Tag: Life

Knowing When to Walk Away in 2025

Posted on by Nkozi Knight

By Nkozi Knight

We tell ourselves that success comes from more effort and more time. That belief still matters. Yet in 2025 another truth is just as important. Half the game is choosing where you spend your effort in the first place. Sometimes the smart move is to walk away.

The labor market is reshaping itself in real time. Generative AI tools now handle work that once kept whole teams busy. Companies are reorganizing to chase efficiency and speed. Leadership teams are under pressure to do more with fewer people. Global talent markets are wide open. H1B holders bring real skill and many firms are recruiting globally before they look locally. None of this is a moral judgment. It is the environment. In this environment staying put out of habit can become the most expensive decision you make.

Silent quitting defined the last few years. People stayed but pulled back. In 2025 the bigger risk is silent stagnation. You keep delivering while the org chart keeps shifting. Systems take over routine tasks. Budgets move to automation and to roles that can scale. If your seat does not compound your skills or your network, the clock is already ticking even if you cannot hear it.

Walking away is not drama. It is strategy. The question is simple. Does this role increase your value twelve months from now. If the honest answer is no, the cost of loyalty is too high. Loyalty to your future is the only loyalty that compounds.

To evaluate your situation ask yourself whether the outcomes you deliver are unique to your skill set or whether a model could replace them. Consider whether the learning curve in your current role is still steep or if you are repeating cycles that add little to your future. Reflect on whether your work places you near decision makers or keeps you locked in execution only. And finally, consider whether the relationships you build today will serve you tomorrow. These questions offer quiet clarity that no performance review will provide.

Leaving does not always mean quitting your employer. It can mean walking away from the wrong team, the wrong leader, the wrong product line, or the wrong client mix. It can mean seeking roles that sit beside the machines rather than beneath them. Human judgment, trust building, original insight, and accountable ownership remain scarce. Aim your career at the work that needs a signature, not just a keyboard.

The H1B debate is loud this year and will stay loud. The best response is not resentment. It is readiness. Build competencies that translate across industries. Learn the tools that drive your field so you can direct them rather than compete with them. Grow relationships that outlast any single title. When your value is clear and portable you will not fear any policy cycle.

For leaders the message is just as direct. People are watching how you treat them during this transition. If you use AI to strip away meaningful work without creating new ladders, your best people will exit first. If you invest in upskilling and in clear career paths, your organization will retain its core talent and attract more. Markets reward firms that act with clarity and care at the same time.

The choice to walk away is never easy. It asks for courage and a clear view of the road ahead. Yet the market is telling the truth every day. Growth rarely happens in places that mute your voice or drain your energy. If the room you are in no longer fits the person you are becoming, it is time to leave the room.

In 2025 the winners will not be those who simply grind harder. They will be those who choose their arenas wisely and walk away when the environment no longer deserves them.

Private Equity’s Greed Is Catching Up: Why Ordinary Americans Will Pay the Price

Posted on by Nkozi Knight

April 30, 2025 • By NKOZI KNIGHT

Many of us do not realize that private equity firms has always been about extraction, not creation. The model is simple. Borrow heavily, buy a company, slash jobs and benefits, sell off assets, and walk away with fees long before the damage shows. Communities are left with shuttered stores, abandoned buildings, bankrupt chains, and broken promises.

The list of casualties is long. Toys “R” Us was loaded with more than $5 billion dollars in debt by Bain Capital and KKR before it collapsed, taking 30,000 jobs with it. Payless ShoeSource closed its doors, erasing 18,000 jobs. J. Crew, Gymboree, Shopko, Forever 21, and Sears each followed the same path. Behind nearly every failure was a private equity deal that turned once-profitable companies into vehicles for debt. Blackstone, the largest of them all, drew criticism for gutting nursing homes and rental housing, where residents and tenants bore the consequences. Carlyle, Apollo, and Sycamore Partners engineered deals that enriched executives while leaving behind bankruptcies across retail, energy, and health care.

The damage has never been limited to debt. Private equity firms extract billions in fees on top of what they load onto companies. They sell the land and buildings, forcing the very businesses they own to pay rent back to them. In franchise models, they skim off royalty payments while cutting services and staff. They charge management fees to companies they already control, ensuring that even if a business fails, the firm still profits. These practices are not side effects. They are the business model.

For years the system ran on cheap money. With interest rates near zero, debt was abundant and investors were eager. Firms could buy, bleed, and flip companies in two or three years. That era is gone. Interest rates now sit above five percent. Debt costs more, buyers are scarce, and the IPO market has dried up. Firms are stuck holding companies that are drowning under the very leverage designed to enrich their owners.

The numbers are staggering. Nearly $12 trillion dollars in private equity assets now sit unsold. Exit activity has collapsed more than 70 percent since 2021. To raise cash, firms are borrowing against their own portfolios with NAV loans or dumping stakes at steep discounts on the secondary market. Even the giants like Blackstone, KKR, Apollo, Carlyle, Bain are stuck with bad debt no one wants. They cannot sell, yet their investors are demanding cash.

The quiet truth is that these firms are already maneuvering for Washington’s help. During the 2008 financial crisis, banks and insurers were rescued with taxpayer dollars. Private equity, which profited handsomely off that same collapse, is positioning itself for similar treatment.

This is not just an elite problem. It is a national one. When private equity runs out of road, it is not the billionaire partners who suffer. It is the workers whose jobs are cut, the retirees whose pensions cannot meet obligations, the students whose tuition rises because endowments cannot keep pace, and the taxpayers who are asked to backstop the system.

The parallels to 2008 are frightening. Then it was mortgage backed securities. Now it is unsellable companies and illiquid funds. In 2008, families lost homes and jobs while Wall Street was saved. Today the scale is even larger. With trillions in assets frozen, the next bailout could dwarf the last one.

Meanwhile, private equity’s destruction also extends into America’s hospitals and nursing homes and people are paying with their lives. Studies show that Medicare patients undergoing emergency surgeries in private equity–owned hospitals are 42 percent more likely to die within 30 days compared to those treated in community hospitals . A nationwide study found infections, falls, and other preventable adverse events increased following private equity takeovers of hospitals . Even the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services condemned the impact, warning that private equity ownership of nursing homes led to an 11 percent increase in patient deaths .

Recent reporting shows the financial calculus behind these tragedies. Nursing home operators in New York’s Capital Region diverted Medicare and Medicaid funds through inflated rent and bogus salaries. That left facilities chronically understaffed and suffering neglect so severe that it led to cases of serious injury and death .

By turning hospitals and nursing homes into profit centers rather than care centers, private equity firms aren’t just bankrupting businesses, they are literally killing people. And when that business model collapses, it will be everyday Americans who pay the cost once again.

The message is not subtle. If private equity’s gamble fails, the richest players will once again be saved. For ordinary Americans, the reckoning will look like it always does. Lost jobs. Higher taxes. Vanishing pensions. Rising tuition. And another generation paying for someone else’s greed.

This is the American cycle. The profits are privatized, the losses are socialized, and working families are forced to carry the cost.

The Private Equity Trap: How Harvard, Yale, and Princeton Got Caught in a Liquidity Crisis

Posted on by Nkozi Knight

For decades, private equity was the hottest corner of finance. The model was simple. Buy a company, cut costs, load it with debt and fees, polish the books, and sell it again within two to three years for a hefty profit. It was called the “flip,” and it made fortunes for firms like Blackstone, KKR, and Carlyle. Endowments and pensions rushed to get a piece of it.

That model is now broken.

The exits that once came fast and lucrative have slowed to a crawl. A world of near-zero interest rates is gone. Debt that once financed buyouts at minimal cost now comes with punishing interest, squeezing margins and stretching holding periods. Instead of flipping companies in two years, funds are sitting on assets for six, seven, even ten years. The portfolio backlog is staggering: more than $12 trillion worth of private equity assets sit unsold worldwide.

And at the center of this crisis are the universities that built their wealth on the promise of private equity. Harvard, Yale, and Princeton reshaped modern investing by betting heavily on illiquid alternatives. They now face the consequences of that bet.

The Death of the Flip

The two-year turnaround was never sustainable, but for a time it worked. Cheap debt fueled endless rounds of leveraged buyouts, where firms borrowed heavily, stripped assets, cut staff, and pushed companies back to market at inflated valuations.

But the cycle depended on two things: cheap money and eager buyers. Both have disappeared. The Federal Reserve’s rate hikes have doubled and tripled the cost of debt financing. Buyers are cautious, corporate balance sheets are tighter, and the IPO window remains largely shut.

Exit activity tells the story. In 2021, private equity firms sold $840 billion worth of companies. By 2023, that figure had collapsed to $234 billion, a drop of 72 percent. Even with a partial rebound in 2024 to $468 billion, exits are far too low to clear the backlog. Funds are holding twice as many assets as they did in 2019, but are selling them at the same pace as five years ago.

Without exits, distributions to investors dry up. Endowments that expected cash back to fund university budgets are left waiting.

Interest Rates as the Choke Point

Private equity’s entire model is built on leverage. A firm that buys a company for $10 billion may finance $7 billion of that price with debt, leaving just $3 billion of investor equity. If interest rates are low, debt is cheap, and any improvement in the business magnifies returns.

