“Gaslighting” is the psychological manipulation of individuals or groups into questioning their reality, memory, or sanity—often to maintain control. In a week of continuing mounting chaos in US politics marked by the meeting of the National Organization of Black County Officials in Birmingham, we can recognize that both colonialism and American institutions have gaslit Black communities into believing that our cultures, languages, and histories are inferior.
New Ancestor Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s work explains how elites from would-be oppressed groups are often recruited into tempering mass liberation movements through mental colonization in language, law, politics and economics, enabling forms of structural oppression masked as deep democracy.
The critique extends to today’s struggles, from myths of meritocracy to distortions of Black identity and potential power in education and demography. While selective buying campaigns remain powerful in moments, the example of Alabama’s A.G. Gaston underscores that building movements anchored by independent Black institutions—banks, schools, businesses—is essential for generating sustainable power.
These examples also challenge strands of Black radicalism that suffer from ideological gaslighting, leading them to reject economic self-determination and political pragmatism in favor of ideological purity—undermining efforts to deliver material gains for the poor.
Real liberation requires long-view strategies, rooted in cultural self-determination, global awareness, and networked community infrastructure—not just litigation or protest, but power gleaned from purposeful creation. This is an antidote to being manipulated and trying to govern by gaslight.
JOIN KNARRATIVE: https://www.knarrative.com it's the only way to get into #Knubia, where these classes are
held live with a live chat.
To shop Go to:TheGlobalMajority
More from us:
Knarrative Twitter: https://twitter.com/knarrative_
Knarrative Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knarrative/
In Class with Carr Twitter: https://twitter.com/inclasswithcarr
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Popular Podcasts
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!