Hot Mess Millionaire

Being a strong Black woman can kill you. The people pleasing, stress, and depression can really take a toll on your health, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Yet in our society, Black women are lauded for self-sacrifice and we are encouraged to keep going, even when we are tired and at the end of our rope. What do we do when we have been fed and rewarded for being strong, but there is no room for us to be human?

This week, Dr. Venus goes in on the courage to be insecure. She shares the historical context of why Black women can't have basic feelings, and why we even police each other to just get over things and be strong. She gets vulnerable herself and shares a recent story where she feels insecure, and how she realized that "being strong" was a survival strategy passed down from slavery, not the thing that has made her success. While being strong DOES have its place, it does not allow others to help, love, or support you. Especially when you need it most. Let's talk about it.

Key Takeaways:

[3:40] Dr. Venus shares a story where she recently was getting ready for a date with her new bae and wanted to have her hair in two big beautiful French braids. Her hair was not working out the way she had envisioned, and it left her feeling frustrated and upset. She has always had more confidence in her brains than her beauty, and was feeling down on this particular day that her hair wasn't as silky or smooth as she desired.

[8:02] Dr. Venus went to her community, her tribe, and shared about this meltdown. She got much support and was so grateful for all the love, but one response stood out to her. Just trying to take care of her the way she knew how, one Black Woman said she needed to be strong. This was a way for this woman to show love, but it highlighted the historical wound that Black women carry of not being able to have a full spectrum of emotions. Instead of sad, mad, tired, or upset, we just have to be strong.

[9:45] You are a Black woman, but you are a human first. As a human, you have a RIGHT to every emotion and feelings that other human beings have. When you are upset, it's appropriate to feel hurt and wounded.

[11:03] This is not a bad thing, it's just a wound that we have inherited. Black Women have been socially rewarded to be the workhorse and the cash cow. So much so that we police each other with messages like "don't cry" and "get over it".

[13:13} Do you give yourself permission to be vulnerable? Dr. Venus shares that her success did not come from being strong. It came from being honest, raw, and authentic.

[14:39] Black women have been turned into factories and animals, and not seen as humans with feelings. North American slavery had to justify using our bodies for labor, and we had to find pride in the work we've done and adjust our lives to that. The more we can see this, the more we can encourage ourselves and others to know that it's okay to have deep feelings and strong emotions.

[17:13] Don't suppress yourself. Instead, distance yourself from people that want you to shut down.

[18:00] As Black women, we are so rewarded for self sacrifice that we think it's wrong to say "no" and protect our peace. It takes self love and courage to say no and be real about not always feeling strong.

[23:08] It's important that we tend to our inner child / little girl selves. When they feel neglected, they can be quite petulant and strong willed, ready to sabotage our life until we finally pay attention.

[24:50] Dr. Venus demonstrates how she talks to her little girl self and turns her from 'Worthless Wanda' to 'Wonderful Wanda'.

1. Name her.
2. Ask her what she needs from you.
3. Truly listen. Is she telling you to be soft? Slow down, eat better, drop some bad friends, take care of yourself?
4. Love on her like you would a newborn.
5. Create a safe emotional space for her in your heart.

Quotes:

• "Being strong is not a character trait. It's a survival strategy."
• "A strong Black woman is a healed Black woman."
• "Who holds YOU instead of you holding up the world?"
• "My success did not come from me being strong. I'm not strong, I'm honest. I'm raw. I'm authentic."
• "It takes more courage to tell the truth than to pretend you are strong."

