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The American Strain: Trump and the Enduring Creed of White Supremacy

January 14, 2026 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

CAMDEN, NJ – To understand Donald Trump, to truly grasp the fervor of the “Make America Great Again” movement, requires a confrontation with a deeply unsettling but irrefutable historical truth: Trump is not an aberration, but an archetype. He is the contemporary embodiment of a classic American figure, whose political power flows directly from the nation’s oldest and most potent strain—a white supremacist ideology that has been intertwined with concepts of democracy and liberty since the nation’s founding. On one hand, the anguish felt by many white Americans today as they witness the MAGA movement’s explicit racism is the anguish of a myth being shattered, the painful awakening from a national narrative that has systematically obscured this foundational reality. Black people, on the other hand, have lived through this movie since 1619.

The Indelible Thread: From Frontier to Empire

The doctrines that birthed the American nation-state were, from their inception, racial in character. Manifest Destiny, the Monroe Doctrine, and the White Man’s Burden are not separate chapters but sequential verses in the same epic poem of Anglo-Saxon supremacy.

Manifest Destiny, framed as a divine mandate to “overspread the continent,” was a theological and racial justification for genocide and land theft, casting Native Americans as “merciless Indian Savages” and Mexicans as obstacles to a providentially-ordained white nation. This was not mere expansion; it was ethnic cleansing codified as national mission. Historical records reveal a staggering decline from an estimated 5-15 million Native Americans prior to 1492 to fewer than 238,000 by the close of the 19th century. This represents a population collapse exceeding 96% over four centuries, driven by a combination of warfare, displacement, and disease, all facilitated by racist/white supremacist government policies.

The Monroe Doctrine established the Western Hemisphere as a U.S. sphere of influence, a policy enforced not through diplomatic parity but through a paternalistic belief in the racial and political superiority of the United States over its non-white neighbors. It transformed Latin America into a backyard where military and economic intervention was naturalized, a logical extension of continental conquest onto a hemispheric stage.

The White Man’s Burden provided the humanitarian gloss for overseas empire, framing the brutal colonization of the Philippines and Puerto Rico as a noble, sacrificial duty to civilize “sullen peoples, half-devil and half-child.” It was the export of a domestic ideology, declaring entire populations unfit for self-rule—the same belief that undergirded slavery at home.

These were not fringe ideas but the central engines of national policy, creating a powerful national identity where whiteness was synonymous with sovereignty, virtue, and the right to dominate.

The Great Mis-Education: A Mythology of Innocence

How, then, does a nation built on such explicit racial hierarchy produce citizens who recoil at the explicit racism of a Trump rally? The answer lies in a profound and intentional mis-education.

The American creed presented in textbooks and national myth is a carefully curated edit. It is a story of democracy and liberty, of Pilgrims and pioneers, that systematically decouples these ideals from the racial tyranny that financed and facilitated them. The genocide of Indigenous peoples is minimized to “conflict” or “westward expansion.” The enslavement of millions is segregated into a single tragic chapter, rather than understood as the engine of early American capital. Imperial conquests are framed as benevolent “foreign policy.”

This creates a duplicitous national consciousness. Americans are taught to venerate the Declaration of Independence’s promise of equality while being insulated from the fact that its principal author and most early beneficiaries envisioned that equality exclusively for white men. We celebrate a “melting pot” culture—shaped by Indigenous, African, Latin American, and Asian influences—while the political power to define the nation has been fiercely guarded as a white prerogative. This selective history is a powerful anesthetic. It allows generations to inherit the privileges of a racial caste system while believing fervently in their own nation’s inherent innocence and moral exceptionalism. It makes racism seem like a deviation, a “sin” we are overcoming, rather than the core organizing principle we have continuously refined.

Trump: The Unvarnished Tradition

Donald Trump’s political genius—and his profound traditionalism—lies in his rejection of the anesthetic. He does not traffic in the coded “dog whistles” of late-20th-century politics; he uses a bullhorn, reactivating the unfiltered language and logic of America’s racial id.

His rhetoric is a direct echo of past doctrines. Labeling Mexican immigrants “rapists” and “animals” and African nations “shithole countries” is the dehumanizing language of Manifest Destiny and the White Man’s Burden, applied to modern migration 

. His central promise of a “big, beautiful wall” is a 21st-century racial frontier, a physical monument to the belief that the national body must be purified of non-white “infestation.”

Table: The Ideological Lineage from Doctrine to Trump

Historical DoctrineCore Racial LogicModern Trump-Era Manifestation
Manifest DestinyDivine right to displace “savage” non-white peoples from desired land.The border wall as a new frontier; rhetoric of immigrant “invasion” and “infestation.”
Monroe DoctrineHemispheric dominance and paternalistic intervention over non-white nations.“America First” isolationism that rejects multilateralism while asserting unilateral military/economic power.
White Man’s BurdenThe “civilizing” mission justifies domination over supposedly inferior peoples.Framing immigration bans and harsh policies as protecting American civilization from “shithole countries.”

His policies operationalize this ideology. The Muslim Ban, the crushing of asylum protocols, and the threat to end birthright citizenship are not simply strict immigration measures; they are efforts to legally redefine who belongs to the American nation along racial and religious lines. His administration’s systematic rollback of civil rights protections, from voting rights to LGBTQ+ safeguards, and its dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are a direct assault on the fragile infrastructure of multiracial democracy built since the 1960s.

Most tellingly, his adventurous and aggressive militarism—from threatening “fire and fury” against North Korea to deploying federal troops against predominantly Black cities like Washington D.C. and Chicago under the pretext of crime emergencies—reveals the intrinsic link between white supremacy at home and imperial aggression abroad. As academic research confirms, support for militarized foreign policy among white Americans is strongly correlated with racial resentment, viewing non-white nations and peoples as inherent threats or legitimate targets for domination. Trump’s “America First” bellicosity is not an isolationist retreat but a reassertion of a racialized nationalism that sees the world as a hostile arena of competition against lesser peoples.

The Second Backlash and the Crisis of White Identity

Trumpism is the vehicle for a second great white backlash, a historical bookend to the first backlash that destroyed the multiracial democracy of Reconstruction after the Civil War. That first backlash, powered by the Klan, “Lost Cause” mythology, and Northern complicity, re-established white rule through terror and Jim Crow.

The current backlash, ignited by the Civil Rights Movement and supercharged by the election of Barack Obama, seeks to roll back the democratic gains of the past sixty years. Its fuel is white grievance—a pervasive fear among some white Americans that demographic change and racial equity represent a loss of status, a zero-sum dispossession . Slogans like “Take Our Country Back” and the defensive cry of “All Lives Matter” are the modern lexicon of this backlash, inverting reality to frame the pursuit of equality as an unfair attack on a threatened majority

.This is the source of the anguish for well-intentioned white Americans. They were raised on the edited, duplicitous creed. They believed in a forward-moving arc of progress. To see the naked brutality of racism not only re-emerge but be cheered from the highest podium shatters that narrative. The difficulty is in reconciling their own identity with the realization that the “greatness” many are nostalgic for was, for others, a regime of explicit subjugation. It is the pain of realizing that the comforting national myth is a lie, and that a more honest, more brutal history is demanding reconciliation.

Conclusion: Facing the Unbroken Line

Donald Trump is a classic American figure because he channels the nation’s most enduring political tradition: the mobilization of white racial anxiety to consolidate power and resist the expansion of a truly pluralistic democracy. He has ripped away the veneer of the mis-educating myth, revealing the unbroken line from the Puritan city on a hill to the MAGA rally.