But with rates at five percent or higher, the math no longer works. Debt service eats into earnings. Refinancing becomes expensive or impossible. Companies bought at lofty valuations in 2020 and 2021 are now struggling to cover interest costs, let alone generate attractive profits for resale.

For the funds that hold them, paper valuations remain high, but real buyers demand discounts. That gap between reported NAV and market reality is another reason sales have slowed.

The Mechanics of Desperation

To keep investors from revolting, firms have engineered liquidity out of thin air. NAV loans lines of credit secured by the assets in a fund allow managers to borrow cash and hand it back to investors as if it were a distribution. Continuation funds where a firm sells a portfolio company from one of its funds into another fund it also controls in effect creates the illusion of an exit, while extending the holding period indefinitely.

On the investor side, endowments and pensions have turned to the secondary market, selling their stakes in private equity funds to buyers willing to take them at a discount. In 2024, secondary volume hit a record $155 billion. Harvard sold $1 billion worth of fund stakes. Yale is preparing to sell as much as $6 billion. The New York City pension system sold $5 billion. Buyers snapped them up at 10 to 15 percent discounts to stated value. For venture portfolios, the discounts were as steep as 50 percent.

These maneuvers do not solve the problem. They buy time. The only true fix is exits with real sales, IPOs, or recapitalizations and the industry is years away from clearing the overhang.

Case Studies: The Ivy League Squeeze

Harvard has a $53 billion endowment, the largest in the world. Nearly 40 percent of it is tied up in private equity. In April 2025, Harvard moved to sell $1 billion of those stakes through Jefferies, while simultaneously planning to issue $750 million in bonds. The official explanation is liquidity management, not distress. But the resemblance to 2008, when Harvard was forced to borrow billions to cover private equity calls, is unmistakable.

Yale built the “Yale model,” with nearly half of its $41 billion endowment allocated to private assets. For years, this made Yale the envy of institutional investors. But in 2024, Yale returned just 5.7 percent, compared to 13.5 percent for a basic stock-bond index. Now it is exploring a $6 billion secondary sale, nearly 15 percent of its endowment. The sale is not about strategy. It is about cash.

Princeton has a smaller endowment, about $35 billion, but the same exposure. Its longtime CIO Andrew Golden called 2023 the worst liquidity environment he had ever seen. Princeton raised $1.4 billion in bonds to shore up its balance sheet. Like Harvard and Yale, it insists the strategy is intact. But the reality is that illiquidity has become a liability.

Why This Matters to Everyday Americans

It is tempting to see this as an elite problem, billion dollar universities mismanaging their fortune. But it is not.

Endowments fund scholarships, financial aid, and core research. If Harvard or Yale faces a liquidity squeeze, it means fewer students receive aid. It means tuition rises to fill the gap. It means labs lose funding and staff lose jobs. What begins as a crisis in private equity becomes a crisis for students and families.

The same holds true in pensions. State retirement systems have billions tied up in private equity. When distributions dry up, they cannot meet obligations to retirees. That shortfall has to be covered by raising taxes, cutting benefits, or, in the worst case, turning to the federal government for relief. For millions of working and middle class Americans, this is not abstract. It is their retirement on the line.

The parallels to 2008 are chilling. Then, it was mortgage backed securities that turned toxic. Homeowners defaulted, banks failed, and Washington rushed in with taxpayer bailouts. Families lost houses, jobs, and savings, while Wall Street was rescued. Today, the scale is even larger. With twelve trillion dollars in unsold assets stuck on private equity books, the next bailout could dwarf 2008.

Imagine the politics of that moment. A populist like Donald Trump could frame it as Ivy League elites and Wall Street executives begging for lifelines while ordinary Americans pay the price. But the structural interdependence is real. If endowments and pensions buckle, the pressure on Washington to intervene may be irresistible. The federal government does not have the fiscal room to absorb another trillion dollar rescue, yet that may be exactly what is asked of it.

The burden would not fall on universities or private equity firms alone. It would fall on taxpayers, on students already struggling with debt, on workers who depend on pensions, on families already squeezed by inflation and high borrowing costs. In short, it would fall on the very people who had no hand in creating the mess.

Private equity sold itself as the smartest bet of modern finance. But the two year flip is dead, interest rates have choked the model, and endowments that once trusted in illiquidity now find themselves trapped. For everyday Americans, the lesson is as clear as it was in 2008: when the smartest people in the room gamble with other people’s money and lose, it is everyone else who ends up paying the price.

Gaza is a mass casualty event.

Posted on by Nkozi Knight
Palestinians check the destroyed Al Jazeera tent at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Monday, following an overnight strike by the Israeli military.Bashar Taleb / AFP via Getty Images

Aug. 11, 2025, 9:03 PM EDT

By Nkozi Knight

The argument over Gaza too often collapses into labels and talking points. That framing lets us dodge the only question that matters. Are we willing to watch human beings be starved, shot at while seeking food, and buried under rubble, and do nothing?

As of August 2025, more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to figures collated by the U.N. from Gaza’s Health Ministry. Over 60,199 of those deaths have been fully identified by name and demographic details. Children are roughly one third of the dead. These are conservative counts and do not capture those still under collapsed buildings or the deaths from disease and hunger.    

The health system is hardly a system anymore. The World Health Organization reports that at least 94 percent of Gaza’s hospitals have been damaged or destroyed. Many operate only in fragments, without reliable power, oxygen, or surgical capacity.   

Schools have been leveled on a historic scale. U.N. satellite assessments show about 95 percent of school buildings damaged, with hundreds directly hit. The educational future of an entire generation is in jeopardy.    

Hunger is now policy by other means. The global famine monitor (IPC) warns that the food-consumption threshold for famine has already been passed in most areas of Gaza, with malnutrition and deaths rising. UNICEF has documented a sharp increase in children dying of starvation and related disease. The U.N. continues to report paltry aid flows compared with need.    

It is not just the volume of aid. It is the violence around it. After Israel dismantled the U.N.-led distribution system and backed a new contractor model this spring, multiple investigations documented civilians being shot at or killed around food sites and convoys. Hundreds have died seeking flour or canned food. These incidents are contested by Israeli authorities, but the pattern is now documented by journalists, doctors, and rights groups.   

Claims that “Hamas steals all the aid” are often made to justify these restrictions. Yet a recent U.S. government review found no evidence of massive theft of U.S.-funded aid by Hamas, even as diversion risks exist in any war. Meanwhile, Israeli far-right activists and settlers have repeatedly blocked, vandalized, or looted Gaza-bound convoys. Both truths can be held at once. Aid must be protected from diversion, and people must be allowed to eat.     

Christians are part of this story too. A Greek Orthodox church sheltering families was struck in October 2023, killing civilians. In December 2023, two Christian women were shot and killed inside the Holy Family Catholic parish compound, according to the Latin Patriarchate and the Vatican. The small Christian community has continued to suffer deaths and deprivation through 2024 and 2025.     

Here is the moral core you asked to preserve:

This is not about being anti-Semitic.

It is not about being pro-Hamas.

It is not even about taking a side on Israel’s right to be in the Middle East.

It is about being human.

It is about the countless lives lost.

The countless lives destroyed.

The generations of families wiped from the earth.

It is about the deliberate starvation of people who are already trapped in devastation.

International law is not silent about any of this. The Genocide Convention defines genocide as specific acts committed with intent to destroy a protected group. Those acts include killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, and inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about a group’s physical destruction. You do not need to be a lawyer to understand what “conditions of life” means when aid is throttled and families are shot at while queueing for food.   

Courts have acted, even if governments have not. In January and again in May 2024, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts and to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access, including ordering a halt to the offensive in Rafah. In November 2024, ICC judges issued arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and former defense minister on charges that include using starvation as a method of warfare. In July 2025, the ICC rejected Israel’s bid to withdraw those warrants.     

What should follow is not more argument. It is practical action.

Open the crossings wide and keep them open under neutral monitoring. Protect aid corridors and reinstate U.N.-led distribution at scale. Stop firing near food lines. Restore funding to agencies that have the reach to keep children alive. Enforce the ICJ’s orders. Respect the ICC process. None of this precludes holding Hamas accountable for the atrocities of October 7 or for any diversion of aid. It simply refuses to make civilians pay the price for crimes they did not commit.  

History records the numbers. Conscience remembers the names. Gaza is not a referendum on anyone’s identity. It is a of our own.

While You’re Watching Game 7 of the NBA Finals, We’re Being Sold Out Piece by Piece

Posted on by Nkozi Knight

We’re not watching a dramatic fall of America. There are no breaking news alerts about the end. No explosions in the streets. No economic sirens.

But make no mistake….something terrible is happening.

Piece by piece, decision by decision, we are being sold out. Our labor, our taxes, our future, it is all being extracted. And while it happens, we are told to look the other way while letting AI take many of our jobs.

Watch the game. Scroll the feed. Place a bet. Argue online about culture wars that do not affect your rent, your hospital bill, or your ability to afford groceries.

Meanwhile, the money keeps flowing. Out of your paycheck. Out of your neighborhood. Out of this country. Straight into the hands of foreign governments, defense contractors, and elite interests.