Mentioned:

Dr. Venus Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Amazon Pilot

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Complete Series

(https://www.youtube.com/c/DrVenusOpalReese)

Join the conversation! Hot Mess Millionaire Facebook Group

Free Gift When You Join The Truth Tribe

The Black Woman Millionaire Hot Mess Edition

ATTENTION BLACK WOMEN:

If you want to be THE FIRST to know about ALL things Dr. Venus' tech start-up, fill out the form below so you get access FIRST to updates, launches, and the behind the scene scoop! http://bit.ly/DrVenusAppInfo

RESOURCES

1. The Power Of Vulnerability
2. Soft Power: Nichole Perkins Redesigns the Politics of Desire
3. DAY TWO: FEELING UNPRETTY WITH NATURAL HAIR
4. Is the "Strong Black Woman" stereotype killing us? A study says yes, but there are alternatives
5. THE POWER OF THE BLACK WOMAN'S SELF LOVE JOURNEY | Denise Francis |

LeBron James is rich. The owners/ brand endorsers who write his checks… they are wealthy. We say we want generational wealth, but how do we get it if we don't know what that means and how it looks? This week, Dr. Venus goes in for an educational conversation about what generational wealth really is, and how we as Black Women can create it in the next five years for the next five generations. She talks about the difference between new money vs. generational wealth, why rich doesn't always mean wealthy, and shares practical tips for getting your money management straight today. As Black Women, we need to relate to ourselves as the superpower we are, and step into our role as a giant force in society.

Key Takeaways:

[1:44] When you are first generation wealthy, aka new wealth, you are building something that isn't already given. When you have something already in place, your children's children have a different shot than you do.

[3:13] We tend to talk about hustling and making our coins and paper, but we also should be thinking in terms of assets and in not earning money in a way that is dependent on our skill, labor, or time. There's nothing wrong with flexing however, and Dr. Venus understands where that comes from, especially when it's new money.

[7:20] As a Black Woman, part of what we are contending with is our skewed relationship with money. Black Women have trillions of dollars in spending ability, yet so often we don't always recognize how much power we really have. Buying power equals credit, resources, and access. Think of yourself as not a spender, but a steward over your income.

[7:45] New money is how we spend the money we have right now, in a way that believes there will always be more coming in. Generational wealth spends money like they want to keep it. Dr. Venus discusses how she has always intentionally lived below her means.

[11:51] Why is generational wealth a myth? Dr. Venus breaks it down. For all races, generational wealth usually doesn't last past the second generation because the children don't understand the value of money or how to hold on to it responsibly.

[15:32] We need to leverage more of what we know. For example, if you can make $1 out of .15 cents, that is a skill set no one can take from you. Dr. Venus created her new digital platform to create an ecosystem where Black Women can thrive from making a living from their wisdom and intelligence.

[18:58] If you have debt, don't be ashamed. Consolidate it and negotiate a lower rate. No judgement, just a chance for you to clean the slate and open yourself up to be a conduit for the vibration of money. This is also where it's important to really look at your behaviors and see how you are spending your money, and who you are spending it on. Are you investing it in yourself in the right ways?

[22:07] You can start off with $100 a month and if you are consistent with it, it can multiply. Even if you need to start out very small, you can start to wake up to your behaviors and habits around money. Another powerful habit is to pay more with cash, so you can see exactly where your money is going.

When you start bringing your attention and intention to your money, it starts to move.

[28:39] We need to accept that bringing in money is not hard. We are deserving and we don't have to prove it — our ancestors did that for us. What we must do is look to leverage the generational wealth we already have in our lived experience and tie it to technology.

Quotes:

• "You can make paper, but can you keep it?"
• "The biggest drain on your money will be people you love, or people you want to impress."
• "I think that you and I have a wealth we don't leverage, education. We don't leverage that which we already have as wealth."
• "Are you investing in yourself and organizing yourself to build generational wealth? Or expectation and entitlement?"
• "When you start bringing your attention and intention to your money, it starts to move."
• "Think of yourself as not a spender, but a steward over your income."