To argue that this is not “real” America is to indulge in the very fantasy that enabled it. Racism and white supremacy are not un-American; they are as American as apple pie, woven into the fabric of our institutions, our geography, and our national story. The democratic ideals we rightly cherish have always coexisted in tension—and often in outright conflict—with this hierarchy. The struggle of the 21st century is not to defeat a foreign intrusion, but to finally sever this entrenched lineage. It begins by abandoning the comforting lie of national innocence and confronting, at last, the difficult truth of who we have been, and therefore, who we risk remaining.

Get Down or Lay Down: Trump’s Foreign Policy and the JBM Playbook

January 8, 2026 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

By Delgreco K. Wilson

January 8, 2026

CAMDEN, NJ – In the annals of international diplomacy, the notion of a U.S. president seriously threatening to purchase or seize a vast, self-governing territory from a NATO ally would have been relegated to the realm of dark satire. Yet, as the Trump administration openly discusses offering Greenlanders individual cash payments or contemplating military force to “acquire” the island, we are witnessing a foreign policy doctrine stripped of diplomatic veneer. This crude transactional approach—where sovereignty is a commodity and alliances are obstacles—finds a disturbing parallel not in the halls of traditional statecraft, but in the violent, coercive tactics of Philadelphia organized crime. To understand the logic now emanating from Washington, one need look no further than the ruthless playbook of Philadelphia’s infamous Junior Black Mafia (JBM) and its mythologized street boss, Aaron Jones.

Both paradigms operate on a foundational principle: power is asserted not through legitimate authority or mutual benefit, but through the demonstration of overwhelming force and the calculated application of fear. For the JBM, whose motto was chillingly reported as “Get down or lay down,” control of the cocaine trade was enforced through intimidation and brutal violence. The Trump administration’s Greenland scheme, which Danish officials have labeled a threat requiring a defense of “the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law,” operates on a similarly crude binary. The offer of payments—reported to be between $10,000 and $100,000 per individual—is the “get down” option, a lavish but coercive inducement. The explicit refusal to rule out military action, chillingly underscored by the recent abduction of Venezuela’s president, is the “lay down” ultimatum made to an entire nation and its allies. The message is clear: acquiesce to the transaction or face the consequences.

Aaron Jones, JBM

The Godfather Fantasy: Cultivating Power Through Persona

The parallel extends into the realm of cultivated image. Aaron Jones was said to be obsessed with “The Godfather,” consciously molding his persona after Don Vito Corleone to command a mix of fear, respect, and loyalty on the streets of Philadelphia. He became a legendary figure, a “death before dishonor icon” whose name carried immense weight. This careful construction of an untouchable, dominant persona is a core tactic of gangsterism.

Similarly, the Trump administration’s foreign policy is deeply performative, centered on projecting an image of uncompromising strength and deal-making prowess. The public fixation on Greenland—a large, mineral-rich asset—is not subtle geopolitics; it is a power flex, a demonstration of America’s ability to rearrange the map to its liking. As analysts note, this aligns with a 19th-century “great power politics” mindset, where spheres of influence are dictated by strength alone. By floating the military option against a NATO ally, the administration cultivates an aura of unpredictability and ruthlessness designed to make other nations capitulate to lesser demands, much like a neighborhood bully establishes dominance.

The Illusion of Voluntary Association and the Reality of Coercion

A key tactic in both playbooks is dressing coercion in the garb of voluntary choice. The JBM, at its height, was adept at creating legitimate business fronts—from video stores to security firms—to launder money and project a façade of normal enterprise. The Trump administration’s preferred narrative frames the Greenland proposal as a potential “Compact of Free Association,” akin to agreements with Pacific nations. This suggests a partnership between consenting parties.

However, this illusion shatters against the reality of Greenlandic self-determination. Polls consistently show that while a majority of Greenlanders favor eventual independence from Denmark, an overwhelming 85% prefer remaining with Denmark over joining the United States. The island’s political future is a careful, democratically managed process defined by its 2009 Self-Government Act, which outlines a path to independence that must be approved by its people and the Danish parliament. The U.S. offer of cash payments is a blatant attempt to bypass and corrupt this sovereign process, treating citizenship and national allegiance as an individual financial transaction rather than a collective democratic will. It is a hostile takeover bid, not a friendly merger.

Table: Contrasting Visions for Greenland’s Future

The Cost of “Respect” and the End of Alliances

Ultimately, the gangster’s quest for “respect” is a zero-sum game that destroys the community it purports to lead. The JBM’s reign contributed to the devastation of Philadelphia’s crack era. The Trump doctrine, as applied to Greenland, threatens to incinerate the very foundations of the post-war international order. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has stated unequivocally that a U.S. attack on Greenland would mean the end of “everything,” including NATO. European leaders have issued a unified rebuke, stating security rests on the “inviolability of borders”.

The administration’s justification—that Greenland is “covered with Russian and Chinese ships” and is a national security necessity—has been widely questioned by security experts. The U.S. already maintains the strategic Pituffik Space Base on the island under a defense agreement with Denmark. The real driver appears to be a desire for absolute control over territory, resources, and shipping routes, framed within a new “Donroe Doctrine” of regional dominance. Like a gangster who confuses fear for respect, this approach fails to see that true strength and security are built on reliable partnerships, not shattered alliances.

Conclusion: From the Streets to the World Stage

The comparison between a Philadelphia drug crew and the foreign policy of a global superpower is jarring because it should be unthinkable. Yet, the Trump administration’s maneuvers on Greenland reveal a logic that has abandoned diplomacy for intimidation, mutual security for unilateral gain, and international law for the law of the jungle. Aaron Jones’s JBM is a chapter in the history of Philadelphia’s organized crime. The method of governance it represents—coercion, transactional loyalty, and performative violence—must not become the blueprint for American statecraft.

The people of Greenland have a clear message for those who would try to purchase their homeland or seize it by force: “Greenland is not for sale, and Greenland never will be for sale”. It is a statement of dignified sovereignty that deserves more than a gangster’s reply. The world must hope that in the meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Danish officials next week, the language of diplomacy, law, and alliance can still prevail over the ultimatum to “get down or lay down”. The future of the transatlantic world may depend on it.

A Coaching Hire That Understands the Game Beyond the Field

December 22, 2025 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

PHILADELPHIA, PA – In the complex ecosystem of urban education, where challenges are met head-on and triumphs are hard-won, a school’s most consequential decisions often occur not in the boardroom, but on the hiring lines for positions that shape character. Such a decision has just been made in North Philadelphia. The appointment of Al “Albie” Crosby as the Head Varsity Football coach at Simon Gratz High School Mastery Charter is more than a sports story; it is a profound investment in the social fabric of the community. It is a declaration that the leaders at Mastery Schools and Gratz understand, with keen clarity, that for many young people—especially young African-American men in this city—the gridiron is a classroom, the coach is a life mentor, and the lessons learned there are foundational to survival and success.

This hire is not a gamble on potential; it is the acquisition of a quarter-century of proven, championship-grade mentorship. By securing a figure of Crosby’s caliber, Gratz has signaled an ambition that transcends winning seasons. It has committed to providing its scholars with a guide who has repeatedly navigated the path from Friday night lights to futures of purpose and possibility.

