April 1, 2025 ā¢ 24 mins
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
What if the most powerful act of resistance on
April 5th isn't marching in thestreets or chanting through
megaphones, but choosing not toshow up at all?
What if, just for once, blackAmerica decided that our absence
could speak louder than ourpresence?
While the nation prepares forthe mass hands-off protests
fueled by a collective outrageand desire for justice, there is
(00:22):
a deeper question that must beasked Whose justice are we
marching for, and why are westill expected to carry
movements that continue toabandon us when it matters most?
We have been the heartbeat ofevery major protest in modern
history, lending our voices, ourbodies, our trauma and our
resilience to causes that rarelyprotect us when the dust
(00:44):
settles.
We've marched until our feetblistered.
We've yelled until our throatsburn, and still we find
ourselves sidelined, tokenizedor outright betrayed.
So perhaps this time it's timeto do something different.
Perhaps this time we protestthrough absence, through
stillness, through deliberatesilence, because absence, when
(01:07):
strategic, becomes a mirror, avoid that forces the nation to
look at itself and ask theuncomfortable question where did
they go and why?
Choosing not to participate isnot apathy, it's awareness, it's
wisdom, it's a refusal to bethe dependable labor behind
movements that do not love usback.
It's time to reclaim our energy.
(01:29):
It's time to disrupt the cycleof performative unity.
April 5th is approaching andthis time, our silence may be
the loudest thing they hear.
Before we go any further, I wantto invite you to make sure
you're locked in with me acrossall platforms.
If you haven't already, take amoment to subscribe to Life
Points with Rhonda on yourfavorite podcast platform.
(01:52):
Join the conversation onYouTube at Life Points with
Rhonda 2968, and follow me onInstagram, facebook and Patreon
under Life Points with Rhonda.
Everything you need resources,coaching, blog articles and
(02:13):
exclusive content can be foundon my website at
lifepointswithrhondacom.
Your support helps amplifythese necessary conversations
and when you share this message,you're helping others protect
their peace, their power andtheir purpose.
Welcome back to Life Pointswith Rhonda, where we have the
real conversations that help youheal, grow and step fully into
your power emotionally,spiritually, financially and
(02:35):
beyond.
I'm your host, rhonda, andtoday's episode is one that may
challenge some minds and shiftsome perspectives, but that's
exactly what we're here to do.
As we prepare for the hands-offrally scheduled nationwide on
April 5th, there's an urgentneed to talk about something
different, something oftenoverlooked in the heat of
protest, and that's the power ofabsence, the strategic,
(02:58):
intentional choice not toparticipate, not because we
don't care, not because we'reindifferent, but because we've
learned the hard way thatshowing up doesn't always mean
we're seen, valued or protected.
Today we're going to take adeep dive into what it means for
Black America to sit this oneout, and how that silence, that
(03:19):
stillness, can be arevolutionary act all by itself.
We'll explore the historicalweight of our presence, the cost
of always showing up, and whynow might be the time to reclaim
our protest throughnon-participation, because
sometimes withholding our powermakes a louder statement than
pouring it into spaces thatdon't pour back into us the
(03:41):
Weight of Our Presence.
A history of Blackparticipation in protest
movements.
Throughout history, blackpeople in America have been the
soul of social justice movements, showing up, speaking out,
sacrificing and standing in theface of danger to push the
needle of progress forward.
From the civil rights movementto Black Lives Matter, from
(04:04):
labor strikes to anti-wardemonstrations, our bodies have
often been on the front linesand too often our blood has been
spilled in the name of causesthat, while noble in theory,
rarely deliver the liberation wedeserve in reality.
Let's be honest there is alongstanding pattern of Black
(04:25):
pain being used to validatebroader struggles.
Our trauma is broadcasted formomentum, our slogans are
adopted, our faces placed onposters and our cultural
resilience turned into rallyingcries.
But when the dust settles andthe crowd disperses, it is not
uncommon for our issues to bedeprioritized, our communities
(04:47):
to be left behind and our peopleto be forgotten.
We become the backbone ofmovements that were never truly
designed to hold us upright.
It's a hard truth, but one wemust speak, because to
understand why absence might benecessary on April 5th, we must
first acknowledge how deeply ourpresence has been exploited.
We have marched alongsideallies who turned silent when
(05:09):
police brutality targets Blackbodies specifically.
We have protested forreproductive rights, only to see
Black maternal mortalitystatistics ignored.
We have stood for justice, onlyto be gaslit into believing
that our suffering must beshared equally by those who've
never walked in our shoes.
This isn't bitterness.
This is clarity.
(05:30):
It is not our job to carryevery movement.
It is not our duty to always bethe moral compass of America.
There is power in choosing whenand where we invest our energy,
and there is wisdom inrealizing that every movement is
not our movement.