Mentioned:

Dr. Venus Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Amazon Pilot

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Complete Series

(https://www.youtube.com/c/DrVenusOpalReese)

Join the conversation! Hot Mess Millionaire Facebook Group

Free Gift When You Join The Truth Tribe

The Black Woman Millionaire Hot Mess Edition

ATTENTION BLACK WOMEN:

If you want to be THE FIRST to know about ALL things Dr. Venus' tech start-up, fill out the form below so you get access FIRST to updates, launches, and the behind the scene scoop! http://bit.ly/DrVenusAppInfo

RESOURCES

1. 5 lies you've been told about generational wealth
2. How Black Families are Generating Wealth for the Next Generation
3. 5 Things Black Families Can Do to Build Generational Wealth
4. The Woke Woman's Guide To Building Generational Wealth
5. How this entrepreneur is working to help Black women build generational wealth through homeownership
6. New Money & Old Money: 15 Differences

Dr. Venus thought that being a millionaire would solve all her problems. Guess what. She was wrong. Soooo wrong. In fact, being a millionaire amplified how POOR she really was and how we really don't have that much if we are unable to help out those around us, and not just ourselves. This week, Dr. Venus is ready to have a grown-up and adult conversation that isn't easy, but it's very important. The fallout from slavery has been devastating for centuries, however, it was also the most effective business entity in the history of the world.

As a businesswoman, Dr. Venus identified three things that we can learn from the institution of slavery and take with us to build our own assets and truly change generations to come. Until we can look the devil in the eye, we will always live at the effect of other people's actions, and we will always be enslaved. This is a conversation not meant for everyone, but one we must have the courage to face as we transition more into getting paid for our knowledge rather than time or labor. Take a deep breath and let's dive in.

Key Takeaways:

[2:50] This conversation is both about honoring our feelings and also having the courage to look at the mechanics behind the system of slavery that funded not just North America, but many other countries. When we can extract information from what worked and what didn't, we are working in service of our own progress. The most effective business entity in the history of the world was slavery, and as a businesswoman, Dr. Venus wants to have a grown-up conversation about what works and what doesn't.

[7:05] The main thing Dr. Venus realized from being a millionaire is that it's not enough. If you have money and the people you love don't, it can make you feel poor. Also, they rarely tell you about the taxes and inflation that come with being wealthy.

[8:10] If you are a millionaire and your money continues to be tied to your effort and your labor, you will continue to be enslaved. We have been socialized to believe that time and effort is what makes you rich, but what happens when you get hurt or can't perform?

[13:41] We are not used to talking about slave bodies as financial assets that planters and merchants could borrow against. It's not easy to bring up, but the more we understand the difference between labor and having assets, the more we can change the infrastructure and build our own highways.

[18:11] Money is transient. It doesn't stay in one place. While you cannot hold onto money, you can create assets that work for you instead of having to depend on your labor, body, or time.

[19:47] Three things they did in the system of slavery that worked that we can learn from:

1. They created an extraordinary product.
2. They created a structure to make that product work.
3. They turned their structure into an asset.

[22:47] The benefit of an asset is that you have something that people want and something they are happy to buy.

[24:43] The world is not set up for cash, it is set up for assets. Due to digital technology, now is the time that we can make big strides in the playing field and acquire assets.

[27:29] It's not enough to just buy Black. We must provide value and go from service-based to digital-based in our business. It's important to train yourself to bring in money for what you know, not what you do. It comes down to creating a product that a group and audience loves, and Dr. Venus has faith in you and her tribe to do that.

[29:44] It may seem impossible, but it takes courage, honesty, integrity and most of all — community. Rihanna, Jay-Z, and Kanye are examples of people who used the money from their art and their community and funneled it into acquiring even more assets.

Quotes:

• "Until we can look the devil in the eye and not shrink back, or try to fix it or solve it, we will always be enslaved."
• "We have to understand how business works beyond how we feel about it as a people, not just as an individual."
• "I thought that being a millionaire would solve a lot of problems. I was wrong."
• "We are talking about the institutionalization of money, and that takes courage. It takes something to have this conversation. Honoring your feelings, but being clear-minded enough to look at the mechanics and extracting what worked and what didn't in service of our own profits."
• "The main thing I realize being a millionaire is this: it's not enough."

