Politics, Power, and Survival…
The Struggle of Raising Black Children in America
As a Black woman in America, raising Black sons and daughters in this country is a daily battle. It's not just about teaching them their ABCs or how to tie their shoes, but about preparing them for a world that often feels like it’s stacked against them. A world where the weight of history, systemic inequality, and blatant disrespect can be overwhelming. But even more, it’s about survival. Survival in a country where the cost of living is rising, opportunities seem to shrink by the day, and political leaders—like Trump—serve as a reminder of how disconnected the powerful are from the struggles of the people they were supposed to represent.
Let’s talk about politics, and how it affects the American people, especially those of us who are already marginalized. The politics of this country, particularly under Trump's presidency, has done nothing but deepen divisions. Trump is not the "great" leader some people make him out to be. Far from it. He’s a selfish, spoiled individual, a man more concerned with his ego and his bottom line than the well-being of the very people he swore to serve. His presidency was marked by selfishness—more focused on his personal brand and wealth than on addressing the issues that matter to the working class. And now, as a convicted felon, his actions have proven that he is not a leader of integrity or principle.
For Black families, particularly Black women like myself, we see the effects of this every single day. We watch as our children grow in a society that values their potential only if they fit a certain mold—a mold that doesn’t always fit the brilliance of our Blackness. We try to teach them that hard work, intelligence, and resilience can get them far. But at the same time, we can’t ignore the realities of systemic racism, police brutality, and a justice system that doesn’t always serve them fairly. These are the truths I have to prepare my kids for.
But there’s something else I’m teaching them, something critical for their survival: how to get the bag. The American Dream feels like it’s slipping further and further away from us, but that doesn’t mean we give up on the pursuit of financial freedom. Every day, life is getting more expensive. Whether it's groceries, gas, rent, or healthcare, it feels like the cost of living is spiraling out of control. The rich get richer while the rest of our people are left trying to scrape by. The political system is broken, but we can’t afford to wait around for it to fix itself. We have to adapt. We have to teach our children to be financially free, so they can stand tall and live a life where they’re not constantly fighting to survive.
The struggle is real, and it’s getting harder for all of us, not just in terms of money, but in terms of mental and emotional well-being. The daily pressure to keep up, to be better than the day before, is relentless. But even in the face of all this, I tell my children every day that they are strong. That they are worthy. And that they have the power to rise above whatever obstacles they face.
But that doesn’t happen unless they know how to build and grow wealth. They need to understand that getting the bag isn’t just about having money—it’s about financial freedom. It’s about not being dependent on a broken system that’s only set up to make things harder for people like us. It’s about investing in ourselves, our businesses, and our futures. It’s about breaking the cycle of poverty, because if we don’t teach them this now, they’ll face the same struggles that our ancestors did. We can't afford to let them inherit a life of financial stress.
So, to every Black parent out there raising their children in this country—especially during times like these—remember that while the world may be tough, our strength is tougher. And while Trump and others like him may have failed to lead us into a better future, we still have the power to carve out our own path to freedom and success. It’s up to us to make sure our children don’t just survive—they thrive. Because the American dream may be broken, but that doesn’t mean we can’t build our own dream, one where we are free, financially independent, and proud of who we are.
XOXO KAYE,