Jhamar Youngblood

A weekend of organizing in Newark! Saturday, I joined community advocate Felicia Alston-Singleton and the Greater Newark HUD Tenants Coalition for their community event. Sunday, I hosted my own gathering to bring residents together for conversations about Newark’s future. From larger coalitions to smaller community conversations, we’re building our movement brick by brick! 🧱 🙏🏿✊🏿 – at Newark, NJ

This news report was from 1993, when I was just five years old. One of the most stressful parts of my childhood was when everyone randomly started telling me I couldn’t wear red anymore because of the Bloods. And red was my favorite color! I was so stressed and confused. Then, one time, I bought a money-print bandana from the beauty supply store because I was a fan of the rap group Cash Money and Lil Wayne. My mother made me burn it because she thought I was in a gang. Again, stressed and confused lol. But outside of that, I really enjoyed my childhood in our city. – at Newark, NJ

Today, I visited a local high school here in Newark to lecture students about how our local government works, and one of the students was wearing this cool T-shirt. The students were asked to share one thing they disliked about our city, and some of the most common answers were trash on our streets, violence, and the lack of job opportunities. – at Newark, NJ

The first step toward ending the diaspora wars is recognizing Black Americans’ right to delineate as a distinct ethnic and cultural group. From there, communities across the American, African, and Caribbean diaspora can come together, recognize our individual strengths, and discuss how we can build new systems within our respective cultures that benefit us collectively. Unity doesn’t require us to abandon our individual identities. It requires us to respect them. ✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿

Not only does this sound like a presidential campaign speech, but it also sounds like the foundation for a campaign platform called The Black Agenda (TBA). If 15 million Black Americans each made a one-time donation of $5, that would raise $75 million, enough to fund a serious national campaign and help Baraka qualify for presidential debate stages. – at Newark, NJ

The ancestors are not too proud of Obama. He says they are haunting him. This is why I listen to them so closely. I never want to have this kind of relationship with the ancestors.

I feel like @chevrolet should retro their cars.

Zohran talks about working with Donald Trump to get things done for New York City’s residents.

Former lieutenant governor and pastor Dale Caldwell says he was set up, arguing that he does not even use the S-word.

I’m excited for this conversation tonight with the Assemblywoman.

Here’s the mayor of Memphis talking about the data center @elonmusk is building in their city. The reality is that AI companies have access to the kind of money that cities like Memphis and Newark, both of which have faced criticism over how public money is managed, desperately want and need. We recently passed legislation here in Newark to temporarily stop new data centers. But when that year is up, I have a strong feeling we’re eventually going to see an AI data center proposed here too. And with our current budget pressures we are going to have a hard time turning that money away. But what do you think? Do we embrace AI and the resources, investment, and opportunities that come with it like Memphis, or do we continue to resist it and risk getting left behind?

Picked up the first Brickcity One samples and finally got to see them in person. Instead of mass producing and deciding everything ourselves, we’re starting with pre-orders and building the first run with the people who actually want the shoe. The first customers will help shape what comes next through their feedback on fit, comfort, sizing, quality, and the overall experience. That’s the goal. Not just to sell a sneaker, but to build one with the community and improve it as we grow. Brickcity One pre-orders open Saturday at our Pop-Up. RSVP: lnkd.in/gwuTmeke – at Newark, NJ

First day of camp. Let’s go champ! @ShakurStevenson

This is not my video. The proper response from our administration should be simple and transparent: What caused this traffic light to fall? What is being done to make sure this doesn’t happen again? Simply explain what happened, fix the problem, and tell us what steps are being taken to prevent another incident. @CityofNewarkNJ – at Newark, NJ

These amazing young Newarkers from Bradley Court made this song, and I am so proud of them. Seeing our youth filled with so much joy while speaking these positive affirmations brings tears to my eyes. Please add “Change Starts With Us” to your playlist. It’s available on all streaming platforms and YouTube. 🧱🙏🏿❤️ – at Newark, NJ

Once Black Americans start operating with ancestral intelligence instead of letting modern American society define what is normal, what is valuable, and what is true, we are going to be a magnificent force. Our ancestors had thousands of years of experience with family, community, survival, food, health, spirituality, conflict, nature, and human behavior. Modern America is young. A lot of what we call “normal” today has only been normal for a few generations. And every few years, we find out that something society told us was healthy, sensible, or correct was wrong. But like Mayor Gibson said, “Wherever America is going, Newark will get there first.” I truly believe that. I believe Newark can be one of the places where we begin remembering who we are, questioning what we have been taught, and start building something special for future generations of all Newarkers. – at Newark, NJ

Spent my Sunday in the East Ward working on my left hand layups. Excuse my language, I almost threw up out there today. We’re hosting our first Brickcity Pop-Up on Saturday, August 29 at 4 PM. Pull up! RSVP here: partiful.com/e/ERd4baYAnYsH4… – at Newark, NJ

The governments of Newark, East Orange, Irvington, Orange should form a regional alliance. We share problems, borders, residents, businesses, infrastructure, and many of the same challenges. Why shouldn’t we coordinate our economic development, public safety, transportation, housing, purchasing power, and political influence? NEIO Should I campaign on this for 2030? – at Newark, NJ

What’s up Newark? Watch the full episode here: youtube.com/live/ayn6vYM0TzA… I had the chance to chat with former South Ward council candidate Terrance L. Bankston. We talked about Sharpe James, Cory Booker, Donna Jackson, and more. #brickcity