The Resume Speaks, But the Legacy Echoes

A cursory glance at Albie Crosby’s record is enough to stun any Pennsylvania football enthusiast: 26 years of coaching experience, 2 PIAA State Championships, 5 State Championship appearances, 10 PIAA District 12 titles, 12 Philadelphia Catholic League Championships, and 4 Public League Championships. These are the hard metrics of a winner. They are the reason Gratz can, with reasonable expectation, immediately envision competing for Public League and State titles.

But the numbers that truly resonate in the halls of a school like Gratz are these: 126 NCAA Division I athletes and 14 NFL players coached and developed. These figures represent doors opened, college tuition secured, and professional dreams realized. They translate to young men who saw a future beyond their neighborhood’s horizon because a coach showed them the map and walked the road with them. In a city where sports are a vital artery of hope and socialization, this track record is a curriculum vitae for changing lives.

The Coach as Cornerstone: Filling a Crucial Social Role

For generations, in Philadelphia and cities like it, the coach has been a foundational figure in the socialization of young men. He is often a hybrid of teacher, father, disciplinarian, and advocate. He teaches young men how to handle adversity, the necessity of teamwork, the discipline of preparation, and the grace of both victory and defeat. These lessons are critical for all youth, but they carry a particular weight for young African-American men, who navigate a world that often misreads them. A strong coach becomes a shield and a beacon—someone who demands excellence while providing the unwavering support necessary to achieve it.

Principal Erik Zipay’s announcement grasped this totality. He did not just hail Crosby’s championships; he emphasized “the development/coaching of countless players for the next level and life.” He connected the hire directly to the school’s mission of “creating Champions in the Classroom, Community and Athletics.” This holistic vision is what separates a transactional sports hire from a transformative community one. Crosby is not being brought in merely to call plays; he is being entrusted to help build men.

A Statement of Ambition From “Bulldog Nation”

Principal Zipay’s statement is itself a fascinating document of institutional ambition. It is addressed to “Bulldog Nation”—a conscious evocation of shared identity and pride. It seamlessly pivots from the excitement about football to an open invitation for 8th-grade families: “Come get a quality of education and coaching for the future.” This is no accident. It demonstrates an astute awareness that a high-profile, credible hire like Crosby serves as a powerful magnet, attracting families who see in it a symbol of a school’s serious commitment to excellence in all arenas. It says that Gratz is a place where aspiration is taken seriously.

The Road Ahead: More Than Championships

The immediate forecast for the Gratz Bulldogs is clear: the team will be better prepared, more strategically sound, and fiercely competitive. The pedigree Crosby brings assures that. The pipeline of talent that has always existed in Philadelphia will now be honed by one of the most accomplished architects in the state’s history.

But the true victory will be measured years from now, in the lives of the young men who wear the Gratz jersey. It will be seen in the college graduations, the careers launched, the mentors made, and the fathers formed. By hiring Al Crosby, Simon Gratz High School has done more than fill a coaching vacancy. It has secured a master builder for its young men. It has acknowledged that in the gritty, glorious game of shaping futures, the right coach is the most valuable player a school can have. For Bulldog Nation, the future just got a lot brighter, and it promises to teach toughness, resilience, and triumph—both on the field and far beyond it.

Neumann-Goretti Launches ‘Patron Saints’ to Preserve the Soul of Scholastic Basketball

December 17, 2025 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

PHILADELPHIA — In an era where the soul of traditional high school basketball is increasingly traded for national spotlight and transactional deals, one Philadelphia powerhouse is drawing a line on the hardwood of its home court. The Neumann-Goretti Saints boys’ basketball program today announced the launch of the “Patron Saint Donor Campaign,” a clarion call to preserve the last vestiges of Philly’s traditional scholastic basketball.

The campaign is not merely a fundraiser; it is an innovative and ncessary mobilization. It is a bid for reinforcements in a quiet but intensifying war for the very identity of the sport. For decades, elite basketball was forged in the crucible of local rivalry—in the packed, echoing gyms of neighborhood Catholic and public schools where the dreams were city titles, district crowns, and state championships. The heroes wore the names of their communities on their chests.

That era is fading. Today, the gravitational pull of national basketball academies, with their focus on individual rankings and nascent NIL empires, is siphoning talent from the historic bastions of the game. Iconic programs like Neumann-Goretti, Roman Catholic, DeMatha, Camden, Imhotep, and Chester—institutions that are pillars of their cities—find themselves battling not just for wins, but for their existential relevance.

Yet, Neumann-Goretti refuses to cede the court. The Saints continue to compete at the highest national level, consistently facing off against well-funded, coast-to-coast academies. Their strategy is not to emulate these new models, but to defeat them through the very traditions that built the program: deep local talent, ferocious team identity, and the unbreakable bond between a team and its community.

“This campaign is an innovative response to a national problem,” said Delgreco Wilson, Black Cager Sports. “Neumann-Goretti is not a franchise. It is a Philadelphia institution. To win this fight, they need the army that has always been their foundation: their community.”

The Patron Saint Donor Campaign offers basketball purists and Philadelphia loyalists a direct stake in this struggle.

For the 2025-26 season, a limited cadre of just 20 supporters will be enlisted as “Patron Saints.” A donation of $100 secures this enlistment, granting:

  • Free entry to all Neumann-Goretti HOME games, guaranteeing a seat at every battle, even sellouts against national opponents.
  • A distinctive Patron Saints t-shirt, a uniform of solidarity.\
  • A $10 coupon for the official team store.

“We are calling on anyone who loves what high school basketball was, and what it still should be,” said Assistant Coach Pat Sorrentino. “When you become a Patron Saint, you are not just buying a ticket. You are enlisting in the cause. You are helping to ensure that the future of this game isn’t shaped solely in impersonal academies, but continues to thrive on the home floors where passion is born and legends are made.”

The offer is intentionally exclusive, mirroring the prized, hard-fought nature of a spot on the Saints’ roster itself.

The mission is clear: to provide the resources for Neumann-Goretti to continue its dual quest—to hunt national titles while fiercely guarding the local, communal soul of the sport.

To learn more and to enlist as a Patron Saint for the 2025-26 season, visit the Neumann-Goretti Athletics website. All 20 spots are expected to be claimed swiftly by those who believe the fight is worth the price of admission.

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About Neumann-Goretti High School: Neumann-Goretti High School, a Catholic secondary school in the Franciscan tradition located in the heart of South Philadelphia, has long been a national epicenter for basketball excellence. Its program is defined by a profound commitment to community, discipline, and the development of young men as both athletes and citizens, producing countless collegiate standouts and professional players.

“Coonish” Behavior: Stephen A. Smith, Jason Whitlock, and the Price of Modern Manumission

December 11, 2025 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

By Delgreco K. Wilson, Contributing Opinion Writer

For centuries in America, a grim and paradoxical transaction has shadowed the Black quest for advancement: the exchange of communal fidelity for individual freedom. It is a bargain as old as the nation itself, rooted not in the brutality of the whip, but in the insidious mechanics of psychological and economic leverage. Today, we witness a modern, media-saturated iteration of this dynamic. In the sprawling arena of sports commentary, figures like Stephen A. Smith and Jason Whitlock have built lucrative empires. Their success, however, is shadowed by a persistent and bitter accusation from within the Black community: that they are “coons,” a devastating label of racial betrayal. Their critics are identifying a pattern that feels like a 21st-century performance of meritorious manumission—a striving for personal elevation and favor by servicing narratives that comfort a powerful, predominantly white conservative audience, often at the expense of Black solidarity.