This is not the dramatic fall of a nation. It is a transfer of wealth, security, and stability away from ordinary Americans and toward a system that was never built to serve us. It is a system that acts globally, extracts locally, and survives only as long as we do not look directly at it.

You can call it a government. You can call it a machine. But what it really functions as is an empire. And the longer we ignore it, the more it takes.

The Cost of That Empire Is Being Paid in Evictions and Empty Refrigerators

While your tax dollars are used to fund missile systems in Israel, people across the United States are struggling just to keep a roof over their heads. Since 2020, the median price of a home has risen by more than 40 percent. Interest rates have climbed above 7 percent, making homeownership unreachable for millions (National Association of Realtors, 2024).

At the same time, Americans like myself, carry over $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. Medical bankruptcies remain the most common form of personal financial ruin. A premature baby that has to stay in a neonatal intensive care unit for over a month can cost well over a million dollars. On top of that, more than half of the country cannot afford an unexpected five hundred dollar emergency.

And yet, every year, tens of billions of dollars are approved for foreign aid without hesitation.

Israel receives more U.S. taxpayer money than any other nation on Earth. Since 1948, it has received over 300 billion dollars in aid, including nearly 4 billion annually in guaranteed military funding (Congressional Research Service, 2023).

That money has helped fund a public healthcare system, subsidized childcare, and modern infrastructure. Israel’s students have new schools. Their citizens have access to doctors without going bankrupt.

Meanwhile, in American cities, teachers work second jobs. Classrooms go without books. People drive across state lines to afford prescriptions. And in cities like Flint, Michigan and Jackson, Mississippi, families still live without safe drinking water.

This is not about scarcity. It is about priorities.

An Economy Built to Keep Us Consuming

We are told that the economy is doing well. But it only looks strong on paper because we are constantly spending to survive.

Wages have remained flat for decades, while the cost of everything else has gone up. Food, gas, housing, tuition, and insurance have all exploded. But instead of fixing the system, the solution we are offered is more debt.

–Buy now, pay later.

–Zero percent financing.

–Monthly subscriptions for everything, even the essentials.

Our economy runs on credit cards and desperation.

We are not building wealth. We are surviving one paycheck at a time, and no one is willing to admit it.

And when that stress becomes too much, we are handed another solution, a distraction. Sometimes it’s a RICO case of a famous celebrity, other times it’s the United States bombing an empty nuclear facility in Iran, and other times it’s something as simple as sports and sports betting.

There is always something to pull our focus. Sports betting is now a multi-billion dollar industry thanks to ESPN, Draft Kings, Prize Picks, and MGM Sports betting. On television, sex-laden reality shows dominate prime time and paid subscriptions. Viral celebrity drama trends daily. Meanwhile, airstrikes in Gaza or explosions in Tehran are buried beneath all this noise but we pay for all of it.

None of this is random. It is a carefully designed system.

We Fund a Better Life for Others While We Are Told to Settle for Less

The average American is constantly being told to sacrifice.

Tighten your belt.

Use credit.

Be patient.

Inflation is temporary.

Work harder.

But there is no austerity when it comes to military aid.

There is always money for war. There is always money for foreign governments. There is always money to rebuild somewhere else in a land most have never been, but there is nothing for Maui, East Palestine, Flint, New Orleans, and many other cities in America.

Since 1948, Israel has received over 300 billion dollars in U.S. assistance (Reuters, 2024). That money has helped create one of the best publicly funded healthcare and education systems in the world—for a country with fewer people than New York City.

In America, we have veterans sleeping on the street in every major city.

We have kids learning from worksheets because their school cannot afford books.

We have families rationing insulin and choosing between medication and rent.

This is not just a funding issue. It is a values issue.

We are paying for the stability of others while our own communities are crumbling.

They Keep Us Distracted So We Do Not See It

Every time the conversation gets too close to real issues, the distractions flood in.

The headlines suddenly shift, and Operation Mockingbird goes full tilt. The scandals erupt more salacious than the prior one. The outrage machine gets turns on, and Americans are pinned against each other.

We are told to obsess over celebrities, argue over culture wars, and follow political soap operas like they are sports teams.

This is not a coincidence. It is the only way this corrupt system survives.

Because if we stop fighting each other, we might start asking the real questions.

Where is the money going?

Why can’t we afford basic services while funding foreign militaries?

Why is our economy built on debt and distraction?

And who exactly is benefiting from all of this since it’s not US?

This Is Not Incompetence. It Is a Strategy.

The truth is that the United States has all the resources it needs to take care of its people….if it wanted to.

But we do not. Not because we can’t. But because we are not supposed to.

We are expected to work, consume, and remain distracted.

We are expected to stay tired, stay anxious, and stay divided.

And we are expected to believe that any attempt to change the system is unrealistic, unpatriotic, or impossible.

But the truth is, the system is not broken. It is functioning exactly as designed.

It is designed to take.

It is designed to distract.

And it is designed to leave us wondering why we are doing everything right and still falling behind.

Can You Relate

If you are working harder than ever but getting nowhere, you are not alone.

If you are wondering why another country has healthcare and you cannot afford a routine checkup, you are asking the right question.

If you are tired of being told that sacrifice is patriotic while billionaires and foreign allies get blank checks, then maybe it is time we stop playing along.

They do not fear Iran. They do not fear China. They do not fear Russia.

What they fear is that you will start paying attention.

Because the moment we stop watching the show and start watching the system, the game is over.

Sources

National Association of Realtors. (2024). Median home price trends

Congressional Research Service. (2023). U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel

Reuters. (2024). Israel aid totals and annual packages

CNBC. (2023). 80 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck

Cato Institute. (2021). U.S. Military Footprint: 750 bases in 80 countries

Al Jazeera. (2021). U.S. global base presence overview

This Was Never About Democracy

Posted on by Nkozi Knight


Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington on Sunday, June 22, 2025, following U.S. airstrikes on three sites in Iran. The strikes mark the first direct American military involvement in support of Israel’s effort to dismantle Iran. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

By a Former SFO

On June 22, 2025, the United States launched Operation Midnight Hammer, a precision airstrike that hit three of Iran’s most fortified nuclear sites. The Pentagon claimed it wasn’t about regime change. But if you’ve been paying attention or like myself, you’ve worn the uniform and carried out the missions, you know that’s not true.

To the people of the world watching this unfold, wondering how we got here again, let me say what many in Washington won’t: This was never about democracy. It never is.

I’ve served in these wars. I’ve seen the playbook up close. And behind every “freedom mission,” there’s always a pipeline, a port, or a profit margin.

In Iraq, we were told we were bringing liberation. But we were guarding oil infrastructure while the country collapsed around us. Iraq has the fifth-largest oil reserves on Earth. Libya, before we shattered it, had Africa’s largest. Syria resists U.S. control and sits on key energy corridors. Yemen’s coast controls one of the most strategic oil shipping lanes in the world, known as the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

These aren’t wars for freedom. These are wars for access and control.

And it all ties back to the petrodollar. The U.S. dollar isn’t backed by gold, it’s backed by the global oil trade. When leaders challenge that system, they get taken out. Saddam Hussein tried to sell oil in euros. Gaddafi pushed for a gold-backed African currency. Both were removed, their countries reduced to chaos. Now Iran, Russia, and the expanded BRICS alliance are making the same moves trying to exit the dollar system. So now Iran is being bombed under the guise of “security.”

Let’s call this what it is: empire maintenance.

Destabilizing nations isn’t a failure, it’s the primary objective. Break countries that resist. Keep them weak. Prevent alliances with Russia, China, or anyone else outside the U.S. sphere. It’s an old playbook. Divide, conquer, install puppets. If that doesn’t work, create chaos and pretend we’re the firefighters, not the arsonists.

And don’t forget the profit. Every bomb dropped, every drone launched, every military base built feeds the defense industry. Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, these are just a few of the real winners of every war we provoke. I saw it firsthand. I watched billion-dollar contracts handed out while our equipment in the field broke down or was left. This isn’t about patriotism. It’s a business. And business is booming no matter who the president of the United States is.

That’s why the war never ends. Permanent conflict justifies mass surveillance, not just on them but on us. It keeps over 800 U.S. military bases running. It feeds a trillion-dollar defense budget. And it keeps the American people afraid and numb, just afraid enough to keep asking for more bombs, more boots, more lies.

Now, Israel has struck first. The U.S. followed. And the war machine rolls on now pointed squarely at Iran.

This didn’t start yesterday. Back in 2007, General Wesley Clark said the Pentagon had a classified plan to take out seven countries in five years: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Iran. Every name on that list has since been destabilized, overthrown, or bombed. Iran was the last one.

And if you’re wondering who’s next, just look at who’s resisting the dollar, blocking Western influence, or nationalizing their resources. Venezuela has already been targeted. Somalia, Niger, and others are in the crosshairs and not because they’re threats to peace, but because they’re threats to profit.

The cost? It’s not counted in defense budgets or quarterly earnings. It’s measured in bodies. In families torn apart. In children growing up under drones and rubble. In the rise of terrorist groups born out of the vacuums we leave behind. In entire generations who now associate “democracy” not with hope, but with fire raining from the sky.

“They hate us for our freedoms” was never true. They hate what we do. They hate what we destroy.