Just because something lookslike justice doesn't mean it
(05:51):
will lead to liberation for all.
Strategic resistance.
Why?
Non-participation is not apathy.
Too often, when Black peoplechoose not to show up, we're
labeled as apathetic, uninformedor disengaged.
But that narrative is bothunfair and dangerously
misleading.
The truth is, choosing not toparticipate can be one of the
(06:12):
most strategic, intentional andpowerful forms of protest
available to us, especially whenour participation has
historically been taken forgranted.
Non-participation is not theabsence of care.
It's the presence ofdiscernment.
It is a deliberate act ofboundary setting.
It is saying I see what'shappening, I understand the
(06:33):
stakes, but I also know the costof constantly sacrificing
myself for movements that do notcenter my survival.
Silence, when chosen withwisdom, can become a form of
sovereignty For blackcommunities.
This moment calls for adifferent kind of resistance,
one that centers preservationover performance.
Because, if we're honest, manyof us are tired.
(06:56):
Tired of fighting every battle,tired of carrying every burden,
tired of being theunacknowledged foundation of
every movement that demands ourlabor, but rarely reclaim our
time.
We reclaim our breath, wereclaim our strategy.
We give ourselves permission tochoose how we resist and, more
(07:17):
importantly, when we resist.
Sometimes, the best way tointerrupt the system is not by
flooding the streets, but byremoving our presence so
profoundly that it can no longerbe ignored.
There is a lesson in the systemin knowing when to step back,
when to let others carry thetorch, when to say we've done
enough for now.
(07:38):
Our silence is not surrender,it is a calculated disruption,
it is a refusal to be used,tokenized or taken for granted.
Yet again, presence withoutprotection, the unspoken cost of
always showing up.
There's a painful irony inalways being present.
We show up in movements thatask for our bodies, our energy,
(08:01):
our labor and our spirit, butwhen the rubber meets the road,
where is the protection?
Where is the policy change thatcenters our safety?
Where is the follow-throughthat acknowledges the specific
generational trauma that Blackcommunities carry?
Presence without protection isnot solidarity, it's
exploitation dressed in activism.
(08:23):
Time and again, we've pouredinto causes that crumble when it
comes to defending us.
We show up for women's rights,and yet Black women continue to
die in childbirth at staggeringrates.
We fight for immigrant justice,but Black immigrants are
disproportionately deported.
We chant for police reform onlyto watch the names of our
(08:43):
brothers and sisters added toyet another heartbreaking list,
and somehow our grief becomespublic currency, while our
dignity remains underfunded.
Showing up has a cost Anemotional, physical, spiritual
and even financial toll that wecarry long after the cameras
have gone home and the hashtagshave faded, and when the smoke
(09:04):
clears, we are left to pick upthe pieces again.
We are left to explainourselves again.
We are left to wonder why ourpresence was needed, but our
protection was not prioritized.
This is why absence can be morethan a protest.
It can be an act of healing.
It can be the first time we saynot.
(09:24):
This time not at the expense ofour peace, our sanity, our
lives.
By choosing to sit this one out, we give ourselves room to
breathe, room to protect our ownroom, to rebuild our energy and
our focus for the battles thatdo belong to us.
We're no longer interested inbeing the background of everyone
(09:44):
else's revolution.
We are reclaiming our own.
The loudness of silence, howabsence forces the nation to
look inward.
There's something deeplyunsettling about an empty space
that was once filled with energy.
Silence, when expected Voicesare missing, becomes a spotlight
.
It forces people to pause, tolook around, to ask questions.
(10:05):
It creates a discomfort that nochant or slogan ever could, and
in that discomfort,transformation begins.
When Black people choose not toshow up intentionally, it
disturbs the rhythm.
The absence is felt.
It creates a visible void inmovements that have grown
accustomed to our unwaveringsupport.
It exposes the fragility ofcoalitions that depended on us
(10:28):
but never truly supported us,and it pushes the entire nation
to examine what that absencereally means.
Silence can be haunting, it canbe heavy, but in protest,
silence can also be sacred.
It's a moment to disrupt theperformance of unity and force
people to sit in the realitythat something is missing and
that something is us.
(10:49):
When we withhold ourparticipation, we also withhold
our validation, and without ourvalidation, many of these
movements lose their moralcompass.
There's power in making othersask where are they?
Why didn't they come?
That simple question is a seed.
It plants introspection.
It challenges assumptions.
(11:09):
It makes people confrontwhether their cause truly
includes us or whether we'vesimply been convenient mascots
for their discomfort with thestatus quo.
In this season, silence is notweakness, it's wisdom.
It's knowing that we don't needto fill every space to prove
our worth.
It's understanding that ourabsence can stir more change
(11:31):
than our presence ever has.
If it forces the right peopleto finally take a long, hard
look in the mirror, april 5thcould be the day the world
realizes what happens when BlackAmerica simply stops showing up
and when they notice that void,the message will be undeniable
we're not here to be seen, we'rehere to be respected.