Mentioned:

Dr. Venus Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Amazon Pilot

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Complete Series

(https://www.youtube.com/c/DrVenusOpalReese)

Join the conversation! Hot Mess Millionaire Facebook Group

Free Gift When You Join The Truth Tribe

The Black Woman Millionaire Hot Mess Edition

ATTENTION BLACK WOMEN:

If you want to be THE FIRST to know about ALL things Dr. Venus' tech start-up, fill out the form below so you get access FIRST to updates, launches, and the behind the scene scoop! http://bit.ly/DrVenusAppInfo

RESOURCES

1. The History of the Dutch Slave Trade 1600-1863
2. The Business of Slavery
3. The Men Who Turned Slavery Into Big Business
4. The hidden links between slavery and Wall Street
5. The Benefits Of Owning Your Own Business

Trauma is devastating. Whether it's emotional trauma, sexual trauma, the loss of a loved one, a home or a job, trauma hurts. Women worldwide deal with it, yet so often we just push it under the rug or try to stuff it down without sharing how we really feel and speaking up for what we need. This week, Dr. Venus talks about the profound undertaking of allowing pure pleasure into your life, especially if it comes from a man who looks like ones that have hurt you before. It can be very tough to trust someone who reminds you of what has been done to you, and it's essential that Black Women talk about the fact that Black love is beautiful - but can be hard to accept if you've been violated.

Dr. Venus gives historical context of how North American slavery caused generational trauma in Black Women and Men, and discusses her personal journey of healing her owns wounds with regard to her father. She shares a personal story that demonstrates how our true nature comes out most during times of fighting or disagreements, and why actions matter so much more than words.

Key Takeaways:

[3:32] Dr. Venus discusses the truth of mixed race Africans selling Africans in slavery, and how the institution of slavery still leads to Black Women feeling unprotected and unheard.

[7:01] In this space, we are interested in dialog, and not a debate. Dr. Venus is well studied in this area, and if you can't handle that or don't want to be part of a respectful dialog that moves us forward, you are welcome to leave and create your own platform. This tribe is one of partnership and education.

[8:50] Trauma is a personal thing, and there is no hierarchy to it. Trauma can mean the loss of a loved one, a sexual trauma, physical trauma, etc. We have to be sure not to minimize or disregard someone else's trauma just because it doesn't seem big or important enough to us.

[13:11] Dr. Venus is feeding Black Women first, because we need it. She appreciates her allies and Black Men, and notes how she made her first million with Black Men holding her up, and Black Men will be an instrumental part of making her billion as well.

[17:24] Dr. Venus has been healing the wounds of having an absent father, and what that meant in her relationship with trusting men, and Black Men in general. Because of the history of slavery in North America, Black Women were born into addiction, poverty, violence, and acquiesce. It has taken decades to claim her voice, body, and power, but the more she heals her father wounds, the more she has room to shift her relationship with Black Men who are showing up.

[19:06] As a Black Woman hurt by Black Men in different ways, we often have to contend that our relationships feel like they come with strings attached, and it's hard to receive pleasure in any capacity. We focus on the act of violence rather than the trauma that shows up in our behavior.

[24:09] The first step to heal is to tell the truth. The people that deeply love you will hear it even if the truth hurts, but those that are defensive and reject your truth are welcome to leave. You matter, and you have a right to have people hear you from where you are.

[25:19] Taking care of yourself will free your energy up to receive love and pleasure, whether it's intimate pleasure or just enjoying a great meal together.

[26:47] People show their true nature through their actions, not their words. If they aren't living up to your needs and can't provide what you know you deserve, don't try to change them. Just bless them and release them.

[28:28] You have to be clear about what you require. If a person is not going to honor you, they are not going to honor themselves, so stop trying! Make a list of your values and what you want. Is it clear communication? Punctuality?

