Let's stop and remember a simple premise of fairness—a lesson we learned in childhood, perfectly illustrated by the old folk tale, "The Little Red Hen."

You know the story. The Hen asks, "Who will help me plant the grain? Who will help me grind the flour? Who will help me bake the bread?" And the Pig, the Cat, and the Dog all say, "Not I!" But when the delicious, fresh bread is finally ready, and the Hen asks, "Who will help me eat the bread?" They all shout, "I will!"

The lesson of the story is not about bread; it’s about effort, contribution, and reward. The simple premise of fairness is this: If you work for it and you help build it, then you should reap the benefits. It's that simple.

The greatness of America is not something that just happened. It was planted, it was worked, it was built by every single person who has contributed—Black America, Latin Americans, Asian Americans, and every American who has put in the effort. The benefits of this nation should go to those who helped make the bread, not just those who show up at the table asking for a slice.

The greatness of America is not exclusive. It is not an exception for any group. It is the sum of all Americans who have worked to build it.

Our call to action today is to Join Hands. Let's move beyond the divisive rhetoric. Let's stop checking the boxes that elected officials have tried to put us in. Instead, let's focus on creating the United State of Man—a mindset where we all work for unity and realize that our power is not in our division, but in our collective efforts.

Don't wait for permission from the top. Because we are never going to get it. Let's build our own foundation, let's support our own builders, and let's ensure that the house we're building will last for generations to come.

Join the conversation. Find a Black-owned business to support today, and let’s realize our shared vision: to build a stronger, more sustainable community, together, from the bottom up. Thanks for joining us. We’ll see you next month.