(11:52):
And until that happens, wechoose ourselves.
Choosing yourself how strategicwithdrawal becomes a form of
protection In a world thatconstantly demands our labor,
our outrage and our loyalty.
Choosing yourself can feelrebellious, and for Black people
, especially Black women, thatchoice often comes with guilt
(12:13):
Guilt for not showing up, guiltfor not carrying yet another
cause, guilt for placingself-preservation over
solidarity.
But here's the truth Protectingyour peace is not betrayal,
it's survival.
Strategic withdrawal is notabout disengagement.
It's about discernment, it'sabout knowing when your presence
(12:34):
is powerful and when it's beingdrained, and it's about
recognizing that saying no toparticipation is sometimes the
most loving thing you can do foryourself, your family and your
community.
We have to unlearn the ideathat rest is weakness, that
stillness is laziness, that notmarching means we don't care,
because the systems we'refighting are relentless and we
(12:57):
cannot pour from a dry well.
We deserve rest, we deservespace, we deserve the right to
choose where our energy flowsand to whom.
Choosing yourself on April 5thmight look like staying home and
lighting a candle for yourancestors.
It might look like gathering incommunity spaces that affirm
your humanity.
It might mean writing, praying,meditating or simply being
(13:22):
without pressure to perform.
That too is resistance.
We need to normalize the ideathat healing is revolutionary,
that unplugging from movementsthat are not rooted in our
protection is an act of wisdom,not weakness.
We are not obligated to attendevery protest, every march,
every cause, especially when thereturn on that investment
(13:45):
continues to leave us empty andunseen.
This is not about apathy.
It's about alignment Alignmentwith your spirit, alignment with
your purpose, alignment withyour peace.
So, when April 5th comes andthe world turns its gaze to the
crowds in the streets, alignmentwith your spirit, alignment
with your purpose, alignmentwith your peace.
So, when April 5th comes andthe world turns its gaze to the
(14:05):
crowds in the streets, let themalso feel the weight of our
collective decision to choosenot to be there.
Let them feel the strength ofour boundaries.
Let them wonder why the soul ofthe movement, the pulse that is
Black America, chose silenceinstead of sacrifice.
Beyond the moment, the long-termpower of conscious
disengagement.
It's easy to view protest as aone-day act, a moment in time
(14:27):
where we raise our voices,gather in solidarity and demand
change.
But real transformation isn'tbuilt on moments alone.
It's built on movements, andmovements require sustainability
.
That's where consciousdisengagement becomes not just a
strategy but a foundation forlong-term liberation.
When we step back, we createspace to reflect, to reassess
(14:48):
and to recalibrate.
We begin to ask deeperquestions Are we aligning with
causes that reflect our values?
Are we being heard, not justseen?
Are our communities actuallybeing protected, nourished and
empowered, or are we simplybeing used to boost credibility
and visibility for others?
Conscious disengagement allowsus to shift our focus from
(15:09):
external validation to internalalignment.
It calls us to pour into thegrassroots efforts within our
own neighborhoods, to invest inBlack-led initiatives, to
prioritize mutual aid, economicempowerment, mental health,
spiritual grounding and culturalpreservation.
These are not passive acts.
These are revolutionary acts ofself and community liberation.
(15:34):
By withdrawing from spaces thatfail to honor us, we redirect
that energy into building whattruly sustains us, and that's
where real power lives, not inbeing seen on a stage that
doesn't serve us, but inconstructing a world where we
don't have to beg for inclusionin the first place.
We must think.
Long-term Liberation is not aperformance, it's a commitment,
(15:56):
and part of that commitment isknowing when to step back, when
to heal, when to regroup andwhen to reclaim.
The April 5th protest may comeand go, but the ripples of our
absence, if rooted in strategyand truth, can echo far beyond a
single day.
In choosing not to show up, weare showing ourselves something
(16:17):
far more valuable the blueprintfor our own freedom.
April 5th as a mirror,redefining boundaries, power and
protest in Black America.
April 5th is more than just adate.
It's a mirror.
It's an invitation to lookinward, to reevaluate our
patterns and to shift the way weengage with protest and with
(16:38):
power.
For so long, black America hasbeen conditioned to believe that
being present is the only wayto prove our commitment, that
showing up is the highest formof activism.
But what if presence withoutboundaries is just another form
of control?
What April 5th offers us is anopportunity to redefine the
terms, to say I can care deeplyand still choose my own
(17:02):
well-being.
I can want justice and stillprioritize where and how I fight
for it.
This is the evolution ofprotest not just what we're
fighting against, but how we'rechoosing to fight and, more
importantly, what we're nolonger willing to fight for when
it doesn't fight for us inreturn.
Our power is not rooted inalways being available.