[31:53] People's actions never lie, and they are the most honest indication of their character. Every relationship has their fights, but it's how you fight and treat the other person while you are fighting that matters. Dr. Venus shares that she has a gentleman suitor who is fantastic and really knows what she needs. During a disagreement, he sent her breakfast to let her know that although they were mad at each other at this moment, he loved her and still wanted her to feel safe.

[35:07] There has to be a level of intimacy for you to experience safety that brings pleasure of any kind, whether it's sexual, being heard, or a shared joke. It's about finding a person that is willing to heal and grow with you, and who is doing work on themselves as well. Therapy and/or couples counseling is strongly recommended.

[37:14] As you develop more self trust and are firm with your personal boundaries, you can allow someone who is worthy of your time and energy without feeling the need to show up as their doctor or mama. You can love your partner and let them do their process without engaging in a way that disregulates your peace.

Quotes:

• "You have to change your standard with regard to who you allow in your life."
• "The way a person fights will tell you more about their character than anything else."
• "There has to be a level of intimacy for you to experience safety that brings pleasure of any kind, whether it's sexual, being heard, or a shared joke. It's about finding a person that is willing to heal and grow with you."
• "No matter how hurt you've been, you have a right to pleasure."

Mentioned:

Dr. Venus Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Amazon Pilot

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Complete Series

(https://www.youtube.com/c/DrVenusOpalReese)

Join the conversation! Hot Mess Millionaire Facebook Group

Free Gift When You Join The Truth Tribe

The Black Woman Millionaire Hot Mess Edition

ATTENTION BLACK WOMEN:

If you want to be THE FIRST to know about ALL things Dr. Venus' tech start-up, fill out the form below so you get access FIRST to updates, launches, and the behind the scene scoop!

http://bit.ly/DrVenusAppInfo

RESOURCES

1. Sexual Healing After Trauma
2. Why You Might Have Intimacy Issues After Trauma
3. Black Survivors and Sexual Trauma
4. What I learned talking to 120 women about their sex lives and desires
5. Overcoming the Fear of Love | Trillion Small | TEDxSMUWomen

Right now, we are in a street fight for our children's minds. When history is not taught in an inclusive way, it affects ALL races, genders, nationalities and religions. What's more, when required reading is inclusive, it impacts how children vote when they become adults. Recently, the Texas Senate passed a bill that removes required reading from various Civil Rights movements including Susan B. Anthony, Cesar Chavez, Indigenous American History, Dr. King's writings, and many others. While all White American History stays, significant historical events and information addressing women and POC will be removed from Texas public schools, with more states to follow.

But what can we do about it?

This week, Dr. Venus contends with why our children's minds are worth fighting for, and why historically it makes sense that we wouldn't trust White extremists and supremacists. She talks about why going to textbooks as a way to keep the systematic agenda in place is a desperate move, and gives 10 strategies you can implement NOW instead of waiting for them to change or behave. Don't get discouraged, get inspired and know that education is power.

Key Takeaways:

[4:19] When anything having to do with critical race theory is taken out, White Extremists don't see it as biased, because they see White supremacy as the standard. They count on us to be reactionary rather than strategic, but times are changing and technology helps us all be awake and actionable.

[7:02] It's not just Texas looking to control what the younger generations do and do not learn. There are 23 other states now in the process of similar education tactics.

[7:02] Principle: The victor always writes the history books. They say racism is not real, but yet they don't want to talk about it? It is very clear - they are writing to protect their ideology, and see controlling the textbooks as a way to tell history in a way they want.

[8:34] Desperate people take desperate actions. If their children were believing what they believed, they would not have to go through this. As the world becomes more of a melting pot and their children engage more with things such as Black Lives Matter, the more they desperately try to grab at what's in the textbooks. Don't get discouraged, get inspired and know that we must be winning if their only option is to screw with the curriculum.