The Historical Bargain: Labor for a Glimmer of Freedom

The foundation of this American transaction is centuries deep. The economic architecture of the early republic was built on Black labor without Black liberty. From the cotton fields that fueled the national economy to the domestic servitude that sustained its households, Black work was the indispensable engine. Yet, the profit from that labor was perpetually alienated. The promise, always dangling, was that exceptional service, superhuman diligence, or unwavering loyalty might be rewarded with a sliver of relief—a less cruel master, a chance to buy one’s family, a mythical pathway to acceptance. This established a corrosive template: advancement could be contingent on reinforcing the system’s logic and calming its conscience. The doctrine of “racial uplift” that followed Emancipation demanded impeccable, respectable conduct to assuage white America’s fears and guilt, proving worthiness for basic citizenship. Diligence became a currency, not just for wages, but for attempting to purchase dignity from a system that withheld it by design.

The Modern Marketplace: From Plantations to Podcasts

The post-Civil Rights era did not erase this template; it digitized and broadcast it. The terrain shifted from physical plantations to cultural and ideological ones. As structural and institutional racism persisted, a new marketplace emerged for Black voices willing to translate Black struggle for white audiences, particularly those eager to believe the work of racial justice is complete. This is where the spectacle of figures like Smith and Whitlock becomes a case study. Their playbook is not one of outright bigotry, but of strategic division and absolution, performed for mass consumption. They operate within a media ecosystem that generously rewards controversy that confirms existing biases, creating a powerful incentive to mine intra-community conflict for content that resonates with a broader, whiter audience.

The Playbook of Modern Manumission

Their performance manifests in several consistent, damaging patterns:

The Dilution of Collective Grievance. When vandals scrawled a racial slur on LeBron James’s home, Jason Whitlock dismissed it as a “disrespectful inconvenience,” arguing racism is “primarily an issue for the poor” and that wealthy Black people should not “embrace victimhood.” This is a classic maneuver. By creating a class hierarchy of pain, he fractures communal empathy and offers a narrative of exception. It tells white audiences that systemic racism is either overstated or a crutch for the unsuccessful, while offering successful Black individuals a ticket out of collective identity—if they renounce it.

The Policing of Black Expression. Stephen A. Smith faced backlash for instructing Black Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett on how she “should talk to the President,” a moment critics saw as enforcing respectability politics. This echoes the historical demand that Black anger be polished into palatable, non-threatening discourse. The transaction here is clear: temper your tone, conform to my comfort, and your voice will be amplified on my platform. It is a modern-day echo of being rewarded for “knowing one’s place” in the conversation.

The Strategic Alliance. Perhaps most revealing is the alignment with architects of racial backlash. Smith’s frequent appearances on Sean Hannity’s show are not incidental. Hannity, who trafficked in the racist “birther” conspiracy against President Barack Obama, represents a media ecosystem invested in denying the very structural racism that defines so much of Black American life. To be a welcomed guest in that house is to perform a powerful act of reassurance. It signals that the analysis will not be too sharp, the history not too inconvenient, the demands not too disruptive. This alliance is the clearest evidence of the transaction: access and platform in exchange for a veneer of ideological diversity that demands little substantive change.

A Spectacle Within the Spectacle: The Smith-Whitlock Feud

The bitter, very public feud between Smith and Whitlock themselves underscores the performative nature of this space. They trade nuclear insults, with Smith calling Whitlock “the devil in the flesh” and “worse than a white supremacist,” while Whitlock labels Smith a “fraud” and a “pathological liar” installed by corporate powers. This is more than personal animus; it is a brutal competition within a narrow lane. They are jousting for the crown of the most compelling Black voice in the conservative-coded spectacle, each accusing the other of the very inauthenticity and opportunism their critics see in them both. It is a meta-commentary on the transaction itself, exposing the ruthless jockeying for position and favor that underlies it. Their conflict dramatizes the ultimate isolation of this path: a solitary pursuit of status that necessitates tearing down the nearest competitor, leaving solidarity in ruins.

The Justification for Disavowal: Preserving Collective Struggle

And so, the community’s fierce condemnation—the label of “coon,” the disavowal—is not a denial of their right to individual opinion. It is a historical and political judgment. It is the recognition that their chosen path to “merit” mirrors the old, soul-crushing bargain. They are seen as seeking manumission from the burdens of racial solidarity by performing a service: managing Black anger, explaining away Black pain, and validating the view that the primary remaining barriers are personal, not systemic.

The justified fury they provoke is born of a deep understanding that true liberation has never been won through these solitary transactions. The March on Washington, the Civil Rights Act, the political power of the Black electorate—these were won through collective struggle, un-bought and un-bossed. To see Black media elites today build personal wealth and brand power by seemingly undermining that collective project feels like a profound betrayal. It is the spectacle of the historically shackled selling a blueprint for lighter chains, and calling it freedom.

Conclusion: The Unfinished Story and the Refusal

In the end, the saga of Smith and Whitlock is a painful reflection of an unfinished American story. It reveals that the marketplace for racial commentary still rewards those who make the complex simple, the systemic personal, and the uncomfortable soothing. Their success is a testament not to their individual genius, but to the enduring demand for a certain kind of Black voice—one that, for a price, helps assuage a nation’s guilt without demanding the fundamental change that true absolution requires. The Black community’s disowning of this model is not an act of censorship, but an act of preservation. It is a refusal to let the transaction of the past define the value of their future. It is a declaration that some forms of meritorious manumission are, in fact, a more sophisticated bondage.

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Delgreco Wilson 

Wilson formerly taught Comparative Politics and International Relations at Lincoln University. He is a leading political analyst, educator, and advocate whose work centers on empowering Black Americans through a deeper understanding of political strategy and its historical roots in the fight against systemic racism and white supremacy. A prominent voice in the Greater Philadelphia Region, Wilson brings a wealth of academic rigor and real-world insight to his analysis of Black political thought and action.

Wilson’s expertise extends beyond the classroom. His incisive columns and articles have been featured in prominent publications such as the Philadelphia Inquirer,  Philadelphia Tribune, Baltimore Afro-American  and Delaware County Daily Times. A sought-after commentator, he regularly contributes to radio programs and podcasts across the Mid-Atlantic region, offering sharp analysis and actionable strategies for advancing racial justice and equity.

The Dangerous Conflation of Profit and Principle: Stephen A. Smith and the Crisis of Black Political Commentary

November 17, 2025 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

by Delgreco K. Wilson, M.A.

CAMDEN, NJ – When the logic of the market replaces the ethics of democracy in political discourse, we all lose.

In the annals of American sports commentary, few declarations have been as revealing as Stephen A. Smith’s famous professional mantra: “I wake up every day asking, ‘how can I make my bosses more money?’ and then ‘how can I get some of it?'” This philosophy has propelled him to the pinnacle of sports entertainment, culminating in a recent ESPN contract worth over $100 million for five years. But when this same transactional worldview—where value is measured exclusively in revenue and influence is calibrated for profit—extends into the realm of political analysis, it threatens to degrade our democratic discourse and undermines the particular responsibilities of Black public figures in an era of political crisis.