(17:24):
It's rooted in our ability todiscern what is worthy of our
presence, to say no withconfidence, to protect our
energy without apology, to teachour children that resistance is
not just marching, it's knowingyour worth, guarding your peace
and refusing to be used.
This moment calls for emotionalmaturity, spiritual clarity and
(17:47):
cultural self-respect.
It challenges us to release theguilt we've inherited and
embrace a deeper truth that weare not obligated to participate
in every struggle.
We are not obligated toparticipate in every struggle,
especially when our ownliberation is not at the center
of it.
April 5th could be a culturalpivot, a day we remember as the
moment we chose to stop beingperformative participants and
(18:11):
became intentional architects ofour own freedom.
This is not about abandoningthe fight.
It's about choosing a betterbattlefield, one where our souls
aren't constantly depleted, onewhere our presence is respected
, not just relied upon, Onewhere our power is honored, not
borrowed, not repackaged, buttruly seen, still building,
(18:32):
taking meaningful action BeyondApril 5th.
Choosing absence on April 5th isnot the end.
It's the beginning of a new wayforward, a more intentional
path, a protest that doesn'talways require pavement beneath
your feet, but instead purposebehind your choices, because
even in our stillness we arebuilding.
Even in our silence we arecreating waves.
(18:53):
The work doesn't stop becausewe don't show up to the rally.
The real work healing,organizing, building
institutions, teaching ourchildren, investing in ourselves
, preserving our culture thatwork is always happening.
The difference is we're doingit on our terms and when we
operate from that place ofsovereignty, we stop seeking
(19:15):
permission to disengage, we stopexplaining our boundaries, we
stop apologizing to disengage,we stop explaining our
boundaries, we stop apologizingfor protecting our own.
What does meaningful action looklike beyond April 5th?
It looks like redirecting ourtime and money into Black-owned
businesses and communityorganizations.
It looks like learning ourhistory and teaching it to
others unfiltered, unwatereddown and full of truth.
(19:38):
It looks like starting therapy,meditating, praying and
reconnecting with our ancestorsfor guidance.
It looks like checking on yourneighbor, feeding your community
, mentoring our youth andbuilding wealth that can't be
erased with a headline or stolenby another movement.
Most importantly, it looks likeunderstanding that protest is
(20:00):
not one-dimensional.
It lives in every choice wemake to protect our joy, our
minds, our spirit and ourfutures.
Liberation is not an event,it's a lifestyle, and that means
we get to shape it in a waythat sustains us, not depletes
us.
So, even as the chants rise onApril 5th, let our silence be
sacred, let it be powerful, letit be the beginning of a more
(20:23):
grounded revolution, one wherewe don't burn out but instead
burn brighter from within.
Conclusion the power of sayingno and the relationship to self.
April 5th will come and go, butwhat remains is the lesson, the
quiet, fierce reminder that wedon't have to show up everywhere
to prove that we matter, thatsometimes the most radical thing
(20:44):
you can do is say no, no toburnout, no to tokenism, no to
being everyone's backbone butyour own.
And in saying no to the world,you say yes to yourself, because
at the core of every protest isa relationship with self, with
(21:05):
community, with purpose, and ifthat relationship isn't rooted
in respect, alignment and truth,it will never bear fruit.
Today's episode isn't justabout politics or protests.
It's about boundaries, valueand liberation on your own terms
.
It's about remembering that youare not obligated to perform
resistance just to be seen.
(21:25):
You are already enough, alreadypowerful, already whole,
whether you march or meditate,speak or stay silent.
Your power is in your choice,and that, beloved, is what makes
absence revolutionary it putsyou back in control of your
narrative and reminds the worldthat our presence is not a given
it's earned, and when it'smissing, it's felt.
(21:48):
So, as April 5th approaches, Iinvite you to reflect.
Where have you been showing upout of obligation instead of
alignment?
What movements are youparticipating in that don't
truly reflect your values?
And, most importantly, whatwould it feel like to give
yourself full permission to justbe?
Final call to action, if thisepisode spoke to your spirit
(22:13):
today, take a moment to breathe,to reflect and to share.
Share this message with someonewho's been caring too much,
someone who's been afraid to sayno, someone who needs the
reminder that choosingthemselves is not only okay,
it's necessary.
Make sure you're subscribed toLife Points with Rhonda on all
major podcast platforms so younever miss an episode.
(22:34):
You can find me on YouTube atLife Points with Rhonda 2968,
and follow me on Instagram,facebook and Patreon at Life
Points with Rhonda For coachingcourses, consultations or to
connect deeper.
Visit my website atlifepointswithrhondacom.
(22:55):
Remember, protest comes in manyforms.
Let yours be rooted in love,wisdom and protection of self,
because when you honor yourboundaries, you teach the world
how to honor you too.
Until next time, protect yourpeace.
