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The Fatigue of Freedom and the Fascism We Keep Ignoring
Black folks have been marching for centuries, from plantations to protests to policies that never quite deliver. So when people ask why we’re not outside for every march, every movement, every “No Kings” moment, the answer is simple: we’re tired. Not of liberation, but of pretending that America’s sickness is new.
Fascism isn’t rising, it’s revealing itself. And as sociologist and community organizer Amy Bright reminds us in this week’s Friday with Friends, it has always been here. It’s not something we imported from Europe; it’s something America perfected… fascism is not an anomaly — it’s America’s inheritance.
Fascism as the Fabric, Not the Flaw
In our conversation, Amy traced fascism back to the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 the original political persecution designed to silence dissent. Disenfranchisement, nationalism, propaganda; these weren’t imported ideas. They were made in America.— proof that political persecution, voter disenfranchisement, and manufactured nationalism have been the heartbeat of this country since its inception.She reminded us that fascism isn’t just a political system; it’s a psychological and cultural design that thrives on fear, hierarchy, and propaganda.
“America doesn’t have culture — we have capitalism.” — Amy Bright
Fascism, Amy explained, has always existed here, ebbing and flowing beneath every administration, every “change,” every illusion of progress. Both parties feed from the same trough.
When she said, “America doesn’t have culture — we have capitalism,” that line hit deep. Because fascism has always hidden under the illusion of freedom. The right calls it patriotism. The left calls it progress. Both wings belong to the same vulture, feeding on the labor, trauma, and hope of the people
The No Kings Marches and the Mirage of Movement
“This isn’t a revolution; it’s a street festival designed to make people feel like they’re doing something while nothing changes.”
The “No Kings” marches are well-intentioned but toothless, heavily regulated, sanitized, and void of demands. What began as resistance too often gets co-opted into performance. When protest requires a permit, when liberation has a schedule, we’ve already lost the plot.
“We’re tired” — is not disengagement. It’s the wisdom of people who have been holding the line for generations. Black folks built the blueprint for protest. Now it’s time for white-bodied people to pick up the baton.
The Democracy Delusion
Amy’s breakdown of voter disenfranchisement was sobering:
* 25% of Americans are barred from voting due to criminal records.
* Gerrymandering (pioneered by both parties) ensures power never truly shifts.
* Every illusion of choice exists within a controlled environment.
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Gentle reminder:
“You’re not the CEO — you’re middle management in a pyramid scheme of whiteness.”
Democracy, as we’ve been sold, is not freedom. It’s a business model — and fascism is its most profitable product.
Lawrence W. Britt: The 14 Characteristics of Fascism
Historian Lawrence Britt studied the regimes of Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, Suharto, and Pinochet and found these 14 characteristics in common, all of which can be seen across the American landscape today:
* Powerful and Continuing Nationalism – constant patriotic symbols and slogans.
* Disdain for Human Rights – justified by fear and “security.”
* Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats – used to unify the masses.
* Supremacy of the Military – overfunded and glorified.
* Rampant Sexism – patriarchal power reinforced through policy.
* Controlled Mass Media – censored or manipulated to serve power.
* Obsession with National Security – fear as a political tool.
* Religion and Government Intertwined – faith weaponized for control.
* Protection of Corporate Power – corporations and state interests fused.
* Suppression of Labor Power – unions dismantled or co-opted.
* Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts – censorship and anti-education.
* Obsession with Crime and Punishment – policing over people.
* Rampant Cronyism and Corruption – power protects itself.
* Fraudulent Elections – manipulation of media, laws, and votes.
Keep Reading for the Replay + From Awareness to Action
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Replay Video — Full conversation with Amy Bright.Downloadable Resource — Lawrence Britt’s 14 Characteristics of Fascism for classroom or discussion use.
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