Smith’s foray into political commentary and his openness to a 2028 presidential run have made him a lightning rod in Black intellectual circles, where his commentary is increasingly viewed as vacuous at best and dangerously aligned with MAGA interests at worst. The controversy surrounding him represents more than just another celebrity dabbling in politics; it exemplifies the dangerous convergence of entertainment and governance in modern America and resurrects painful historical questions about the pressure on Black figures to seek validation from white-dominated institutions.

The Profit Motive in Political Commentary: When Everything Becomes a Business

Stephen A. Smith’s business philosophy, however successful in sports entertainment, becomes profoundly problematic when applied to political analysis. The fundamental incompatibility lies in their core values: democratic discourse requires truth-seeking, principled argument, and concern for the common good, while market logic prioritizes profit, audience growth, and personal brand expansion. Smith has explicitly acknowledged his lack of political expertise, telling The Washington Post, “I’m certainly not an aficionado by any stretch of the imagination… Most Americans are not aficionados. They don’t know all the intimacies and intricacies of every single issue”. Yet rather than humbly acknowledging these limitations, he presents them as a credential of authenticity.

This approach has tangible consequences. Political analysis driven by entertainment values gravitates toward sensationalism over substance, conflict over consensus, and viral moments over nuanced truth. Smith’s commentary follows this pattern—loud, confident, and often lacking in policy depth. As journalist Carron J. Phillips noted in The Contrarian, “Politics, like elections, have real-world consequences. Thick skin is mandatory in the political landscape. And, given recent examples, Smith hasn’t proved he can take a punch in this arena”. The same performance that works for sports debate becomes irresponsible when discussing issues like tariffs, foreign policy, or civil rights.

Smith’s political rise reflects what happens when celebrity status masquerades as expertise. His appearance in presidential polls and his serious consideration of a 2028 run—despite having never held office or demonstrated deep policy knowledge—speaks to our degraded political landscape. As Bill Whalen, a former media consultant for Arnold Schwarzenegger, observed, “The question is, what does Stephen A Smith believe in at the end of the day?… Where is Stephen A Smith on abortion? Where is he on DEI? Where is he on quotas and affirmative action? Where is he on crime? Where is he on spending? The list goes on. You just don’t know”.

Historical Context: The Burden of Seeking White Validation

To understand the strong reaction to Smith’s political commentary within Black communities, one must appreciate the historical burden of what it has meant for Black Americans to navigate white-dominated institutions and seek acceptance within them. This dynamic is not rooted in any inherent trait of Black people but in powerful structures created by centuries of oppression:

  • The Legacy of Slavery and Jim Crow: For centuries, Black people were systematically dehumanized, with the slave master’s approval often meaning the difference between better treatment and brutal punishment. Under Jim Crow, access to resources, justice, and safety frequently depended on being deemed “respectable” by the white power structure.
  • Respectability Politics: This strategy emerged whereby marginalized groups attempted to police their own members to align with dominant culture’s values, hoping this would grant them social mobility and rights. The unspoken promise was that if Black people acted “properly,” they would be seen as more human and deserving by white society.
  • Gatekeepers of Opportunity: Throughout American history, the primary gatekeepers of economic, political, and cultural power—CEOs, university admissions officers, publishers, Hollywood executives—have been overwhelmingly white. Gaining validation from these gatekeepers often appeared the most direct path to economic mobility, educational access, and cultural representation.

Against this historical backdrop, Stephen A. Smith’s approach reads to many critics as a modern manifestation of these dynamics—a Black public figure gaining platform and reward through amplifying viewpoints that align with white conservative interests rather than community needs.

Stephen A. Smith’s Political Evolution and Black Opposition

Smith’s political positioning has evolved into what he describes as a “fiscal conservative and a social liberal” who is “utterly disgusted” with the Democratic Party. While he claims the mantle of an independent thinker, his commentary consistently aligns with MAGA talking points that have drawn criticism from Black intellectuals and community members.

Table: Stephen A. Smith’s Political Positioning and Community Response

Smith’s commentary on Black voting patterns has been particularly contentious. He has lamented what he calls Black voters’ “unconditional loyalty” to Democrats, arguing that this “disenfranchises” the community by reducing its political leverage. While this argument contains a strategic logic, many critics note that it ignores the historical reasons for Black alignment with Democrats—including the party’s support for civil rights legislation and the Republican Party’s embrace of voter suppression tactics and politicians with white nationalist ties.

The backlash against Smith reflects a broader rejection of what many see as his transactional approach to racial justice. His commentary often frames political choices in terms of market-style negotiation rather than principles of justice or historical solidarity. This approach strikes many Black critics as not just politically naive but historically ignorant of how racial hierarchy actually functions in America.

The perception of Smith as aligned with MAGA interests intensified when Donald Trump himself endorsed a potential Smith presidential run, saying he’d “love to see him run” and praising his “great entertainment skills”. For many Black observers, Trump’s endorsement confirmed Smith’s alignment with political forces that have shown consistent hostility to Black civil rights and democratic participation.

Conclusion: Beyond Transactional Politics

Stephen A. Smith’s extension of his profit-first philosophy into political commentary represents a dangerous narrowing of democratic possibility. It reduces citizenship to a transaction and political discourse to entertainment. The strong negative response from Black intellectual circles reflects not just disagreement with his specific positions but a profound understanding of what happens when community interests are subordinated to personal brand-building and revenue generation.

The challenge for Black communities—and for American democracy broadly—is to resist the siren song of transactional politics that measures value primarily in ratings and revenue. What makes Stephen A. Smith’s political commentary so concerning is not that he holds conservative views, but that his entire approach to politics appears to mirror his approach to business: everything is a negotiation, every principle has a price, and the highest value is expanding one’s own platform and profit.

As we navigate the complex political landscape of 2025 and look toward future elections, the need for authentic representation grounded in community accountability has never been more urgent. The alternative—a political discourse dominated by entertainment values and personal profit motives—threatens to complete the corrosion of our democratic institutions. Black communities’ rejection of Stephen A. Smith’s political brand represents not closed-mindedness but a hard-won understanding that some things—justice, representation, human dignity—should never be put on the auction block.

Girard College Taps St. Joseph’s University Hall of Famer, Mark Bass, a Proven Program Builder, as New Boys Basketball Head Coach

October 15, 2025 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Girard College announced on October 9, 2025 that it has hired Mark Bass, a Mercer County basketball legend with deep ties to the Philadelphia region and a storied history as both a player and coach, as the new head coach of its boys’ basketball team. Long-time St. Joseph’s University coach Phil Martelli introduced Bass to his Girard College team in an emotional and intimate gathering. The appointment signals an ambitious new direction for the program, entrusting it to a figure renowned for his tactical acumen and a proven record of rapid turnaround.

Phil Martelli and Mark Bass

Bass brings over 24 years of coaching experience to the role, most recently serving as an Assistant Coach for Prep and Development Basketball at the South Kent School, a Connecticut-based incubator for elite talent. His hiring is seen as a coup for Girard College, securing a leader with a demonstrated ability to elevate teams to championship contention.

“We are thrilled to welcome a leader of Mark Bass’s caliber and character to Girard College,” said Tumar Alexander, Girard College Vice-President of Operations. “His philosophy extends far beyond the basketball court, emphasizing the development of student-athletes as scholars and citizens. His record of success, both immediate and sustained, makes him the ideal person to build a proud and successful future for our boys’ basketball program.”