Thank you, thank you.
What if the most powerful act of resistance on
April 5th isn't marching in thestreets or chanting through
megaphones, but choosing not toshow up at all?
What if, just for once, blackAmerica decided that our absence
could speak louder than ourpresence?
While the nation prepares forthe mass hands-off protests
fueled by a collective outrageand desire for justice, there is
(00:22):
a deeper question that must beasked Whose justice are we
marching for, and why are westill expected to carry
movements that continue toabandon us when it matters most?
We have been the heartbeat ofevery major protest in modern
history, lending our voices, ourbodies, our trauma and our
resilience to causes that rarelyprotect us when the dust
(00:44):
settles.
We've marched until our feetblistered.
We've yelled until our throatsburn, and still we find
ourselves sidelined, tokenizedor outright betrayed.
So perhaps this time it's timeto do something different.
Perhaps this time we protestthrough absence, through
stillness, through deliberatesilence, because absence, when
(01:07):
strategic, becomes a mirror, avoid that forces the nation to
look at itself and ask theuncomfortable question where did
they go and why?
Choosing not to participate isnot apathy, it's awareness, it's
wisdom, it's a refusal to bethe dependable labor behind
movements that do not love usback.
It's time to reclaim our energy.
(01:29):
It's time to disrupt the cycleof performative unity.
April 5th is approaching andthis time, our silence may be
the loudest thing they hear.
Before we go any further, I wantto invite you to make sure
you're locked in with me acrossall platforms.
If you haven't already, take amoment to subscribe to Life
Points with Rhonda on yourfavorite podcast platform.
(01:52):
Join the conversation onYouTube at Life Points with
Rhonda 2968, and follow me onInstagram, facebook and Patreon
under Life Points with Rhonda.
Everything you need resources,coaching, blog articles and
(02:13):
exclusive content can be foundon my website at
lifepointswithrhondacom.
Your support helps amplifythese necessary conversations
and when you share this message,you're helping others protect
their peace, their power andtheir purpose.
Welcome back to Life Pointswith Rhonda, where we have the
real conversations that help youheal, grow and step fully into
your power emotionally,spiritually, financially and
(02:35):
beyond.
I'm your host, rhonda, andtoday's episode is one that may
challenge some minds and shiftsome perspectives, but that's
exactly what we're here to do.
As we prepare for the hands-offrally scheduled nationwide on
April 5th, there's an urgentneed to talk about something
different, something oftenoverlooked in the heat of
protest, and that's the power ofabsence, the strategic,
(02:58):
intentional choice not toparticipate, not because we
don't care, not because we'reindifferent, but because we've
learned the hard way thatshowing up doesn't always mean
we're seen, valued or protected.
Today we're going to take adeep dive into what it means for
Black America to sit this oneout, and how that silence, that
(03:19):
stillness, can be arevolutionary act all by itself.
We'll explore the historicalweight of our presence, the cost
of always showing up, and whynow might be the time to reclaim
our protest throughnon-participation, because
sometimes withholding our powermakes a louder statement than
pouring it into spaces thatdon't pour back into us the
(03:41):
Weight of Our Presence.
A history of Blackparticipation in protest
movements.
Throughout history, blackpeople in America have been the
soul of social justice movements, showing up, speaking out,
sacrificing and standing in theface of danger to push the
needle of progress forward.
From the civil rights movementto Black Lives Matter, from
(04:04):
labor strikes to anti-wardemonstrations, our bodies have
often been on the front linesand too often our blood has been
spilled in the name of causesthat, while noble in theory,
rarely deliver the liberation wedeserve in reality.
Let's be honest there is alongstanding pattern of Black
(04:25):
pain being used to validatebroader struggles.
Our trauma is broadcasted formomentum, our slogans are
adopted, our faces placed onposters and our cultural
resilience turned into rallyingcries.
But when the dust settles andthe crowd disperses, it is not
uncommon for our issues to bedeprioritized, our communities
(04:47):
to be left behind and our peopleto be forgotten.
We become the backbone ofmovements that were never truly
designed to hold us upright.
It's a hard truth, but one wemust speak, because to
understand why absence might benecessary on April 5th, we must
first acknowledge how deeply ourpresence has been exploited.
We have marched alongsideallies who turned silent when
(05:09):
police brutality targets Blackbodies specifically.
We have protested forreproductive rights, only to see
Black maternal mortalitystatistics ignored.
We have stood for justice, onlyto be gaslit into believing
that our suffering must beshared equally by those who've
never walked in our shoes.
This isn't bitterness.
This is clarity.
(05:30):
It is not our job to carryevery movement.
It is not our duty to always bethe moral compass of America.
There is power in choosing whenand where we invest our energy,
and there is wisdom inrealizing that every movement is
not our movement.
Just because something lookslike justice doesn't mean it
(05:51):
will lead to liberation for all.
