Articulated Insight â âNews, Race and Culture in the Information Ageâ
Part 1 of 2. Read part 2
Regular humans do not usually conceive of themselves as having super powers or being superheroes. I mean we can’t fly like Superman, we don’t have the stealth or special utility belt like Batman, and we can’t speak to the fish like Aquaman. So how is it that we can execute our personal powers and execute them so well as to become superheroes?
If our very presence and our livelihood is being attacked, what powers do we have to contend and to overcome these kinds of challenges? We can’t just feel angst in our chest and do nothing about it. Right? Unfortunately, many people today are simply watching illiberal, illegal assaults on Democratic institutions, on ladders of social mobility- like education, equal employment, proximity to resources and feel powerless to stand up. As this grows it will only get worse. Even now there are restrictions growing on the First Amendment right to freely protest. However, like the aforementioned superheroes we actually do have plenty of powers and some of them might even qualify as superpowers!
We donât have to limit it to a certain number, but there are at least 7 Vâhicles of Personal Power that most adults have over 18 years old. I call them Vâhicles because they all begin with âVâ and they each work to move things from point A to point B. This is why they are powers because they result in change!
Let’s explore each of the 7 Power Vâhicles!
Power Vâhicle 1 is your Voice!
The ability to communicate, to form ideas, to think critically and to express in spoken and written words is a power given to humans and separates us from all creation. If we are made in the image of God, then clearly our voice and ability to communicate must be one of our greatest assets. The Bible teaches us that life and death result from the use of one’s tongue. The Bible also teaches us that what goes into someoneâs mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.
This is why misinformation and disinformation is so dangerous! They represent a misuse of the power of voice and communication. We should be mindful and careful about what we pass on at the water cooler and at the gym if we have not applied some analysis to know whether our voice is misinforming another person. Consider how you use your voice everyday. Does it relay truth and clarity or rumor and gossip? Does it build up or does it tear down? I challenge you to be conscious of the power of life and death in your voice. It will change your life and the lives of all you speak to regularly. My parents demanded we always speak up and look a person in the eye.
These two things let all know that you meant business and that you could not be ignored. One voice is powerful for sure, but imagine the force of 10,000 voices speaking truth with intent! With 35M eligible black voters, just a small subset of voices speaking, writing, using the Creatorâs rare skill of voice can shake foundations. Use your Voice! Use it together with others to multiply its force!
Power Vâhicle 2 is your Values
The Values vâhicle is intensely personal and drives much of our lifeâs goals and motivations. Have you spent time with yourself to learn what are those 4-5 non-negotiable bedrock beliefs that drive your behavior?? Values provide a level of clarity that enables one to focus and amass energy in a certain direction.
Make it a point to take 15-20 minutes and journal about what really drives you, inspires you, or gets you riled up. What are those things that moor you and anchor your understanding of all things? For me, truth is so important to me that I have been said to be honest to a fault. Even when a lie may be in my interest, I have a hard time using one. This love of truth has been the core motivation for study all my life.
It is exactly why I love science and data, as well as the empirical knowledge that comes from learning history, anthropology and the other social sciences. Freedom is another core value. I believe humans should live free of oppression and seek to maintain freedom of choices as they live. These values are bedrock to my personality, opinions, choices, etc. and I operate in them every single day. What are your non-negotiables? There you will find your Values Vâhicle!
Power Vâhicle 3 is your Votes
As you become an adult at the grand age of 18, it is expected that you have begun to understand some basic concepts about life: survival, consuming goods and services, maintaining a domicile or providing for children at home while working a job. This is why when you attain 18 you are invited to make decisions with the community on laws and policies affecting all of the above. Unfortunately, voting as a topic never seems to surround what I mention here; misinformation has made voting a popularity contestâa tribal sport complete with colors, teams, fandom chants, recruiting, bowl games, rallies, and incessant cheerleaders along with self-interested pundits. Like a hot knife through butter, let’s settle voting into its power vehicleâits true power vehicleâthe power vehicle of votes affects every area of life.
There are at least four levels of communities we all exist in in the United States: local government consists of city and county authorities; there are state governments which impact most facets of our lives; and then there is the federal government. Voting is then your personal privilege to direct these entities for the benefit of yourself and the entire community. Because of this power vehicle of voting, it has long been the target of oppressors who want to limit other people’s power in the community that we all must share. It has long been denied to some while used by others to drive wealth and resources to themselves. So I ask you: what does it take for you to vote? For me, it takes nothing more than I’m alive, I’m over 18 years old, and I pay taxes. Use your voting power Vâhicle to execute policies that assist your goals while creating an environment for you to thriveânot through delivering pain or marginalization to others but through fair meansâmerit, justice, equity, liberty.
Former Assistant Attorney General Kristin Clarke delivered comments on Voting Rights in January during a farewell speech at the Justice Department: âDr. King regarded the right to vote as paramount. He understood that the ballot made public officials accountable; that it made them responsive; that it made them listen to the voices of marginalized communities.â âSo long as I do not firmly and irrevocably possess the right to vote,â he said,âI do not possess myselfâŠ.I cannot make up my mind â it is made up for me. I cannot live as a democratic citizen observing the laws I have helped enactâI can only submit to the edict of others.4â Always put your Voting vâhicle to work!
Advertisement
Short Bio: Cal Burlock is founder and CEO of DRIVEN Systems LLC, where he creates platforms for broad economic development thru STEM and for sociopolitical advance for Black citizens in the United States. In addition to his first love of solving human challenges thru creating systems, he also writes and produces content on black male empowerment, political activism, self-government, and positive change.
Join our free digital app- the CEO App! It harness our numbers to hold account over elected officials and corporations! bit.ly/CEOmeansbusiness
Contact, follow, and collab thru social media or direct email: DRIVENsys@gmail.com
Instagram: @blackmengoals and @stemreps Fanbase: @ceoappcheckemout
#PersonalPower #BoostYourConfidence #SuccessJourney