Tumar Alexander and Mark Bass

Bass is not merely a coach; he is a part of the area’s basketball fabric. A member of both the Mercer County Sports Hall of Fame and the St. Joseph’s University Basketball Hall of Fame, he remains the all-time leading scorer for Trenton Catholic Academy (formerly McCorristin), where he led the team to back-to-back state championship games.

His legacy continued at St. Joseph’s University, where he starred as one of the deadliest shooters in the program’s history and a key part of its 1996 NIT finals team. After a professional stint in China, Bass returned to his alma mater, embarking on a 20-year tenure as an assistant coach—the longest in St. Joseph’s history—where he was instrumental in developing NBA players such as Jameer Nelson, Delonte West, and DeAndre Bembry. He also helped lead the Hawks to another NIT final as a coach in 2005.


It is his most recent high school head coaching performance, however, that provides the clearest blueprint for what Girard College can expect. In 2021, Bass was hired to resurrect the Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy program, a decision hailed at the time as an “absolute no-brainer.”

The results were instantaneous and profound. In his first season at the helm, Bass engineered a dramatic resurgence, leading the Iron Mikes to a Mercer County Championship and, for the first time in 12 years, a South Jersey, Non-Public B title. His team finished the season ranked No. 4 in the state by NJ.com.

“In the program’s first year under coach Mark Bass, Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy plays with a toughness on the defensive end that figures to make these Iron Mikes a lethal threat,” wrote Greg Johnson of The Trentonian in a mid-season assessment.

Mark Bass and Guy Moore, Girard College Director of Athletics

John Castaldo, Bass’s own high school coach at McCorristin, praised the hire at the time, noting, “He returns to his alma mater with a wealth of basketball knowledge… His skills in developing and nurturing relationships are outstanding. He has always been an individual of high character and moral integrity.”

Bass’s expertise is further honed by his role as a Head Coach for the prestigious WeR1 Basketball Club on the Under Armour Association circuit, where he has continued to develop top-tier amateur talent.

“I am incredibly honored and excited to join the Girard College community,” said Bass. “This is a special institution with tremendous potential. I look forward to building a program that the entire Girard family can be proud of—one that competes for championships while upholding the highest standards of excellence, discipline, and sportsmanship. The work begins now.”

Bass holds a Bachelors degree in Marketing from St. Joseph’s University and Master’s degree from Rider University. He officially assumes his duties on October 20, 2025.


About Girard College


Girard College is a landmark independent boarding school in Philadelphia, providing a full-scholarship, holistic education for academically capable students from families with limited financial resources, serving grades 1 through 12.

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F*ck Him! Why Black Athletes Should Shun Auburn’s Bruce Pearl

September 14, 2025 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

PHILADELPHIA, PA – In the aftermath of the assassination of far-right commentator Charlie Kirk, a predictable and distressing pattern has emerged. His death has been met with solemn tributes from powerful allies who have chosen to whitewash a legacy defined by racial animus. Among them is Bruce Pearl, the high-profile head coach of Auburn University’s men’s basketball team. In voicing his “unequivocal support” for Kirk and stating that Kirk “was right about everything he said,” Pearl has offered a profound insight into his own worldview.

For the elite Black basketball prospects being relentlessly recruited by Pearl, and for the parents who entrust their sons to him, this endorsement is not a minor political aside. It is a glaring red flag. It reveals an alignment with a ideology that fundamentally devalues their humanity. In the high-stakes world of college athletics, where coaches wield immense power over the young men in their program, aligning with a coach who champions a racist provocateur is not just a risk—it is an unacceptable compromise.

The Unvarnished Racism of Charlie Kirk

To understand the gravity of Pearl’s endorsement, one must first confront the uncontested record of Charlie Kirk’s rhetoric. This was not a man engaged in good-faith political debate; he was a propagandist who built a career on dehumanization and racial stereotyping. His comments, meticulously documented over years on his show, reveal a deeply ingrained pattern of racism and white supremacy.

Kirk’s philosophy was rooted in the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, a white supremacist trope that claims a deliberate plot is underway to diminish the influence of white people. He stated, “The great replacement strategy, which is well under way every single day in our southern border, is a strategy to replace white rural America with something different”. This theory, which has inspired mass shooters in Pittsburgh, El Paso, and Buffalo, was not a fringe element of his commentary but a central pillar.

His views on Black Americans were particularly venomous and relied on the oldest and most harmful stereotypes. He trafficked in the racist notion of Black criminality, asserting without evidence that “prowling Blacks go around for fun to go target white people, that’s a fact”. He repeatedly questioned the intelligence and competence of Black people, especially in positions of authority. Upon seeing a Black pilot, his first thought was, “boy, I hope he’s qualified” . He reduced accomplished Black women to affirmative action tokens, crudely speculating that a Black customer service worker might be a “moronic Black woman” who got her job not through excellence but through quota systems. He went further, claiming that prominent Black women like Michelle Obama and Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson lacked the “brain processing power” to be taken seriously and had to “steal a white person’s slot”.

His revisionist history on race was equally alarming. In a debate, he callously argued that “Black America is worse than it has been in the last 80 years,” downplaying the horrific era of Jim Crow lynching that saw thousands of Black Americans murdered by racist mobs. When confronted with this history, he dismissed it. He even labeled the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 a “mistake” that was turned into an “anti-white weapon.”

This body of work—a relentless campaign to question, demean, and belittle Black achievement and Black pain—is what Bruce Pearl has deemed “right about everything.”

The Power of a Coach and the Failure of Leadership

The role of a major collegiate basketball coach extends far beyond drawing up plays. For the young athletes who leave their homes to play for them, coaches become surrogate parents, mentors, and the most significant authority figures in their lives. They shape not only athletes but young men. Their influence touches on everything from discipline and work ethic to mental health, social awareness, and personal identity.

A coach’s worldview matters. It permeates the culture of the team. A coach who believes, as Kirk did, that systemic racism is a myth, will be ill-equipped to understand or support a player grappling with the realities of being a Black man on a predominantly white campus or dealing with racial abuse from fans. A coach who tacitly endorses the idea that Black people are prone to criminality will bring that bias to his interactions with his players. A coach who champions a movement that frames their very presence as a “replacement” of white America cannot be a true guardian of their well-being.

Bruce Pearl has voluntarily disqualified himself from this sacred trust. By fully embracing Kirk’s ideology, he has signaled that he operates in a reality where the legitimate fears, struggles, and historical oppression of Black people are either invisible or irrelevant to him. How can a young Black man expect empathy from a coach who applauds a man that called George Floyd a “scumbag”? How can a player trust a mentor who aligns with someone who believes the Civil Rights Act was an “anti-white” mistake?

This is not a partisan issue; it is a human one. It is about basic dignity. As an article in First and Pen argued, Pearl’s support for Kirk is part of a pattern of “racial politics” infused with “niceties” to aid recruitment, a strategy that allows him to benefit from the labor of the very people whose humanity his chosen ideology denigrates.

Auburn’s Troubling Environment and the Viable Alternatives

This is not an abstract concern. Auburn University has recently been grappling with its own serious allegations of racial inequity. A lawsuit filed by Travis Thomas, a former Black athletic academic advisor, alleges a hostile work environment and wrongful termination after he reported being berated by white supervisors and raised concerns about a grade being changed for a football player. While a court dismissed the hostile work environment claim due to the high legal bar for such cases, it allowed his claims of race discrimination and retaliation to proceed, noting a pattern of antagonism that followed his complaints. This case paints a picture of an athletic department where Black employees can feel marginalized and where speaking up carries risk.