Strategic resistance.
Why?
Non-participation is not apathy.
Too often, when Black peoplechoose not to show up, we're
labeled as apathetic, uninformedor disengaged.
But that narrative is bothunfair and dangerously
misleading.
The truth is, choosing not toparticipate can be one of the
(06:12):
most strategic, intentional andpowerful forms of protest
available to us, especially whenour participation has
historically been taken forgranted.
Non-participation is not theabsence of care.
It's the presence ofdiscernment.
It is a deliberate act ofboundary setting.
It is saying I see what'shappening, I understand the
(06:33):
stakes, but I also know the costof constantly sacrificing
myself for movements that do notcenter my survival.
Silence, when chosen withwisdom, can become a form of
sovereignty For blackcommunities.
This moment calls for adifferent kind of resistance,
one that centers preservationover performance.
Because, if we're honest, manyof us are tired.
(06:56):
Tired of fighting every battle,tired of carrying every burden,
tired of being theunacknowledged foundation of
every movement that demands ourlabor, but rarely reclaim our
time.
We reclaim our breath, wereclaim our strategy.
We give ourselves permission tochoose how we resist and, more
(07:17):
importantly, when we resist.
Sometimes, the best way tointerrupt the system is not by
flooding the streets, but byremoving our presence so
profoundly that it can no longerbe ignored.
There is a lesson in the systemin knowing when to step back,
when to let others carry thetorch, when to say we've done
enough for now.
(07:38):
Our silence is not surrender,it is a calculated disruption,
it is a refusal to be used,tokenized or taken for granted.
Yet again, presence withoutprotection, the unspoken cost of
always showing up.
There's a painful irony inalways being present.
We show up in movements thatask for our bodies, our energy,
(08:01):
our labor and our spirit, butwhen the rubber meets the road,
where is the protection?
Where is the policy change thatcenters our safety?
Where is the follow-throughthat acknowledges the specific
generational trauma that Blackcommunities carry?
Presence without protection isnot solidarity, it's
exploitation dressed in activism.
(08:23):
Time and again, we've pouredinto causes that crumble when it
comes to defending us.
We show up for women's rights,and yet Black women continue to
die in childbirth at staggeringrates.
We fight for immigrant justice,but Black immigrants are
disproportionately deported.
We chant for police reform onlyto watch the names of our
(08:43):
brothers and sisters added toyet another heartbreaking list,
and somehow our grief becomespublic currency, while our
dignity remains underfunded.
Showing up has a cost Anemotional, physical, spiritual
and even financial toll that wecarry long after the cameras
have gone home and the hashtagshave faded, and when the smoke
(09:04):
clears, we are left to pick upthe pieces again.
We are left to explainourselves again.
We are left to wonder why ourpresence was needed, but our
protection was not prioritized.
This is why absence can be morethan a protest.
It can be an act of healing.
It can be the first time we saynot.
(09:24):
This time not at the expense ofour peace, our sanity, our
lives.
By choosing to sit this one out, we give ourselves room to
breathe, room to protect our ownroom, to rebuild our energy and
our focus for the battles thatdo belong to us.
We're no longer interested inbeing the background of everyone
(09:44):
else's revolution.
We are reclaiming our own.
The loudness of silence, howabsence forces the nation to
look inward.
There's something deeplyunsettling about an empty space
that was once filled with energy.
Silence, when expected Voicesare missing, becomes a spotlight
.
It forces people to pause, tolook around, to ask questions.
(10:05):
It creates a discomfort that nochant or slogan ever could, and
in that discomfort,transformation begins.
When Black people choose not toshow up intentionally, it
disturbs the rhythm.
The absence is felt.
It creates a visible void inmovements that have grown
accustomed to our unwaveringsupport.
It exposes the fragility ofcoalitions that depended on us
(10:28):
but never truly supported us,and it pushes the entire nation
to examine what that absencereally means.
Silence can be haunting, it canbe heavy, but in protest,
silence can also be sacred.
It's a moment to disrupt theperformance of unity and force
people to sit in the realitythat something is missing and
that something is us.
(10:49):
When we withhold ourparticipation, we also withhold
our validation, and without ourvalidation, many of these
movements lose their moralcompass.
There's power in making othersask where are they?
Why didn't they come?
That simple question is a seed.
It plants introspection.
It challenges assumptions.
(11:09):
It makes people confrontwhether their cause truly
includes us or whether we'vesimply been convenient mascots
for their discomfort with thestatus quo.
In this season, silence is notweakness, it's wisdom.
It's knowing that we don't needto fill every space to prove
our worth.
It's understanding that ourabsence can stir more change
(11:31):
than our presence ever has.
If it forces the right peopleto finally take a long, hard
look in the mirror, april 5thcould be the day the world
realizes what happens when BlackAmerica simply stops showing up
and when they notice that void,the message will be undeniable
we're not here to be seen, we'rehere to be respected.
