Welcome to the inaugural episode of Real Talk-Politic. I’m hegearl, and this podcast is my personal call to African Americans.Why This Podcast? Why Now?
I was born in 1954 — a year that situates me squarely in the era when Jim Crow was still deeply entrenched in American society. I lived through those last days of legalized segregation, discrimination, and open racial hostility. The struggle for civil rights was not some distant history; it shaped my youth, my family, and my worldview.
Now, as I look at the country today, I see many troubling parallels. It often feels like we are slipping back into a society not so different from those Jim Crow years — just cloaked in different language, laws, and policies. The state-sanctioned violence, the systemic racism, the economic disparity, and the political divisions all scream that the work is far from over.
That is why Real Talk-Politic exists — to offer unfiltered, no-nonsense conversations about these realities and, more importantly, to spark dialogue and action around what we can do collectively to change the trajectory for African Americans and other oppressed communities.
“Unity of Purpose” means coming together with shared goals and clear focus. It means setting aside distractions that divide us and building consensus on what truly matters — our survival, progress, and freedom.
Too often, we get caught up in factionalism, party politics, or surface-level debates that don’t translate into meaningful change. But history shows us that real power comes from organized, purposeful unity.
When we pool our resources — financial, intellectual, cultural, and political — we create leverage to build the society we want. This is not just theory; it’s a blueprint grounded in African American history and experience. From the cooperative economies of Black Wall Street to the community self-help movements, infrastructure has been the backbone of Black resilience.
Infrastructure doesn’t just mean roads and buildings. It means owning and managing the systems that affect our daily lives — banks, businesses, schools, healthcare, media, housing, and technology.
Why is this so critical? Because if we don’t control these resources, others will control us. The current system was not designed to serve us, and it’s clear that reliance on external institutions leaves us vulnerable to neglect, exploitation, and marginalization.
Real Talk-Politic aims to explore how we can collectively build and sustain these essential infrastructures. We’ll share stories of past successes, analyze current challenges, and spotlight the efforts and initiatives that are moving us forward.
A key part of this podcast is reclaiming and sharing African American history — not the diluted, sanitized, or outright false narratives shaped by white supremacy and taught in public schools.
Our history is one of resistance, resilience, innovation, and liberation — from the early rebellions against slavery starting in 1526, through the Reconstruction era, the civil rights movement, and today’s ongoing fight for justice and equality.
By documenting these stories and perspectives, Real Talk-Politic serves as both a record and a tool — a way to inform, inspire, and unite listeners around a shared heritage and future.
This podcast is not just about talking — it’s about mobilizing.
Thank you for listening to this first episode of Real Talk-Politic.
This has been Real Talk: and I’m Hegearl and I look forward to continuing this conversation with you. So until the next episode stay sharp, start building, and stay woke.”
