A Manifesto for Positive Change
About 20 years ago, I watched an interesting discussion on C-SPAN. It was an interview with a prominent historian of European descent about his latest book. The focus of the research study was the Civil War and the Reconstruction period. I don’t quite remember the name of the writer, but I will never forget his remarks to the interviewer. To paraphrase, he said: the greatest atrocity ever committed by white people against Black people has been the erasing of their history. He went on to say: what good is a man or a woman without a memory, or a people without a history—or a soul?
And here we are today. African American history is being removed—erased—from school curricula, libraries, museums, and government archives across the nation. Sadly, our people’s mighty contributions to American greatness are being ignored or obscured, even within our own communities. For the most part, we’ve all but lost control of our narrative. With dire consequences, we are allowing others to decide what’s best for us.
Never Again!
The popular campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again,” has a very different meaning to the “Negro Tribe.” For us, America was not great during the evil days of slavery; it wasn’t great in the times of Jim Crow segregation and lynching. Our ancestors had to endure all manner of injustice, discrimination, and mistreatment in this land. It’s the “Again” part that we have a problem with.
For the sake of our children, our children’s children, and all future generations, the collective response must be a resounding: Never Again! Never again, because we too have a history and a future—as vested contributors to America’s greatness. Never again, as we resolve to teach our American story to our children on our own terms. Now more than ever, we must individually and collectively be about the business of our future: Positive Change!
America’s Best!
Indeed, the progress of our children—and the integrity and dignity of our African American ideals, culture, values, and traditions—mean everything. No man can deny or rob another man of his own soul. No country can ever deny a free people of their own culture—their collective soul. It can only be surrendered or compromised through ignorance, fear, or for sale.
Therefore, under the banner of American freedom and positive change, we declare that our most sacred responsibility—and our patriotic duty—is to preserve, promote, and protect our very best: America’s Best! Ultimately, the only way we can be denied that which is already ours is if we deny it for ourselves.
Positive Change is a community-building ideal for all. It’s about the progress of our children and the integrity of our culture. A movement for positive change addresses matters of cultural literacy, music appreciation, and the economics of culture. Positive Change establishes the pillars of community progress: self-acceptance, self-reliance, and self-respect—an ever-expanding spiritual and cultural ideal.
Know for yourselves and teach the African American cultural narrative to a child. Check out our 24/7 music streaming service, TPC Radio, featuring “America’s Best, in Classic Black.” Take out an individual magazine subscription, or join TPC’s Great Roll Call to Progress (pg. 7) for direct bulk deliveries to your church, school, or business. You can also sign up for TPC’s weekly newsletter. And don’t forget TPC’s 7th Annual Great American Emancipation Day Awards Banquet in February 2026!
Whose Side Are You On?
We invite all forward-thinking businesses, corporations, and public and private institutions to join this wonderful movement for positive change. Increase sales and promote goodwill among our community of consumers. Advertise your quality brand products or services through TPC media. Together, let us augment the profit motive with a loving service motive—everybody wins; everyone prospers!
Never grow weary of reminding the children of who they really are: beloved, liberated sons and daughters of the Most High God; mighty descendants of the Great American Emancipation—1863! Indeed, “Ours is an extraordinary history of trial, tribulation, and triumph that we must never, ever forget!” Help our children learn how to choose their heroes wisely.
At the end of the day, we believe the universe is inherently positive, and that ultimately, there are only two kinds of people in this world: the positive and the negative. So—what does positive change mean to you? What does it look and feel like? And finally, a question well-suited for our times: Whose side are you on?
On most Saturday mornings, I view a livestream of the National Action Network’s weekly rally in Harlem. Rev. Al Sharpton always opens his segment of the broadcast rally with a history lesson. He speaks about the resilient challenges and extraordinary victories of our ancestors and living heroes. At the end of each story, he never fails to say: If you just hang in there a little longer; don’t give up, and stand up for what you believe is right—Your (positive) Change Will Come!
Because a positive community is everybody’s business.
It really pays to care!