I believed the mission once. But now I see what it really was.

Regime change was never about freedom. It was always about control. About money. About fear.

And until we admit that the wars will never stop.

Beneath the Clothes We Donate: How America’s Fast Fashion Addiction is lDrowning Ghana

Posted on by Nkozi Knight

By Nkozi Knight


A young boy stands amid mountains of discarded clothing and plastic waste on Ghana’s Chorkor Beach

Accra, Ghana –

The beaches of Ghana should be sanctuaries. Places where waves kiss the sand and children play in peace. But on the shores of Chorkor Beach, the tide doesn’t bring seashells. It brings sweaters from Shein, leggings from Lululemon, and Target tees soaked in salt and filth.

Week after week, a deluge of secondhand clothing arrives in Ghana from the United States, the United Kingdom, and other industrialized nations. Billed as “donations,” these shipments are not gifts. They are refuse. They are the castoffs of a culture addicted to overconsumption and numbed to consequence.

Ghana receives roughly 15 million garments a week, much of it dumped by consumers who believe they’re “doing good” by donating to local bins outside of Walmart or church parking lots. In reality, 40 percent of these clothes are unusable trash, exported to West Africa in bulk and eventually dumped, burned, or strewn across the coastline. Kantamanto Market in Accra, once a center of textile trade and reuse, has become overwhelmed and swamped by low-quality fast fashion designed to fall apart before its first wash.

“We are drowning in your clothing,” said a local vendor in a recent BBC Africa Eye documentary. “These aren’t donations. They are poison.”

This isn’t hyperbole. Synthetic fabrics, often polyester, don’t biodegrade. They clog drains, suffocate marine life, and release microplastics into the ecosystem. Some are so contaminated with dyes and industrial chemicals that simply burning them chokes nearby residents. Because Western brands outsource both the problem and the blame, few Americans ever witness the wreckage.

The Cult of the New

American corporations drive this destruction through a business model of planned obsolescence and psychological manipulation. Fast fashion giants like Shein, Fashion Nova, Boohoo, and H&M churn out hundreds of new styles weekly. And we buy them. On impulse. To feel something. To impress no one. To post once on social media and then forget.

A 2023 Vogue Business investigation reported that the average American throws away 81 pounds of clothing per year. That’s nearly 13 billion pounds of textile waste, most of which is either burned or exported. Out of sight. Out of mind.

The 2024 HBO documentary Brandy Hellville and the Cult of Fast Fashion peeled back the curtain on this global racket, revealing how corporations knowingly flood developing nations with clothing that cannot be sold, recycled, or reused. These companies profit from both ends of the pipeline, selling cheap clothes and then writing off their “donations” for tax breaks.

But in Ghana, the beaches tell the truth. Children walk barefoot through piles of wet fabric. Fishermen cast their nets into waters tangled with discarded bras and sweaters. Clothes meant for dignity now strip the land of its own.

Stop Pretending It’s Helping

The problem is systemic, but it starts at home.

Donating clothes in bins is not inherently virtuous. In fact, it’s part of the illusion. The vast majority of those clothes don’t go to shelters or local families. They are sold in bulk to global brokers who profit off Africa’s environmental misery.

We are not helping. We are offloading guilt.

The solution cannot be just more donation or wishful recycling. It begins with consuming less. Buy intentionally. Wear things longer. Mend. Repurpose. Swap. Or better yet, just don’t buy unless you need to. The world doesn’t need another $9 tee you’ll forget in a week.

And for the clothes that have truly reached their end? Perhaps it’s time to explore municipal incineration, compostable textiles, or clothing deposit programs where manufacturers are held financially responsible for their waste. We regulate plastic straws more than we regulate stores like Forever 21, H&M, and Walmart.

A Final Reckoning

Americans, if we do not change, beaches like Chorkor will disappear, buried under the weight of our vanity and excess. What once were coastal communities tied to fishing, family, and resilience are now becoming textile graveyards. The soil is dying. The water is choking. The air burns with the fumes of our unwanted clothes that takes 200 years to naturally decompose.

This is no longer just about fashion. It’s about justice.

Because let’s be honest: we know who’s responsible.

The responsible parties include: Shein, H&M, Zara, Forever 21, Fashion Nova, Boohoo, PrettyLittleThing, Temu, Target, Walmart, Old Navy, Uniqlo, Gap, Amazon’s in-house brands, and countless Instagram and Tik Tok shops. These corporations flood the global market with billions of garments each year. Their business model thrives on overproduction, cheap labor, and psychological manipulation. They manufacture the illusion of need. They sell you a fantasy of trendiness and self-expression at the cost of someone else’s environment and dignity.

And we, the consumers, buy in. Often literally.

Every impulse buy, every “haul” video, every $5 tee or $10 dress contributes to a planetary cycle of destruction. We wear it once, toss it in a bin, and tell ourselves we did something good by “donating.” But we’re not recycling. We’re relocating the problem. Our discarded clothes are not going to those in need. They’re going to countries like Ghana, Kenya, Chile, and Haiti, nations without the infrastructure to process the sheer volume of waste we produce.

Because the truth is: your closet might be clean, but someone else is paying the price for it.

And they’re paying with their soil, their seas, and their breath.

We need a global reckoning. Not just with corporations, but with ourselves.

Buy less. Buy better. Demand accountability. Push for laws that make brands responsible for the full life cycle of their products.

Until we stop treating clothing as disposable, we will continue to treat people the same way.

Boys play in the sea diving off a pile of clothing found washed up on the beach at Jamestown, Accra(Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror

For a video documentary, watch:

Ghana: Fast fashion dumping dumping ground

Further Reading and Resources:

Greenpeace Report: Fast Fashion, Slow Poison

HBO Documentary: Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion

AP News Article: Fast fashion waste is polluting Africa

The Guardian: Where does the UK’s fast fashion end up?

CITY YEAR MILWAUKEE FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE AS FEDERAL AMERICORPS FUNDING CUTS LOOM

Posted on by Nkozi Knight

City Year Milwaukee, a vital partner in local education equity efforts, may be one of many programs at risk following sweeping cuts to AmeriCorps funding enacted through recent federal executive orders by President Donald Trump.

For years, City Year AmeriCorps members have served as near-peer mentors and tutors in Milwaukee Public Schools, offering support in classrooms where additional academic, emotional, and behavioral reinforcement is needed most. Their work has contributed directly to increased reading scores, stronger attendance, and greater student engagement in underserved communities.

But those outcomes now face disruption.

The federal government’s decision to significantly scale back AmeriCorps support by $400 Million threatens the infrastructure that has powered City Year and dozens of national service programs for decades. The loss of funding doesn’t just cut stipends or operational support, it cuts opportunity in Milwaukee. It cuts the relationships that matter most: those between a struggling student and the one person in their school day who sees their potential and shows up every morning to nurture it.

“This isn’t just a budget line,” said one City Year alum. “It’s a lifeline to kids, to communities, and to those of us who joined AmeriCorps to serve with purpose.”

City Year, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit, remains committed to serving without discrimination based on race, color, gender, origin, political belief, or faith. But continuing that mission requires resources.

Supporters, alumni, and concerned residents can learn more and get involved at: https://www.cityyear.org/milwaukee

In the wake of these cuts, the question is not whether the need still exists. It’s whether we will still show up.

BlackRock Doesn’t Just Own Tech. It Owns Your Future.

Posted on by Nkozi Knight

BlackRock doesn’t just own parts of Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon. It owns your food supply. It owns farmland. It owns water infrastructure. And through those investments, it owns a growing stake in the future of human survival itself.

What began in 1988 as a modest Wall Street firm built on risk management is now the largest asset manager in human history. BlackRock controls over $11 trillion , which is larger than the GDP of every country in the world except the United States and China.

But what most people still don’t realize is that BlackRock’s most important power grab didn’t happen on Wall Street. It happened quietly, across America’s farmland, its food systems, and its natural resources.

How Did We Get Here?

BlackRock’s expansion strategy was never about flashy takeovers. It was about ownership without attention. They don’t need to buy entire companies when they can buy enough shares to influence them all.

Through complex index funds and ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds), BlackRock has quietly become a top shareholder in nearly every major corporation in America. Coca-Cola. PepsiCo. Kraft Heinz. Nestlé. Tyson Foods. Monsanto-Bayer. Even the companies that compete with each other are often owned by the same hand, BlackRock.

That includes food production, packaging, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, farmland, water rights, grocery store chains, and agribusiness suppliers.

It is a spider web so vast that very few industries operate outside of its reach.

Farmland: The New Oil

In recent years, farmland has quietly become one of the hottest investments among America’s wealthiest. But few players have been as aggressive as BlackRock and its peers like Vanguard and State Street.

Why Farmland you may ask?

Simple. Land produces food, controls water access, and holds its value against inflation. In a world of uncertainty, farmland is power.

BlackRock has invested in farmland directly and indirectly through real estate investment trusts (REITs) like Farmland Partners and Gladstone Land Corporation. In some regions, institutional investors now own an estimated 30-50% of all available farmland.

For local farmers like Paul Rettler, this creates an impossible game that no one can win. Competing against trillion-dollar firms backed by infinite capital means the consolidation of agriculture isn’t slowing down, rather it’s accelerating.