Furthermore, the broader environment for Black college athletes is often psychologically taxing. They frequently compete at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) where they are a minority, face racial microaggressions, and often feel unsupported by their institutions. They are pushed to their physical and mental limits by a system that has been criticized for profiting from their labor. In this high-pressure context, the need for a coach who is not just a tactical genius but a compassionate leader who understands their experience is paramount.

Prospects have a choice. They are not obligated to subject themselves to a coach who has endorsed a racist worldview. There are countless programs across the country with coaches who not not only excel at winning games but also actively strive to create an inclusive, supportive, and empowering environment for their Black players. These coaches understand that nurturing a player’s mental health and personal growth is just as important as developing his jump shot. They see the whole person, not just the athlete.

A Choice About More Than Basketball

For a top recruit, the decision often seems to be about television exposure, tournament appearances, and pathway to the pros. These are important factors. But the choice of a coach is also a choice about what values will be reinforced during some of the most formative years of a young man’s life.

Playing for Bruce Pearl means playing for a man who has stated that the provocateur who trafficked in the “great replacement” theory and called Black pilots unqualified was “right about everything.” It means accepting that your coach is on record supporting a movement that sees your success as a threat and your presence as a problem.

Black athletic talent is not a commodity to be harvested by those who would deny its full humanity. It is a gift that should be nurtured by leaders who respect it, who understand the context from which it comes, and who are committed to defending the player as fiercely as they coach him. Bruce Pearl, by his own admission, is not that leader. Elite Black prospects and their families would be wise to believe him, and to take their talents to a program where they are valued not for what they can do on the court, but for who they are.

On the Death of a Racist: Mourning, Morality and the Machinery of Hate

September 11, 2025 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , 1 Comment

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The brutal murder of Charlie Kirk, the polarizing right-wing activist and founder of Turning Point USA, presents a complex moral quandary, particularly for the Black Americans he so frequently targeted. How does a community mourn a man who dedicated his public life to questioning its humanity, intelligence, and rightful place in this nation? The answer lies not in the simplistic binaries of celebration or grief, but in a clear-eyed analysis of the system he served and a reaffirmation of the values he sought to undermine.

First, a necessary human gesture: to his family, friends, and loved ones, we extend sincere condolences. The loss of a son, a partner, a friend is a profound and private sorrow, a pain no one deserves. Our empathy for their personal grief is a measure of our own humanity, a quality that was often absent in the object of their mourning.

But public figures live a public life, and their legacy is rightly subject to public scrutiny. To assess Kirk’s impact, one must move beyond a laundry list of vile comments—though the list is long and telling. His mocking of Black pilots, his demeaning of Black women like Michelle Obama as lacking “the brain processing power” to be taken seriously, his characterization of George Floyd as a “scumbag,” his promotion of the antisemitic “Great Replacement” theory, and his relentless crusade against any effort to teach America’s racial history or promote diversity—these were not gaffes or slips. They were, as Neely Fuller Jr. would frame them in his seminal work, The United Independent Compensatory Code/System/Concept, consistent, functional components of a larger system.

Fuller’s conceptualization of racism/white supremacy is not about individual malice but about a comprehensive, global power structure. He posits that this system operates through established patterns across ten areas of human activity: economics, education, entertainment, labor, law, politics, religion, sex, and war/counter-war. Its goal is the continued domination of white people over non-white people. Through this lens, Charlie Kirk was not an outlier but a highly effective mechanic for this machine.

His activism was a case study in applying Fuller’s framework. In education, he fought to dismantle diversity initiatives and silence teachings on systemic racism, ensuring a curriculum that maintains a white-dominated historical narrative. In economics and labor, his rhetoric casting Black professionals as unqualified “diversity hires” was a direct action to undermine their economic standing and justify their exclusion from opportunity. In law, his dismissals of police brutality victims sought to legitimize state violence against Black bodies. In politics, his organization worked to mobilize a youth base around a platform that explicitly framed racial justice as a threat.

Kirk understood that in the entertainment arena of modern media, outrage is currency. He capitalized on racist activism, monetizing contempt and building a lucrative brand by feeding a hunger for a world where white grievance remains central and unchallenged. He was not a lone wolf howling into the void; he was a prolific supplier for the vast network of what Fuller would call the “system of white supremacy.”

So how do well-intentioned Black people—the primary targets of his project—respond to his death? With a steadfast refusal to be consumed by the very hatred he peddled.

The most powerful response is not to dance on his grave—that would be to engage in the same dehumanization he practiced. Nor is it to perform a forgiveness not yet earned. It is to continue the diligent, unglamorous work of building a world that renders his ideology obsolete. It is to:

1. Mourn the Harm, Not the Man. Grieve for the people his words wounded, for the college student who heard her existence debated as a “slot” stolen from a white peer, for the professional whose achievements were clouded by his toxic narrative. Channel the energy of outrage into shoring up these very communities, supporting Black mental health initiatives, and defending the DEI programs he attacked, which remain critical pathways to equity.

2. Expose the System, Not Just the Symptom. Kirk was a symptom of a enduring disease. His death does not mean the disease is cured. Use his legacy as a teachable moment to explain, using Fuller’s comprehensive model, how such figures are manufactured and rewarded. Analyze how they plug into the areas of economics (fundraising off hate), politics (voter mobilization through fear), and law (shaping judicial nominees). The goal is to dismantle the machinery, not just applaud the breaking of one cog.

3. Reclaim the Narrative with Unassailable Excellence. The ultimate rebuttal to a man who questioned Black capability is to live in defiant brilliance. To fly the planes, lead the corporations, teach the classes, create the art, and write the laws with unwavering excellence. It is to live in the full, complex, and triumphant humanity that his ideology denied.

Charlie Kirk’s death is a footnote. The struggle he exemplified is an ongoing volume. The appropriate response from the Black community is a collective, weary sigh for the unnecessary pain he caused, followed by a deep breath and a renewed commitment to the work. It is the work of affirming life in the face of his death-driven rhetoric. It is the work of building, in Fuller’s terms, a “justice system” to replace the “white supremacy system.” That work—dignified, determined, and unstoppable—is the most profound mourning and the most powerful rebuke imaginable.

Sidney Stewart: How a Maryland Freshman Phenom Forged His Own Path to Football Stardom

August 31, 2025 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , 1 Comment

The Weight of a Legacy

by Delgreco Wilson

COLLEGE PARK, MD – Sidney Stewart was supposed to be a basketball star. It’s in his genes. The Baltimore native is an heir to one of Philadelphia’s great basketball legacies, a family tradition that reads like a history of the game itself. His father, Stephen “Mookie” Stewart, stands ninth in Coppin State history in scoring and rebounding, a MEAC Player of the Year in 1994 and 1995, and now an assistant coach with the Coppin men’s basketball program. Sidney’s uncles, Larry and Lynard Stewart, extended the family’s basketball dominance—Larry became one of only two Coppin State Eagles to play in the NBA, while Lynard starred under John Chaney at Temple before a professional career in Europe.

Yet on Saturday, under the blazing Maryland sun, Sidney Stewart didn’t step onto a hardwood court but rather onto the gridiron of SECU Stadium, where the 6-foot-2, 255-pound freshman defensive lineman delivered a spectacular debut for the University of Maryland Terrapins that announced his arrival as football’s newest sensation.