(11:52):
And until that happens, wechoose ourselves.
Choosing yourself how strategicwithdrawal becomes a form of
protection In a world thatconstantly demands our labor,
our outrage and our loyalty.
Choosing yourself can feelrebellious, and for Black people
, especially Black women, thatchoice often comes with guilt
(12:13):
Guilt for not showing up, guiltfor not carrying yet another
cause, guilt for placingself-preservation over
solidarity.
But here's the truth Protectingyour peace is not betrayal,
it's survival.
Strategic withdrawal is notabout disengagement.
It's about discernment, it'sabout knowing when your presence
(12:34):
is powerful and when it's beingdrained, and it's about
recognizing that saying no toparticipation is sometimes the
most loving thing you can do foryourself, your family and your
community.
We have to unlearn the ideathat rest is weakness, that
stillness is laziness, that notmarching means we don't care,
because the systems we'refighting are relentless and we
(12:57):
cannot pour from a dry well.
We deserve rest, we deservespace, we deserve the right to
choose where our energy flowsand to whom.
Choosing yourself on April 5thmight look like staying home and
lighting a candle for yourancestors.
It might look like gathering incommunity spaces that affirm
your humanity.
It might mean writing, praying,meditating or simply being
(13:22):
without pressure to perform.
That too is resistance.
We need to normalize the ideathat healing is revolutionary,
that unplugging from movementsthat are not rooted in our
protection is an act of wisdom,not weakness.
We are not obligated to attendevery protest, every march,
every cause, especially when thereturn on that investment
(13:45):
continues to leave us empty andunseen.
This is not about apathy.
It's about alignment Alignmentwith your spirit, alignment with
your purpose, alignment withyour peace.
So, when April 5th comes andthe world turns its gaze to the
crowds in the streets, alignmentwith your spirit, alignment
with your purpose, alignmentwith your peace.
So, when April 5th comes andthe world turns its gaze to the
(14:05):
crowds in the streets, let themalso feel the weight of our
collective decision to choosenot to be there.
Let them feel the strength ofour boundaries.
Let them wonder why the soul ofthe movement, the pulse that is
Black America, chose silenceinstead of sacrifice.
Beyond the moment, the long-termpower of conscious
disengagement.
It's easy to view protest as aone-day act, a moment in time
(14:27):
where we raise our voices,gather in solidarity and demand
change.
But real transformation isn'tbuilt on moments alone.
It's built on movements, andmovements require sustainability
.
That's where consciousdisengagement becomes not just a
strategy but a foundation forlong-term liberation.
When we step back, we createspace to reflect, to reassess
(14:48):
and to recalibrate.
We begin to ask deeperquestions Are we aligning with
causes that reflect our values?
Are we being heard, not justseen?
Are our communities actuallybeing protected, nourished and
empowered, or are we simplybeing used to boost credibility
and visibility for others?
Conscious disengagement allowsus to shift our focus from
(15:09):
external validation to internalalignment.
It calls us to pour into thegrassroots efforts within our
own neighborhoods, to invest inBlack-led initiatives, to
prioritize mutual aid, economicempowerment, mental health,
spiritual grounding and culturalpreservation.
These are not passive acts.
These are revolutionary acts ofself and community liberation.
(15:34):
By withdrawing from spaces thatfail to honor us, we redirect
that energy into building whattruly sustains us, and that's
where real power lives, not inbeing seen on a stage that
doesn't serve us, but inconstructing a world where we
don't have to beg for inclusionin the first place.
We must think.
Long-term Liberation is not aperformance, it's a commitment,
(15:56):
and part of that commitment isknowing when to step back, when
to heal, when to regroup andwhen to reclaim.
The April 5th protest may comeand go, but the ripples of our
absence, if rooted in strategyand truth, can echo far beyond a
single day.
In choosing not to show up, weare showing ourselves something
(16:17):
far more valuable the blueprintfor our own freedom.
April 5th as a mirror,redefining boundaries, power and
protest in Black America.
April 5th is more than just adate.
It's a mirror.
It's an invitation to lookinward, to reevaluate our
patterns and to shift the way weengage with protest and with
(16:38):
power.
For so long, black America hasbeen conditioned to believe that
being present is the only wayto prove our commitment, that
showing up is the highest formof activism.
But what if presence withoutboundaries is just another form
of control?
What April 5th offers us is anopportunity to redefine the
terms, to say I can care deeplyand still choose my own
(17:02):
well-being.
I can want justice and stillprioritize where and how I fight
for it.
This is the evolution ofprotest not just what we're
fighting against, but how we'rechoosing to fight and, more
importantly, what we're nolonger willing to fight for when
it doesn't fight for us inreturn.
Our power is not rooted inalways being available.