[10:10] Ignorant is not the same as innocent. The more children of European ancestry mix with peers of a different ancestry, the more they tend to vote Democrat. Trying to keep the children ignorant about history is a desperate man's way of holding on to an image. Except, we know that it is falling, and the old system is crumbling. They can try to push their beliefs that the Confederacy won the war and that Black Men and Women are lazy, but that is starting to change more and more with every generation.

[17:00] Logically, why would we think that given how much they have historically lied to us, hurt us, and killed us, that it would be safe to care for our babies? Why would we expect them to be fair and inclusive? Dr. Venus discusses how when we did integration, we as a people got hopeful for equality. We let our guard down and stopped being accountable. It's also important to remember that there is no shame or judgement in this, and we are in it together. We can honor our ancestors and learn from our history to create a present that is rooted in building our own structures, such as Dr. Venus is doing with her digital platform.

[19:02] Dr. Venus shares 10 Strategies that we can implement now instead of waiting on White extremists to act right.

1. Parents - join the school board and let your voice be heard.
2. Sue the school district with other parents.
3. Call the news.
4. Sit in on your children's classes.
5. Get a copy of the reading list and curriculum being taught to your children.
6. Supplement reading to fill in the holes.
7. Create or attend after school programs.
8. Start including Black educational apps and technology.
9. Create a Black History book club.
10. Start or join a Black Male mentor group.

[33:08] If we take on being accountable instead of hoping people will change their behaviors, we can do anything. Let's make the change now, so we don't have to continue this for generations.

Quotes:

• "You may have to provide leadership, sis, but it's for your baby."
• "You don't need to wait on any body or anything to be successful."
• "My actions are a match for my outcomes, not my feelings."
• "It's not biased, because they don't see White as a bias. They think that's the standard."
• "We got seduced by the illusion of equality. In that seduction, we stopped being accountable for all of it, for all the pieces, including education."
• "Why would we trust the enemy who has turned our bodies into factories in order to get free labor for generations?"
• "Because we started to live in the delusion of equality, we stopped being accountable."

Mentioned:

Dr. Venus Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Amazon Pilot

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Complete Series

(https://www.youtube.com/c/DrVenusOpalReese)

Join the conversation! Hot Mess Millionaire Facebook Group

Free Gift When You Join The Truth Tribe

The Black Woman Millionaire Hot Mess Edition

ATTENTION BLACK WOMEN:

If you want to be THE FIRST to know about ALL things Dr. Venus' tech start-up, fill out the form below so you get access FIRST to updates, launches, and the behind the scene scoop!

http://bit.ly/DrVenusAppInfo

RESOURCES

1. Martin Luther King Jr., the KKK, and more may soon be cut from Texas education requirements
2. Texas Senate passes bill that stops teaching requirement calling KKK 'morally wrong'
3. Texas Senate Bill Drops Teaching Requirement That Ku Klux Klan Is 'Morally Wrong'
4. Why more black parents are home-schooling their kids
5. What's Lost When Black Children Are Socialized Into a White World

The Slave Bible was commissioned in 1807 and was created to evangelize African "savages" in order to save their "pagan" souls from eternal damnation. The "tool" they used was an "abridged" version of the King James bible wherein 90% of the Old Testament & 50% of the New Testament were removed.

In the Slave Bible, the MISSIONARIES (not the Planters) chose to include the books from the King James version about slaves obeying their masters, humility, & looking forward to meeting God in the by & by. ALL BOOKS that inspire hope, freedom and rebellion are omitted.

This week, Dr. Venus deep dives into the impact these well-meaning Missionaries intended to save souls, but at the cost of our very lives. She discusses the impact of their good intention on our relationship to money, as well as how we relate to the world. She also talks about the superiority in thinking others have to follow your faith, and why we need to focus more on impact, and less on intention.

Key Takeaways:

[3:34] We need to create new conversations that pull us forward rather than keeping us in the modality of expecting White people to change or keep their promise. Which they may do, but it will be on their terms and on their timeline. This conversation is not about explaining the bad away, but about moving towards the freedom to pursue your own dreams without the shadow or residue of all the filth done to us.

