's getting out of this use? Immigrants. That's why I say, my focus is on my group. Because all those policies of redress came about because of slavery and Jim Crow, for us. And, foolishly, we've allowed everybody to co-op, what should have been attention for us, is when everybody but us. And my look at our situation, we're not in the back of the bus. We're not even on the bus. Not even the bus anymore. So politics as a vehicle is gone. The only thing that's increased I, C. Thorsten, in our great country, is that the system of

42:25economics is based and free enterprise capitalism. And poor people like me and you, once we identify, look at the skill and get those skills, get those skills, get out there and make a name for ourselves, we're going to do very well in 2026. That's the only thing that's increased I can see. Putting in is personally, is crocket, a key dresser, not doing a bus. You're not going to make your life better or give you a fat bank account. I put you in the pilot town you want to be in. I will allow you to put your kids in school to be a choice thing to do that. It's all an illusion. And so, when I came to realize that decades ago, I knew I had to make some changes. And so I asked you, right today, there's ways today after voting. How has your life changed? You come onto a better environment, better bank account, better outlook.

43:27And the new car, the new car now, is socialism. The new car now is progressive, we've progressive, it's a new car. And again, it's all an illusion, baby. Because once they get in power, be a Democrat or a Republican, feel about power. Each one has a vision, we're a marker, needs to go. How do you want us to go? Each one. But they might be voting in. It's why they appeal to you, right? They're going to save you. They're going to make life better for you. Bring down gas prices, electricity prices. Whatever prices might be up, or bring them down. They're going to make housing more affordable. They're here to worry about affordability, the new car. Once houses, you know, start to increase, you've got two choices.

44:34You can afford your income, can afford that rent or the mortgage. Or you might move to a part of the state where your income can afford that rent in that mortgage. Or you've got to get additional income. And the only way they do that now is you've got to go back and upgrade your skills. There's no other way. And what they say to you, what they're going to do, they're going to make life more easier for you. They can. They can. Because we live in a free-mogged economy. And what you do matters. So you want to sit around listening to that nonsense? They're talking. You know. You'll be there by yourself. Because they can't save you. So on this day and night, once they have the new, my thought to the young people. And after a day of voting, what have voting achieved for American blacks in the past five decades?

45:39And I'm not right. The announcement voting. I just want you to take a seat and look at it. What has it done for you? Even the person that you want to win, win. One, what has it done for your life? You're like, you're like, how? How? And when I started looking at it through that lens three decades ago, I said, well, yeah, voting has a place. But it's here. Vote like a light to pin on it. It's nonsense. Not in 2026. Even 53. Right? I think did not. I repeat. Did not increase. The plight of black people. You know, it's home. That their homes are not any better. No, there's no more resources come to the door. You voted. Even the person won. There was no better resources come to you to your house.

46:39You was just a black broken poor you were before you voted. It still applies in 2026, baby. Vote all you want to. But the end of the day, how are you going to live? Come down strictly to your income. What you can afford. And it's Presley, Miss Crocket, I came to you after you. May a woo come to Healey. Not gonna tell you that. They won't let you know that, you know. There's no whole lot I can do to make your life better, you know. And reality is not a whole lot I can do. It's what you can afford. What your money can pay for. They can't tell you that. Because the damn they did the whole the whole illusion. Right. Persevered. But I can. Because I got to come that same revelation. Decades ago myself.

47:40And you know, it's not easy. Because it goes contrary to what we as black Americans and taught all the likes about voting. I folks died for voting. They walked 50 miles to vote. I'll elucidify the most of the vote. And I say, that's a lie. Having lived in a tail end of Jim Crow. From 53 to 65. It's 12 years. Having listened to those folks who's older than me. My parents, my grandparents, living, right. I was just talking about voting. There was broke. Got no cash or very little cash. There was cash pool. That's why many left the town going to Chicago, Boston, L.A. You know, Detroit, Cleveland. Why? Looking for work to make money.

48:43I just know voting. Just the whole deceptive lie. And doing real Jim Crow. We had no rights to forget voting. There was a leasing your problem. You had no money to buy anything. There was a problem. You was cash dog. That's why he left the farm. I understand now why I'm like, I'm like, I'm going to be an employee. You know, I was a big fan of him. Then we got to the farm. I went to the farm. I was born out in Mississippi for the summer. I was born out. I understand now why my grandmother every day would go to the mailbox to see some of her kids that sit money home for her. I see what she's all going to the mailbox. Check. She had 16 kids, you know, eight boys and eight girls. My grandmother rose up.

49:44I understand not what she went to the mail box every day. She'd see that's in my six-kash. So don't be deceived. Why don't you just buy no voting? Them folks, I call the tail end of it, I don't know, I call the tail end of it. It was about more than voting. There was cash stock broke. That's what it left in droves to work in those factories. You know, up north, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, you know, Birmingham. So as I wind down, it's your call, young people. Food for thought. You voted last night, cool those to you. No problem with that. I thought for you to think about, was that thought about three decades ago? What has voting achieved for Black Americans in the past five decades? What they've done for it?

50:46Not a whole lot. Despite having a few folks out front on these so-called high profile positions, ain't done nothing for the collectors. Nothing for the collectors. And keep in mind that Kim was about what, collected, collected uplift. Not a few doing well. For the masses. And the Black Boulay has failed. Dick is running my production and I'm going to buy a bin of it at them. D-D-I, a bin of it at them, a few of them anyway. Didn't they did nothing for the collective? For the masses? Didn't nothing for us? Nothing. So but you got to change my to make life better for yourself. By identifying a skill or occupational getting to what kind of occupational getting to. I didn't know if I was kind of high skill you need to get those skills. You're not there making it happen. Because otherwise you didn't come in baby. No matter who you want to win last night,

51:51I bet you any amount of money your life didn't change. There's no more food in your fridge, there's no more money in your bank account than the work before you voted. Nothing changed. The only way is going to change if you upgrade your skills for about you are earning more income. Take care yourself. Otherwise it's all a lie. It's all one gigantic lie. There's been a fiendness for the last Jesus, 50, 60 years, about the importance of voting. Have the place now. Get it wrong. Somebody got to run the country. But ain't about a making your life better. This day called free micro capitalism. Your life is made better by you. Because why the system is about elevating individual effort. So what are you doing to make you better? What are you doing to position you better?

52:53No where. No where. In the Constitution. The says that it's a poor. It provides you with a good house, a good paying job. You know, all the amenities. No where. No where. He's never written in there. This baby is all about what? Freeing a pride baby. Freeing a pride. Own a ship. And you can't own down here on these low paying jobs. You can't do nothing about yourself. So until the next Wednesday, I want you to think about it. What is voting to you for black America in the past five decades? I say absolutely nothing for the collective. A few have done okay, but for the group as a whole, nothing. So until next Wednesday, be well, stay warm and I'll see you next Wednesday. The preceding commentary does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff and management of WBCA or the Boston Neighborhood Network. If you would like to express another opinion, you can address your comments to Boston Neighborhood Network, 3025 Washington Street,

53:56Boston, Massachusetts, 02119. To arrange a time for your own commentary, you can call WBCA at 617-708-3215 or email radio at vnimedia.org.