Sidney Stewart, Maryland Freshman

A Different Path

How does a young man surrounded by basketball royalty find his way to football stardom? For Sidney Stewart, the pull of the gridiron proved irresistible almost as soon as he could walk. While his family legacy pointed toward basketball, Stewart discovered his own passion—one that would eventually lead him to become a preseason freshman All-American selection and one of the most anticipated young talents in Big Ten football.

Stewart’s high school career at Concordia Prep in Towson nearly never was. His time there began in 2020, when COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the season. He reclassified after his freshman year hoping to play four years of football, but ultimately was unable to salvage a season of eligibility for 2024. The disappointment of being allowed to practice but not play during that period forged a resilience that would define his character.

“He was allowed to practice but not play, and that was hard for him to do just because he wanted to be out there so badly with his teammates,” recalled Joe Battaglia, Stewart’s high school coach at Concordia Prep. “I just told him he was going to be so much better for that, and that he was going to have a little different hunger than maybe some other guys that were around him coming in because he understands what it’s like to have football taken from him”.

Character Beyond the Field

If Stewart’s athletic prowess has turned heads, his character has won hearts. In May of this year, after securing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) earnings as a college athlete, Stewart made a decision that stunned his former coaches: he donated $4,000 to Concordia Prep’s athletic department—a tangible expression of gratitude to the institution that shaped him.

“What inspired me to do that was the appreciation I have for my school and secondly, I want them to grow because their growth helps my growth,” Stewart explained. “Coming from that school, the better they look the better I look. I just want every area and every aspect of my life that I was a part of to thrive.”

His high school coach remained amazed at the gesture: “Just an incredible thing for a kid who wasn’t supposed to be graduating from high school yet. He enrolled early in Maryland, had made a little bit of money and wanted to give back to the place that kind of built him and give back to his team. I think he appreciates the people along the way.”

This act of generosity wasn’t an isolated moment but part of a pattern of service that defines Stewart’s character. He is “no stranger to acts of service, such as helping out at youth camps or working with young kids any time they are around Concordia Prep,” his old stomping grounds in Towson.

The Family Competitive Fire

Though Stewart chose football over basketball, the competitive fire that burned in his father and uncles clearly ignites his own ambitions. He enters college with a declaration that he wants to be a freshman All-American—a goal directly inspired by his father’s accomplishments on the basketball court.

“My dad played basketball. He’s pretty good. He played basketball overseas and he was an All-American in college,” Stewart said. “One thing he would always tell me growing up whenever [there] was something to do or any specific task he would always boast, ‘It’s only one All-American in this family.’ I can’t be an All-American at 7 years old, but now I have the opportunity to do that.”

Table: The Stewart Family Athletic Legacy

Family MemberSportAccomplishments
Stephen “Mookie” Stewart (Father)BasketballCoppin State Hall of Fame, MEAC Player of the Year (1994, 1995), 9th in Coppin history in scoring/rebounding
Larry Stewart (Uncle)BasketballNBA player (5 seasons), 2x MEAC Player of the Year, Coppin State’s first MEAC Championship
Lynard Stewart (Uncle)BasketballTemple University star, Philadelphia Daily News Player of the Year, professional career in Europe
Sidney StewartFootballMaryland Football freshman, preseason All-American selection, NIL philanthropist

A Debut to Remember

After nearly two years without playing in a real football game, Stewart’s debut for the Terrapins was nothing short of spectacular. Playing multiple positions across the defensive front—right defensive end, left defensive end, occasionally dropping into linebacker coverage—Stewart demonstrated the versatility that makes him such a promising prospect in defensive coordinator Brian Williams’ scheme.

His stat line told the story of a player who had waited patiently for his moment: 5 tackles (4 solo), 1 sack for a safety, and 3 tackles for loss. The sack that resulted in a safety particularly electrified the Maryland crowd, offering a glimpse of the game-changing potential that has coaches and teammates so excited.

Stewart’s physical attributes—documented in his EA SPORTS™ College Football 26 rating as a 64 overall—include impressive acceleration (81), strength (76), and hit power (83) that belie his freshman status. These measurable qualities, combined with his evident motor and football IQ, suggest a player poised for rapid development.

The Maryland Football Future

Stewart represents a crucial piece of Maryland head football coach Michael Locksley’s ambitious plan to “stack back-to-back high-end recruiting classes in 2025 and 2026.” At Big Ten Media Days in July, Locksley boldly declared: “We’ve embarked on recruiting the best two high school classes that we’ve seen in the history of Maryland football. Half of those guys that we signed [for 2025] were able to enroll early and participate in our winter and spring programs, which gives us an opportunity to see those guys as early as possible.”

Stewart’s journey to Maryland was motivated by more than just athletic opportunity—it was driven by a desire to represent his home state. “Growing up here I just kind of felt disrespected,” Stewart explained. “I feel like we had so many guys… I think often they would go to other schools, and they would do well then you would just forget that they’re from Maryland. We never really got the love that I thought we deserved as a football state. Me and a bunch of other guys my age were like, ‘We need to put our foot down and go ball for our home school,’ so I think that’s probably one of the biggest reasons I chose to come here.”

Table: Sidney Stewart’s EA Sports College Football 26 Ratings Highlights

AttributeRatingAttributeRating
Overall64Acceleration81
Speed76Strength76
Tackle79Power Moves77
Pursuit82Hit Power83
Awareness65Agility75

More Than Athletics

What makes Stewart’s story particularly compelling in the NIL era of college athletics is his understanding that his platform extends beyond the football field. His decision to donate a portion of his earnings to his high school reflects a maturity that transcends his 19 years—a recognition that athletic success carries with it the responsibility to uplift others.

This perspective seems deeply ingrained in Stewart’s approach to his sport and his life. “I enjoyed my time there, so the people that helped me [become] who I am I wanted to help in some sort of way,” he said of his Concordia Prep experience.

Stewart’s high school coach believes this character will translate to success at the collegiate level: “I think he brings unbelievable effort. He’s super explosive. Nobody works harder at their craft than Sid does. He’s in a different system in a slightly different position than he’s been in before, but he’s going to work so hard at that and be successful.”

Forging His Own Legacy

As Sidney Stewart continues his freshman season at Maryland, he carries with him both the weight of family expectation and the freedom of having chosen his own path. The basketball legacy that might have defined another man became merely the foundation upon which Stewart is building his football identity—an identity marked by gratitude, resilience, and an unwavering work ethic.

In an era when college athletes face unprecedented scrutiny and opportunity, Stewart represents the best of what the new system can produce—a young man aware of his value but equally conscious of his responsibility to others. His journey from COVID-canceled seasons to college stardom, his decision to give back before he’s truly taken, and his determination to put Maryland football on the map all tell the story of an athlete who understands that legacy is about more than statistics or awards.

The Stewart family tradition of athletic excellence continues, but through Sidney, it has evolved into something new—a football story born from basketball royalty, a Maryland story with Philadelphia roots, and a personal story of gratitude that promises to inspire the next generation of athletes who must choose between following in footsteps or carving their own path.

As the season continues, Sidney Stewart will undoubtedly face challenges—the relentless grind of Big Ten competition, the academic demands of college life, and the pressure of living up to expectations. But if his debut and his journey thus far are any indication, he possesses not just the physical tools but the character necessary to meet those challenges head-on, creating a legacy that honors his family’s past while firmly establishing his own future.