[5:56] When humans have a structure in place that they benefit from, they are not wanting to give it up. So, we must come up with new solutions and focus more on the impact than the intention. Marches and lobbying are powerful, but because of the impact of slavery, we have been wounded in a way that both hurts ourselves and our money.

[8:31] God is smart enough to meet you where you are, so don't trip off someone's belief structure. Dr. Venus has no fight with your beliefs. She is talking about the impact on your money and sense of self.

[9:59] Dr. Venus discusses how the Slave Bible was created with an intention of salvation, but with the good also came the bad. As it was created to make sure the slaves didn't revolt, it also helped Black Men and Women to learn to read. However, the concept of hope and freedom that it promised also was rooted in obedience and the righteousness of making them "better" or "good" like the missionaries themselves.

[13:42] White extremists have a vested interest in telling us to get over the past or not telling history in a truthful way. Of course, they are fighting even more for their narrative now, with White children the minority in public schools. Just because you don't talk about something doesn't mean it didn't happen. The more we learn and discuss, the more we honor our truth and our ancestors.

[16:18] Instead of fighting the very structure that built itself, we have to create our own economy for us, and by us. We must focus on the impact — such as the impact that Tulsa being burnt to the ground had on generations to come.

[19:39] The way you win in America, is you make your own money. The best use of your energy is to play their own game — Capitalism. Of course, we would be scared because of what they have done and may try to do, burn it down or bury self-reliant Black cities underwater. However, the difference between now and our ancestors is that we have digital technology. Thank you, ancestors, for your prayers and work, so we can move the race forward.

[23:34] If you don't get yourself oriented bringing money around what you know rather than what you do, you will always be enslaved. That means owning your own business, and/or supporting more Black-owned businesses.

[24:42] The Bible has given people comfort in the midst of atrocities, yet everything that is touched by the flesh is imperfect. Faith is a function of belief, and you can pull the parts out that resonate with you.

[27:45] The missionaries really thought they were doing a good thing and their intention was to save our souls, yet it was in the context of superiority. It's important to remember that you can introduce someone to something, but if they don't do it your way it doesn't make them bad, it makes them human.

[28:55] No amount of blaming is going to get you generational wealth. What will is digital technology. There is a difference between using platforms and building your own.

[31:44] You have every right to grieve the past, but you need to use your energy in a leveraged way to build generational wealth.

Quotes:

• "If you don't know what you are fighting against, you can't set yourself free."
• "I met God in the streets. Never met God in Church."
• "If you think you are saving someone's soul, can you hear how superior that sounds?"
• "Be mindful that your relationship with spirit is personal and private. It's you."
• "You have every right to grieve the past, but you need to use your energy in a leveraged way to build generational wealth."

Mentioned:

Dr. Venus Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Amazon Pilot

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Complete Series

(https://www.youtube.com/c/DrVenusOpalReese)

Join the conversation! Hot Mess Millionaire Facebook Group

Free Gift When You Join The Truth Tribe

The Black Woman Millionaire Hot Mess Edition

ATTENTION BLACK WOMEN:

If you want to be THE FIRST to know about ALL things Dr. Venus' tech start-up, fill out the form below so you get access FIRST to updates, launches, and the behind the scene scoop!

http://bit.ly/DrVenusAppInfo

RESOURCES

1. The Negro Bible - The Slave Bible: Select Parts of the Holy Bible, Selected for the use of the Negro Slaves, in the British West-India Islands
2. Slave Bible From The 1800s Omitted Key Passages That Could Incite Rebellion
3. Origins of the Black Church: Pre-slavery — missionaries in Africa
4. Intent vs. Impact: The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions
5. Ten Best Lies of Black History

Tulsa wasn't the only Black community burnt to the ground by systems of oppression. There were at least 33 others. Thriving, independent and self-sustaining Black communities — terrorized and destroyed. Fire wasn't the only method used. Over 100 Black and poor communities were flooded, turned into lakes, or gutted to build railroads and highways. In fact, underneath manmade lakes near Central Park and in California, ENTIRE COMMUNITIES sit underwater, all in the name of progress. This week, Dr. Venus talks about systems of oppression for Black and poor Americans. She discusses how it's happening at the local and state level, and why we must educate ourselves and play at their level of the game in order to win.