The ESG Illusion

Much of BlackRock’s public messaging has centered around ESG, which stands for: Environmental, Social, and Governance investing , a framework designed to steer money toward sustainable and ethical practices.

But behind the marketing, ESG has often allowed BlackRock to reshape industries while still investing heavily in the very corporations most responsible for environmental harm.

Larry Fink, BlackRock’s billionaire CEO, has framed ESG as both a moral obligation and a business necessity. Yet BlackRock remains one of the largest shareholders in fossil fuel giants, industrial agriculture companies, and food manufacturers responsible for deforestation and soil degradation.

As environmental groups have pointed out daily, BlackRock has the ability to change the food system overnight. But profit almost always wins over principle and we have seen this outcome time and time again.

So What Does BlackRock Want?

It’s simple: Control. Influence. Permanence.

The more essential needs a company controls such as food, water, housing, energy, the less it matters who holds political office. Ownership is the real power.

When a handful of corporations control the basic elements of survival, the public becomes renters of everything, including their health, their homes, and their future.

This is the world being built right in front of us.

Water rights in California. Farmland in the Midwest. Global seed patents. Packaging monopolies. Shipping routes. Grocery store chains. Pharmaceutical partnerships. Tech platforms controlling communication.

This is not just about selling products.

This is about owning life itself.

So what can everyday people do?

Waiting for a politician to fix this system is like waiting for a thief to return what they stole. It is not going to happen.

But the answer is not fear. The answer is awareness. The answer is action.

It starts with taking back control wherever you can.

Buy from local farmers when possible. Grow your own food even if it is just herbs in your kitchen window. Filter your water. Cook your own meals. Learn how to read ingredient labels. Support local businesses over corporations when you can.

Most importantly, do your own research. Step outside of Google, mainstream media, and the same recycled talking points coming from media companies owned by the very corporations profiting from your confusion.

Seek independent sources. Read books. Listen to people on the ground, not just those in boardrooms. Question convenience when it comes at the cost of your health.

Learn how to be less dependent on the systems designed to keep you dependent.

Because at this point, we cannot wait for RFK. We cannot wait for politicians. We cannot wait for the same people who helped build this system to suddenly tear it down.

We have to start building something different starting in our homes, in our families, in our communities.

Not because it is trendy.

But because survival has always belonged to the people willing to think for themselves, take responsibility for their lives, and protect their future by any means necessary.

The Quiet Poisoning of a Generation: How Food, Water, and Corporate Greed are Undermining Human Health

Posted on by Nkozi Knight

There’s something happening in our society and if you’ve felt it, you’re not alone.

More people are tired for no reason. Fertility rates are plummeting. Chronic illness is everywhere. Children face record levels of anxiety, allergies, and developmental issues. And yet, we’re told this is normal.

It’s not.

This is the byproduct of a system that has quietly (and quite profitably) waged war on human health.


Founded in 1988, BlackRock now controls over 10 trillion dollars in assets making it one of the most powerful financial forces on the planet.

Follow The Money, Find The Motive

Today, four corporations effectively control most of what you eat, drink, and absorb.

→ Bill Gates is now the largest private farmland owner in America.

→ BlackRock and Vanguard own massive stakes in Monsanto, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Kellogg’s, and Beyond Meat.

→ Lab-grown meat is no longer science fiction, it’s a funded inevitability.

→ The same companies poisoning your body with seed oils, synthetic additives, and plastic packaging? They own the pharmaceutical firms selling you the cure.

This is not a conspiracy — it’s strategy.

When you own the food, the water, the farmland, the grocery distribution, and the healthcare response, you don’t need to control people with force.

You control them with dependence.

What’s Happening To Us?

Consider this:

Global sperm counts have dropped 50% since the 1970s. Testosterone levels in men are down 30% in 20 years. Microplastics are now found in human bloodstreams, breast milk, and even placentas. “Forever chemicals” (PFAS) are in 98% of the U.S. population. The CDC now quietly admits fluoride in water, while good for teeth in small doses, can impact brain development at high levels.

If this were isolated, it could be coincidence.

But when it’s everywhere like our water, food, packaging, cosmetics, medicine, even the air, you start to realize: This is systemic.

The Long Game: Weaken the Body, Profit from the Cure

Sick people buy more products.

Infertile couples pay more for solutions.

Distracted, inflamed, chemically-dependent populations don’t resist systems, they survive within them.

And while many are waiting for politicians like RFK Jr. to come in and blow the whistle, the reality is clear:

This system is working exactly as designed.

So What Do We Do?

Here’s the truth: No one is coming to save us.

But there is power in knowing how to exit the trap.

Real Alternatives for Real People:

Filter your water using Berkey, Clearly Filtered, or AquaTru. Eat whole, organic, ancestral foods with a focus on local sources first. Cut seed oils completely and cook with avocado oil, olive oil, or ghee. Limit plastic exposure by using stainless steel, glass containers, and beeswax wraps. Get daily sunlight and move your body because nature was the original medicine. Supplement wisely to rebuild minerals and support safe detoxing. Support local farmers instead of large corporations whenever possible. Learn herbal medicine like black seed oil, seamoss, milk thistle, and dandelion root. Sweat daily through sauna sessions, hot yoga, or hard workouts. Reduce pharmaceutical dependence by healing the root cause, not just managing symptoms.

Final Thought

We can’t wait for RFK. We can’t wait for “them” to fix what they profit from breaking.

We have to take back our health. Ourselves. Today.

Not because it’s trendy.

Not because it’s easy.

But because our future depends on it.

Health is no longer a luxury, it’s a form of resistance.

This is how we fight back.

Harvard Expands Free Tuition to Families Earning Under $200,000

Posted on by Nkozi Knight

By Nkozi Knight

In a move aimed at expanding access to higher education, Harvard University announced Monday that it will offer free tuition to students from families earning $200,000 or less starting in the 2025-2026 academic year. This marks a significant expansion of the university’s financial aid program, further removing financial barriers for prospective students.

Students from families with incomes below $100,000 will also have all expenses covered, including housing, food, health insurance, and travel costs. Previously, Harvard provided full financial support only to students from families earning less than $85,000 annually.

“Putting Harvard within financial reach for more individuals widens the array of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that all of our students encounter, fostering their intellectual and personal growth,” said Harvard President Alan Garber.

While tuition alone at Harvard currently exceeds $56,000, total costs, including housing and other fees, approach $83,000 per year. The new policy will significantly lessen that burden for many American families.

Families earning above $200,000 may still qualify for tailored financial aid depending on individual circumstances.

This initiative aligns with similar policies at other elite institutions, like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which announced a comparable expansion last fall. Harvard estimates that 86% of U.S. families will now be eligible for some level of financial aid.

“Harvard has long sought to open our doors to the most talented students, no matter their financial circumstances,” said Hopkins Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. “This investment ensures that every admitted student can pursue their academic passions and contribute to shaping our future.”

The expansion comes amid broader conversations about diversity in higher education, especially following the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action in college admissions. Harvard, along with other institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, views increased financial aid as a pathway to maintaining diversity by ensuring access to students from varied socioeconomic backgrounds.

“We know the most talented students come from different socioeconomic backgrounds and experiences, from every state and around the globe,” said William Fitzsimmons, Harvard’s dean of admissions and financial aid. “Our financial aid is critical to ensuring that these students know Harvard College is a place where they can thrive.”

This policy marks a continued effort to create a more inclusive and accessible environment at one of the nation’s most prestigious universities.

The Silent Killer: How Our Diet and Lifestyle Are Shortening Our Lives

Posted on by Nkozi Knight

By Nkozi Knight

I truly thought I was healthy. My BMI is only 25, and by most accounts, I look like I I am in great shape. But something wasn’t right for weeks. I felt tired all the time, my feet tingled, and my energy levels were nowhere near what they used to be when I would workout. Something inside me told me to get checked out, and what I found was alarming:

• A1C: 7.3% → Diabetes confirmed

• LDL (“bad” cholesterol): 198 mg/dL → Very high

• Non-fasting glucose: 219 mg/dL → Dangerously high

In other words, I was walking around with a silent killer inside me, completely unaware. And I’m not alone.

Black Men and the Health Crisis No One Talks About

Black men in the United States are disproportionately affected by diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, blood clots, and amputations, a lot of it comes down to our diet, lifestyle, and neglect of medical care. Here are some statistics that speak to that point:

• Black adults are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than white adults (CDC, 2022).

• More than 40% of Black men have high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke (American Heart Association, 2023).

• Diabetes-related amputations occur nearly 3 times more often in Black patients than in white patients (JAMA, 2021).

Yet, we don’t talk about it. We recently witnessed super dad, Lavar Ball lose his foot from such complications. We brush off the fatigue, the numbness, the tingling, the headaches, the difficulty in the bedroom, and the shortness of breath as just “getting older.” But these are warning signs that something is seriously wrong.

The Warning Signs You Can’t Ignore

• Tingling or numbness in your feet → Early sign of diabetic neuropathy, which can lead to amputation if untreated.

• Extreme fatigue → Could be due to high blood sugar, poor circulation, or even heart disease.

• Erectile dysfunction (ED) → Often an early symptom of diabetes or heart disease due to damaged blood vessels.