(17:24):
It's rooted in our ability todiscern what is worthy of our
presence, to say no withconfidence, to protect our
energy without apology, to teachour children that resistance is
not just marching, it's knowingyour worth, guarding your peace
and refusing to be used.
This moment calls for emotionalmaturity, spiritual clarity and
(17:47):
cultural self-respect.
It challenges us to release theguilt we've inherited and
embrace a deeper truth that weare not obligated to participate
in every struggle.
We are not obligated toparticipate in every struggle,
especially when our ownliberation is not at the center
of it.
April 5th could be a culturalpivot, a day we remember as the
moment we chose to stop beingperformative participants and
(18:11):
became intentional architects ofour own freedom.
This is not about abandoningthe fight.
It's about choosing a betterbattlefield, one where our souls
aren't constantly depleted, onewhere our presence is respected
, not just relied upon, Onewhere our power is honored, not
borrowed, not repackaged, buttruly seen, still building,
(18:32):
taking meaningful action BeyondApril 5th.
Choosing absence on April 5th isnot the end.
It's the beginning of a new wayforward, a more intentional
path, a protest that doesn'talways require pavement beneath
your feet, but instead purposebehind your choices, because
even in our stillness we arebuilding.
Even in our silence we arecreating waves.
(18:53):
The work doesn't stop becausewe don't show up to the rally.
The real work healing,organizing, building
institutions, teaching ourchildren, investing in ourselves
, preserving our culture thatwork is always happening.
The difference is we're doingit on our terms and when we
operate from that place ofsovereignty, we stop seeking
(19:15):
permission to disengage, we stopexplaining our boundaries, we
stop apologizing to disengage,we stop explaining our
boundaries, we stop apologizingfor protecting our own.
What does meaningful action looklike beyond April 5th?
It looks like redirecting ourtime and money into Black-owned
businesses and communityorganizations.
It looks like learning ourhistory and teaching it to
others unfiltered, unwatereddown and full of truth.
(19:38):
It looks like starting therapy,meditating, praying and
reconnecting with our ancestorsfor guidance.
It looks like checking on yourneighbor, feeding your community
, mentoring our youth andbuilding wealth that can't be
erased with a headline or stolenby another movement.
Most importantly, it looks likeunderstanding that protest is
(20:00):
not one-dimensional.
It lives in every choice wemake to protect our joy, our
minds, our spirit and ourfutures.
Liberation is not an event,it's a lifestyle, and that means
we get to shape it in a waythat sustains us, not depletes
us.
So, even as the chants rise onApril 5th, let our silence be
sacred, let it be powerful, letit be the beginning of a more
(20:23):
grounded revolution, one wherewe don't burn out but instead
burn brighter from within.
Conclusion the power of sayingno and the relationship to self.
April 5th will come and go, butwhat remains is the lesson, the
quiet, fierce reminder that wedon't have to show up everywhere
to prove that we matter, thatsometimes the most radical thing
(20:44):
you can do is say no, no toburnout, no to tokenism, no to
being everyone's backbone butyour own.
And in saying no to the world,you say yes to yourself, because
at the core of every protest isa relationship with self, with
(21:05):
community, with purpose, and ifthat relationship isn't rooted
in respect, alignment and truth,it will never bear fruit.
Today's episode isn't justabout politics or protests.
It's about boundaries, valueand liberation on your own terms
.
It's about remembering that youare not obligated to perform
resistance just to be seen.
(21:25):
You are already enough, alreadypowerful, already whole,
whether you march or meditate,speak or stay silent.
Your power is in your choice,and that, beloved, is what makes
absence revolutionary it putsyou back in control of your
narrative and reminds the worldthat our presence is not a given
it's earned, and when it'smissing, it's felt.
(21:48):
So, as April 5th approaches, Iinvite you to reflect.
Where have you been showing upout of obligation instead of
alignment?
What movements are youparticipating in that don't
truly reflect your values?
And, most importantly, whatwould it feel like to give
yourself full permission to justbe?
Final call to action, if thisepisode spoke to your spirit
(22:13):
today, take a moment to breathe,to reflect and to share.
Share this message with someonewho's been caring too much,
someone who's been afraid to sayno, someone who needs the
reminder that choosingthemselves is not only okay,
it's necessary.
Make sure you're subscribed toLife Points with Rhonda on all
major podcast platforms so younever miss an episode.
(22:34):
You can find me on YouTube atLife Points with Rhonda 2968,
and follow me on Instagram,facebook and Patreon at Life
Points with Rhonda For coachingcourses, consultations or to
connect deeper.
Visit my website atlifepointswithrhondacom.
(22:55):
Remember, protest comes in manyforms.
Let yours be rooted in love,wisdom and protection of self,
because when you honor yourboundaries, you teach the world
how to honor you too.
Until next time, protect yourpeace.
Thank you, thank you.
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