• Blurry vision → High blood sugar can lead to diabetic retinopathy, which can cause blindness.

• Slow-healing wounds → A sign of poor circulation, increasing the risk of infections and amputations.

• Frequent urination & constant thirst → Classic symptoms of diabetes.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time to see a doctor immediately.

Fast Food & High Sugar Diets Are Killing Us

Let’s be real. Our beautiful culture is built around food, and not just any food, it always fried chicken, snacks, barbecue, mac and cheese, burgers, energy drinks, and other sugar-loaded drinks. We love to eat (at least I do), and food is a part of our identity. But it’s also the reason why we’re dying younger than we should.

• The average American consumes 17 teaspoons of added sugar per day which far beyond the recommended limit of 9 teaspoons for men (American Heart Association, 2023).

• Black Americans are more likely to consume sugar-sweetened beverages, which are directly linked to diabetes and heart disease (CDC, 2022).

• Red meat and processed meats (bacon, sausage, deli meat) increase the risk of heart disease by 18% and diabetes by 12% (Harvard School of Public Health, 2023).

The Solution: Skip the Steak, Choose the Chicken

I used to be that guy….grabbing a burger and fries on the go, ordering a steak just because I could, and washing it all down with a Sprite or Old Fashioned. But after seeing my numbers, I realized I was digging my own grave, and I have too many people depending on me to check out early.

I made the switch, and I urge you to do the same:

✔ No more red meat → Choose grilled chicken, turkey, or fish instead.

✔ No more sugary drinks → Drink water, unsweetened tea, or black coffee.

✔ No more processed carbs → Swap white bread & pasta for whole grains like quinoa & brown rice.

✔ More fiber, more greens, more movement.

And most importantly, please see a doctor before it’s too late.

Your Health Is in Your Hands

Black men, we can’t afford to ignore our health any longer. We too often put our own needs aside to take care of everyone else to our own demise. Too many of us are losing limbs, suffering strokes, and dying before our time. It’s not genetics at all, it’s the choices we make every day.

If you made it this far I ask you to not wait until it’s too late. Get your bloodwork done, eat like your life depends on it (because it does), and start moving.

We all deserve longer, healthier lives but we have to take action to make that a reality. I thank God for the people in my life who encouraged me to get checked out before it was too late, because too many of us ignore the warning signs until we can’t anymore. Let’s hope the MAHA movement brings attention to this silent killer that’s taking too many of us too soon. Our health is our responsibility so let’s fight for it.

Sources:

• CDC. (2022). Diabetes Statistics in the U.S.

• American Heart Association. (2023). Heart Disease & Stroke Risk in African Americans.

• Harvard School of Public Health. (2023). The Impact of Diet on Chronic Diseases.

• JAMA. (2021). Racial Disparities in Diabetes-Related Amputations.

The Nakba of 2025: A New Chapter in a 77-Year Displacement

Posted on by Nkozi Knight

Displaced Palestinians from the Nakba of 1948 (top) and displaced Palestinians in Gaza in 2025 (bottom). Seventy-seven years apart.

By N. Knight

February 2025

GAZA CITY — Seventy-seven years after the Nakba of 1948, in which Zionist paramilitary groups (later forming the Israeli Defense Forces) forcibly displaced more than 750,000 Palestinians during the creation of Israel, a new catastrophe is unfolding in Gaza. Then, as now, the mass removal of Palestinians was not just a consequence of war but a calculated effort to reshape the region’s demographics.

The original Nakba, or “catastrophe” in Arabic, saw entire villages erased, families expelled, and a people scattered across the Middle East with no path home. Today, with 1.5 million Palestinians displaced and Gaza reduced to rubble, history is repeating itself. What was once the forced exodus of Palestinian communities into Gaza and neighboring countries is now a campaign to permanently expel them from the land entirely.

And just as in 1948, this displacement has been backed by major world powers.

How the World Redefined a Nation Without Its People

Palestinians were never given a say in their removal. The decision to partition their homeland and create Israel was made by external powers, largely Britain and the United States, without the consent of the people already living there.

The Role of Winston Churchill and the British Mandate

Winston Churchill and Israeli Prime minister David Ben Gurion

Before Israel’s establishment, Palestine was under British rule as part of the League of Nations Mandate, a system intended to prepare nations for self-governance. But rather than supporting Palestinian self-determination, Britain instead paved the way for Zionist settlement under the Balfour Declaration of 1917, which promised a Jewish homeland in Palestine without consulting its Arab inhabitants.

Winston Churchill, as both Colonial Secretary and later as Prime Minister, was a staunch Zionist supporter who saw Jewish settlement as a British imperial interest. He dismissed Palestinian opposition outright, once stating:

“I do not admit that the dog in the manger has the final right to the manger, even though he may have lain there for a very long time.”

Under Churchill’s leadership, Britain facilitated Jewish immigration while crushing Palestinian resistance. By the time the British withdrew in 1948, Palestinians were politically powerless, abandoned to Zionist militias who would soon launch the campaign of forced displacement known as the Nakba.

Harry S. Truman’s Immediate Support for Ethnic Displacement

President Harry S. Truman (left) meets with Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion (right) and Israeli Ambassador Abba Eban (standing) in a gift ceremony in the Oval Office.

As the British withdrew, it was the United States under President Harry S. Truman that cemented Israel’s creation. Against the advice of his own State Department, which warned that recognizing Israel would spark mass displacement and long-term instability, Truman became the first world leader to formally recognize Israel just minutes after its declaration of independence on May 14, 1948.

Truman’s recognition was not just diplomatic. The United States provided Israel with critical financial and military aid, allowing the newly formed state to consolidate its territorial gains and prevent the return of displaced Palestinians.

The United Nations passed Resolution 194, affirming the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes. But Truman and his administration did nothing to enforce it. The result was that 750,000 Palestinians became permanent refugees, many of whom fled to the Gaza Strip only to find themselves trapped in a cycle of displacement that continues to this day.

From 1948 to 2025: A Continuing Nakba


Palestinians flee south via Salah al-Din Road, in central Gaza, on the third day of a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on November 26, 2023. © 2023 AP Photo/Hatem Moussa

What is happening now in Gaza follows the same pattern. The Israeli bombardment of Gaza has destroyed entire neighborhoods, killed over 100,000 Palestinians, and displaced 1.5 million people which is twice the number of refugees from 1948. The infrastructure of survival including hospitals, schools, and road, has been systematically wiped out. And now, current United States President Donald Trump has proposed ensuring that Palestinians never return.

Donald Trump’s plan to permanently expel Gaza’s residents and rebuild the land for Jewish settlers mirrors the policies of 1948, except now, the forced displacement is being openly endorsed as official United States policy. When as a question about Palestinian residents, he suggested they go to Egypt and Jordan, and redevelop Gaza into what he described as the “Riviera of the Middle East.”

A Global Response, and a Question

Internationally, Trump’s proposal has been met with sharp opposition. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt have explicitly rejected the idea, warning that any forced resettlement of Palestinians into their territories would be a violation of sovereignty and a red line for the region. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan called it “a blatant attempt at ethnic cleansing that will not be tolerated by the Arab world.” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi reaffirmed that Egypt “will not accept the forced displacement of Palestinians into the Sinai.” Both nations have signaled that such a move could undermine diplomatic relations with Israel and the United States.

Yet, despite these warnings, the pattern remains unchanged. A population is being forcibly removed, their land repopulated with another ethnic group, and the world is expected to accept it as the price of geopolitics.

Which raises the question.

If the forced removal of an entire people, the destruction of their homes, and the resettlement of their land with another group is not ethnic cleansing, then what is

And if the world will not act to stop it now, will it ever?

Wisconsin Real Estate Market: What to Expect in 2024 & 2025?

Posted on by Nkozi Knight
2024 Parade of Homes Model-The Clare

The median home sale price in Wisconsin has reached $327,000, reflecting an 8.8% year-over-year increase. Homes are still selling quickly, with an average of 43 days on the market, which suggests high demand in the real estate market. This is further reinforced by a 6.6% increase in home sales, with 6,532 homes sold in July 2024 compared to 6,130 last year. These figures indicate a competitive housing market, favoring sellers.

Inventory has risen by 6.5%, giving buyers more options. However, the supply remains tight, averaging around 2 months, which leans towards a seller’s market. Mortgage rates are around 6%, giving buyers somewhat more purchasing power, though prices are still on the rise.

With Wisconsin’s strong job market and an unemployment rate of 3%, the housing market is unlikely to experience a crash soon. Wisconsin’s balanced economy, affordable cost of living, and steady population growth continue to support the real estate market’s strength .

If you’re considering buying or selling in areas like Caledonia or Beaver Dam, it’s a good time to stay informed as the market is expected to favor buyers slightly towards the end of 2024.

2024 Parade of Homes model

Generative AI: Transforming the Fabric of Education, Business, and Society

Posted on by Nkozi Knight

By Nkozi Knight

The dawn of generative artificial intelligence (AI) is not merely a technological milestone but a transformative force poised to touch every corner of our lives, reshaping the fabric of our world. Imagine a future where AI-driven systems enhance learning experiences in classrooms from rural villages to urban centers, personalize healthcare treatments globally, and revolutionize businesses, driving unprecedented innovation and efficiency. The potential for AI to create new opportunities and solve complex problems is immense, making it a topic of critical importance for everyone from tech enthusiasts to policymakers, but most importantly for everyday citizens.

A Revolution in Our Society

Generative AI has begun to alter the societal landscape significantly. Major advancements by platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini Advanced demonstrate AI’s capabilities in creating human-like text and solving complex problems. These tools are increasingly integrated into customer service, content creation, and strategic decision-making processes. According to McKinsey, over 55% of organizations now use AI in at least one business unit, up from 20% in 2017 .

This surge in adoption highlights the tangible benefits of AI, such as cost reductions and revenue increases. For instance, the use of AI in human resources has led to significant cost savings, while its application in supply chain management has boosted revenues by over 5% . However, this rapid integration is not without challenges, as issues like data privacy, intellectual property, and the accuracy of AI outputs remain pressing concerns .

Education: A New Frontier

In the realm of education, generative AI is revolutionizing how students learn and educators teach. AI-driven platforms are providing personalized learning experiences, adaptive testing, and real-time feedback, thereby making education more accessible and tailored to individual needs. Google’s Gemini Advanced, for example, can create interactive learning modules that adapt to a student’s progress, enhancing engagement and retention.

According to UNESCO, the thoughtful integration of AI into education systems can support lifelong learning and bridge educational gaps by providing resources to underprivileged communities . However, there is a caveat; an over-reliance on technology without adequate human oversight could undermine educational standards and equity.

Business Innovations

Generative AI is also making waves in the business sector, driving operational efficiencies and strategic advancements. Companies are leveraging AI for marketing, sales, product development, and customer engagement. Deloitte’s insights reveal that businesses are moving from pilot projects to large-scale AI deployments, aiming to realize tangible benefits such as improved efficiency and innovation .

AI-driven analytics are enabling businesses to make more informed decisions, ultimately driving growth and competitiveness. For example, AI’s ability to analyze vast amounts of data quickly and accurately helps companies to identify market trends, optimize supply chains, and enhance customer experiences.

Comparing AI Platforms

Different AI platforms bring unique strengths to the table. Here’s a detailed comparison of some leading generative AI tools:

OpenAI’s ChatGPT is exceptional at natural language generation, versatile across multiple domains including customer service, creative writing, and coding assistance. It’s best suited for general-purpose use, especially for enterprises needing versatile AI capabilities.

Google’s Gemini Advanced integrates seamlessly with Google services, providing real-time internet data and robust solutions for data analytics and enterprise applications. It’s ideal for businesses looking for deep integration with Google’s ecosystem, real-time data processing, and enhanced search capabilities.

Apple’s AI system focuses on privacy-centric AI solutions, ensuring secure data management while delivering powerful performance. This makes it a great choice for users and organizations prioritizing data privacy and security.

Microsoft’s Copilot is integrated with the Microsoft Office Suite, enhancing productivity tools like Word and Excel with AI capabilities. It’s perfect for office productivity enhancements, particularly for enterprises that extensively use Microsoft products.

Anthropic’s Claude emphasizes safety and ethical AI use, with a customizable conversational tone and a large context window. It’s best for ethical AI applications and businesses needing secure content generation.

Cohere’s Generate (Command) offers straightforward API integration for text generation, focusing on business use cases like copywriting and data extraction. This tool is well-suited for businesses needing seamless API integration for text generation and analysis.

Midjourney excels at creating artistic and highly stylized images, making it ideal for creative industries and artists looking to enhance their visual content.

DALL·E 3 is easy to use for AI image generation, capable of creating photorealistic and imaginative visuals. It’s best for marketing, design, and any application requiring high-quality images.

These platforms reflect the diverse approaches tech giants are taking to capture the AI market. OpenAI’s emphasis on broad accessibility contrasts with Google’s enterprise-focused strategies and Apple’s commitment to privacy, catering to varied user needs and preferences .

Societal Implications

Generative AI’s societal impact extends beyond business and education. It influences cultural production, healthcare, and even social interactions. AI-generated content, such as music and art, challenges traditional notions of creativity and authorship. In healthcare, AI-driven diagnostic tools and personalized treatment plans are revolutionizing patient care, offering more accurate and timely interventions .

However, these advancements come with ethical considerations. The potential for job displacement, biases in AI algorithms, and the need for regulatory frameworks are critical issues that society must address. Ensuring that AI development is inclusive and benefits all segments of society is paramount.

As generative AI continues to evolve, its role in shaping our future becomes increasingly significant. Whether in classrooms, boardrooms, or everyday life, AI is set to redefine the parameters of possibility, ushering in an era of unprecedented innovation and change.

For more insights on AI and its impact, visit NkoziKnight.com.

Unveiling Africa’s Economic Boom Behind the Headlines

Posted on by Nkozi Knight

By Nkozi Knight, GreenHomeHub, Knight Investment Group

April 19, 2024

Embracing Africa’s economic upswing, a group of entrepreneurs mirrors the continent’s colorful ascent on the global stage.

African Original travel-reality series, Ebuka Turns Up Africa, featuring celebrated Nigerian star Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.

My journey into the heart of Africa’s economic boom began with conversations with my oldest daughter Nkozia who is a frequent visitor to the continent, and my curiosity further peaked from my sectional sofa as I became captivated by Amazon Prime’s series “Ebuka Turns up Africa”. In this television series, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu travels across the continent, exploring hidden gems and navigating the complexities of friendships, relationships, finances, and loyalties. Inspired by the vibrancy and spirit shown in each episode, I was interested in diving deeper and upon my research, I discovered a reality about the continent that is vastly different than the Western media portrayals that mostly reflect poverty and conflict.

The Children of Hope campaign in Malawi presents a snapshot often seen in Western media: youthful faces finding joy amidst the challenges often depicted across the continent.

For years, Africa’s narrative has been dynamically shifting. Long portrayed as a continent primarily of destitution and despair, the real Africa has a much different story. A rich story of booming economies, groundbreaking technologies, and cultural renaissance. This narrative shift reflects a continent ripe with opportunities and a hotbed for growth and innovation in places like my home country of Nigeria, challenging the outdated views held by much of the Western and European media.

Nigeria: The Economic Powerhouse
Leading Africa’s economic charge is Nigeria, currently the continent’s richest country with a GDP of $477 billion as of 2022. With projections by the International Monetary Fund suggesting an ascent to $915 billion by 2028, Nigeria’s economy, fueled by its diverse sectors including oil, gas, and technology, shows no signs of slowing down. Its burgeoning tech industry, particularly in cities like Lagos and Abuja, underscores a broader trend across the continent: a leap into digital and technological entrepreneurship.

The city of Lagos has the tallest skyline in Nigeria. 

Infrastructure and Regional Giants
Significant infrastructural developments such as Ethiopia’s Renaissance Dam and Kenya’s expansion of the Mombasa-Nairobi railway illustrate serious strides toward modernization and improved regional connectivity. These projects not only support economic growth but also enhance the daily lives of millions, with technology at the forefront of this renaissance.


Africa’s tech revolution extends beyond my home country of Nigeria. Innovations in mobile banking and renewable energy are pivotal. Mobile banking has transformed financial access for millions, demonstrating a leapfrog over traditional banking barriers. In the realm of sustainable development, nations like Morocco, where my daughter attends school, and South Africa are harnessing wind and solar power, setting new benchmarks for renewable energy.

The cultural sectors throughout Africa is thriving, making significant inroads on the global stage. Nigerian music, South African films, and Ghanaian fashion are capturing international audiences, showcasing the continent’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and its something to truly be admired.

Cape Town South Africa

Economic Landscape

The economic landscape across Africa is as rich and varied as its cultural tapestry, with nations like South Africa and Egypt featuring robust, diversified economies that span mining, agriculture, and a burgeoning service and tourism industry. Algeria’s substantial oil and natural gas reserves play a crucial role in its financial health, echoing Angola’s reliance on its natural resources. Morocco’s vibrant economy thrives on tourism, agriculture, and a growing industrial sector.

Also, Kenya’s status as a regional economic hub is cemented by its diverse economy that embraces services, agriculture, and tourism. Ghana’s growth is buoyed by its agricultural base, complemented by significant oil and gas sectors. Tanzania, where my daughter recently visited, leverages its natural beauty and resources with a flourishing tourism and finance sector. Meanwhile, the beautiful people of Ethiopia are charting a path of rapid economic expansion, driven by sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and ambitious infrastructure projects.

The economic diversity across Africa is a story we need to hear more of as it reflects the resilience of the continent’s people who still deal with the theft of resources from European countries who often threaten to make topple their governments if they refuse to comply. Despite this, Africa’s adaptive and innovative spirit helps shape a new narrative of prosperity on the global economic stage.

Ethiopian Airlines pilot and flight crew

Confronting Stereotypes

Yet, despite these successes, Western portrayals often remain focused on negative aspects, overshadowing the continent’s achievements. This skewed narrative can influence public perception and policy in ways that are not reflective of the current African reality. African leaders and thinkers are calling for a more balanced portrayal that recognizes both the challenges and the immense progress being made.

Ebuka Turns up Africa

As the stories of 2024 unfold, it’s evident that Africa’s rise is not just in spite of Western media narratives but perhaps because it defies them. From the bustling markets of Cairo to the stunning vineyards of Cape Town, innovation, growth, and cultural vibrancy weave a rich tapestry that demands a global reevaluation. The legacy of resource extraction by countries like France and Great Britain is being overwritten by a new chapter of African self-determination and prosperity.

Shows like Ebuka Turns up Africa serve as a clarion call, inviting viewers to step beyond the screen and witness firsthand the continent’s transformation. The call is not just to watch, but to participate; to swap the well-trodden paths to Europe or the beaches of Mexico for the opportunity to immerse oneself in the tapestry of Africa’s economic prowess and cultural renaissance.

Let 2024 be the year where more travelers like myself, choose African destinations, where investment flows not just to traditional markets but to the burgeoning cities and industries across the African continent. This is not just an invitation; it’s a call to be part of a historical movement where one can witness a continent coming into its own, with success stories like Ebuka’s becoming the norm, celebrated and shared with the world. It’s time to rise from our sofas, set foot on African soil, and experience the continent’s heartbeat for ourselves.

Unforgettable Luxury and Endless Fun at Breathless Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa

Posted on by Nkozi Knight

As a seasoned travel enthusiast, I’ve experienced my fair share of luxury resorts, but my recent stay at Breathless Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa was truly unparalleled. Nestled between the picturesque Caribbean Sea and the Lagoon of Bahia Petempich, this adult-only paradise redefines the all-inclusive experience with its unlimited luxury approach.

Upon arrival, I was captivated by the resort’s modern design and vibrant atmosphere. The unique layout, featuring three horseshoe-shaped buildings each with their distinct vibe, immediately set the stage for an extraordinary getaway. I stayed in the Xcelerate Junior Suite Swimout Ocean Front King, a marvel of comfort and elegance. The suite’s standout feature was undoubtedly the private pool, offering a serene escape with stunning sea views. Inside, the amenities, including a well-stocked mini-bar, plush seating area, and a sleek flat-screen TV, ensured my every need was met.

The resort’s commitment to high standards was evident in their cleaning practices. From the moment I began planning my trip to my safe journey home, their heightened health and safety measures provided peace of mind, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the experience.

Dining at Breathless Riviera Cancun was a gastronomic adventure. With various dining venues, each meal was an exploration of global cuisines, served in the most enchanting settings. The bars and lounges, pouring unlimited premium spirits, were perfect for evening relaxation and socializing.

The heart of the resort is its vibrant energy and social atmosphere. Whether basking in the tranquility of the xhale club section, mixing and mingling in the energy center, or diving into the excitement of the xcelerate Party Zone, there was never a dull moment. The sparkling social and party pools, set amidst lush landscapes, were the hubs of daytime entertainment and the venues for the resort’s spectacular events and parties.

Breathless Riviera Cancun offers a myriad of activities and experiences, from high-energy events and entertainment to tranquil moments of relaxation, making it ideal for couples, friends, and solo travelers looking to indulge in a lively yet luxurious retreat.

My stay at Breathless Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa was nothing short of extraordinary. The resort’s unique blend of vibrant fun, luxurious accommodations, night parties, and unwavering commitment to guest safety and satisfaction sets it apart as a premier destination in Cancun. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a bachelor or bachelorette party, or simply a much-needed escape from the ordinary, Breathless Riviera Cancun promises an experience that you’ll cherish forever.

Nkozi Knight

Shades of Gray: The Historical Impact of Political Policies and the Importance of Knowing Our Past

Posted on by Nkozi Knight

Decades ago, the corridors of American politics witnessed a series of decisions that would dramatically reshape the landscape of African American communities. This story begins in the halls of power, where policies and laws were crafted, setting off a chain of events that would echo through generations. From the Reagan era’s war on drugs to the legislative intricacies underpinning Joe Biden’s rise in the political arena, these decisions painted a complex picture of intention versus impact. This aim is to untangle this complex web, tracing the roots of policies that have left a lasting imprint on society. We delve into the intricate interplay of legislation and its intended consequences, piecing together how political maneuvers have sculpturally shaped the realities of countless individuals and communities across the nation.

The 1980s, under the presidency of Ronald Reagan, marked a pivotal era where international intrigue and domestic policy collided. The Iran-Contra Affair, a scandal defined by covert arms sales and secret funding, not only dominated headlines but also served as a backdrop to the escalating War on Drugs. This war, declared with a mission to eradicate drug abuse, inadvertently laid the groundwork for a crisis in African American communities.

Simultaneously, a young senator named Joe Biden was rising through the political ranks. A figure who would come to shape significant aspects of criminal justice policy, Biden’s career in the 1980s and beyond reflects the complex relationship between American politics and the African American community. His role in shaping the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, with its disparate sentencing for crack and powder cocaine, had far-reaching impacts, disproportionately affecting African Americans and contributing to a surge in incarceration rates.

As the narrative progressed into the 1990s, Biden’s influence continued to grow. His involvement in crafting the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act further entrenched the trend of mass incarceration. Though aimed at addressing rampant crime, the bill’s consequences rippled through African American communities, deepening the chasms of inequality.

Decades later, during his 2020 presidential campaign, Biden’s rhetoric reflected a shift. His acknowledgment of the impact of these policies, coupled with promises of reform, marked a departure from his earlier stances. However, this shift was not without its controversies. Biden’s declaration in a 2020 interview that questioned African American allegiance to the Democratic Party sparked a conversation about the taken-for-granted African American vote in U.S. politics.

Biden’s long-standing pledge to Zionism, mirroring the broader U.S. political landscape’s support for Israel, further adds to the narrative’s complexity. It reflects a broader theme in American politics: the alignment of foreign policy interests, often at the expense of addressing pressing domestic issues.

The story of U.S. drug policy and its impact on African American communities, intertwined with Biden’s career, stands as a testament to the cyclical nature of political priorities and the often contradictory nature of government policies. It highlights a dissonance between the quest for votes from minority communities and the legislative actions that have historically impacted them.

This evolving narrative, chronicled over several decades and various administrations, is not merely a historical account; it serves as a reflective mirror for American society. In an era where political promises ebb and flow with the tide of public opinion, the importance of scrutinizing policy decisions and understanding their long-term impacts becomes paramount. As voters, the responsibility lies in our hands to delve into the history of those we elect into power.

It’s a reminder that genuine representation in the corridors of power and accountability are not just political ideals but necessities. As we stand at the crossroads of another election, it is crucial to remember that the votes we cast are echoes of our collective history and aspirations. We must challenge ourselves to look beyond the rhetoric, to understand the past of those we entrust with our future, ensuring our decisions are informed, and our voices are heard in shaping a more equitable and just society. As James Baldwin once said, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

The Lingering Shadows of Imperialism: Exploitation of African Nations

Posted on by Nkozi Knight

As someone who has served in the military, I’ve had firsthand insight into the geopolitical dynamics that still play out across the globe. One particular issue that has always been close to my heart is the persistent exploitation of African nations by former colonial powers and the United States.

Niger, a landlocked country in West Africa, serves as a stark example. It is the source of 5% of the world’s uranium, a precious resource vital for nuclear energy and weapons. Yet, despite its immense wealth beneath the ground, Niger consistently ranks as one of the world’s poorest countries. This incongruity can be attributed to the continued imperialism and exploitative tactics employed by Western nations.

Historically, countries like France and Great Britain have left indelible marks on Africa, ostensibly ending colonization, but in truth, perpetuating a new form of neocolonialism. France, for instance, still exerts considerable economic influence on many of its former colonies, including Niger. Complex agreements and unequal trade dynamics ensure that while African nations supply raw materials, they see only a fraction of the profits.

The United States, though not a colonial power in Africa, has also been implicated in this exploitative dynamic. The establishment of military bases across the continent serves dual purposes: it’s positioned as a safeguard against extremism and other threats, but it also ensures that the U.S. maintains a stronghold to protect its interests, which often include access to natural resources. During my time in the military, it was evident how strategic positioning wasn’t just about national security, but also about economic leverage.

Furthermore, it’s worth noting that while African countries export raw materials, they often have to import finished products at higher prices, further entrenching them in a cycle of poverty. The revenues from these natural resources, like uranium from Niger, do not equitably benefit the local communities. Instead, profits are siphoned off by multinational corporations and corrupt leaders, leaving the general populace grappling with poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment.

Addressing this exploitation requires a multipronged approach:

  1. Transparency in Trade Deals: International trade agreements involving African nations must be transparent, ensuring that they benefit local communities as much as they do foreign entities.
  2. Empowering Local Economies: Investing in local infrastructure, education, and healthcare can help African nations process their own resources, creating jobs and reducing dependency on imports.
  3. International Accountability: Global institutions, such as the UN, must hold countries accountable for exploitative practices, ushering in a new era of equitable and fair trade.

While the flags of colonial powers no longer fly over African capitals, the shadows of imperialism linger. It’s a collective responsibility, both of African governments and the international community, to dismantle these remnants of exploitation and pave the way for a brighter, more equitable future for the continent. As someone who has seen the intricacies of this exploitation up close, I urge everyone to educate themselves, advocate for change, and support policies that promote fairness and justice.