Key Takeaways:

[6:34] If we don't tend to our wounds and learn from them, we will keep repeating the same actions. Dr. Venus explains that if we keep fighting and not winning, we may want to consider that we are fighting the wrong fight. There has been progress, yes, but what we haven't done as a collective is to take America on America's terms, capitalism. Yes, we talk about our experience, but we have to educate ourselves in a way our schools never did.

[9:22] Dr. Venus discusses the historical context where after President Lincoln freed the slaves to handicap the South, his assassination led to the federal government withdrawing the troops. This gave White Supremacists permission to continue acting in a way that proved they believe they are superior without feeling any consequence.

[10:14] Working-class White people have been paid not with money or land, but with the psychological wage of being "better", and this is how they stay controlled. That's how the Electoral College came about, and how America built itself through Black Women and on the backs of poor people.

[13:24] Marching and standing up for our rights is important and we should continue, but we also have to contend with the fact that the great equalizer in America is money. As long as we keep our attention off that, we will stay enslaved. It is when we change the structure to create a space that we are meant to participate in and be fully heard that real progress happens.

[14:42] Dr. Venus discusses why equality is not possible in America with the way our social, economic, and political structures are set up.

[16:17] Why would they put a lake over a whole town and displace people for highways and railroad systems? They call it gentrification, but Dr. Venus calls it development-induced displacement. The American way is to monetize, and these systems of oppression are built into everything from the federal and national levels to the state and local levels.

[18:30] They did the same thing with poor White men. If a White Man who was poor got land from Indigenous people and could not sign the agreement three years in a row, they took the land back. American history pimps out anybody who is not a rich, White, land-owning male. It has to do with class and a feeling that White Men are superior and above everyone else. It is a strategy to capitalize on that which will move America forward and make them rich.

[25:59] White Supremacists see themselves as so superior that they truly believe you are stupid if you don't agree with them. So when they do something like flood an environment, they know there is no structure in place to protect us. Even to this day, we have a number of mixed communities that are being pushed out because they can't afford the rent, so they are living in their car. It's not personal, but to them, progress comes at the cost of somebody. But NEVER rich White, land-owning Men.

[27:47] They can take a Black community and they can flood it with not only water but things like drugs and fast food. They can set it up so loans and real estate are hard to come by, and we aren't protected the way the rich are.

[30:04] What White Extremists don't mess with is commerce or money. All the structures in place in terms of capitalism are never touched. We have to create great products, services, distribution and platforms where we can move things and create with our own money, FOR us and BY us.

[35:10] There will be challenges, but the tech space that Dr. Venus and her brilliant team are working to create a safe space in the cloud without penalties for truth-telling.

[36:51] Structurally speaking, we are at a place where we can come together as a community and create wealth. Because the structures around capitalism are so clear, when we create on our own terms and commit to getting out of our feelings and help each other, we can thrive.

Quotes:

• "American history leaves out anybody who is not a rich or a White, land-owning male."
• "The things that they say about poor people they say about Black people."
• "When we move forward, we move the human race forward."
• "I'm more committed to what we can create than what we've lost."
• "What we haven't done as a collective is to take on America on America's terms."

Mentioned:

Dr. Venus Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Amazon Pilot

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Complete Series

(https://www.youtube.com/c/DrVenusOpalReese)

Join the conversation! Hot Mess Millionaire Facebook Group

Free Gift When You Join The Truth Tribe

The Black Woman Millionaire Hot Mess Edition

ATTENTION BLACK WOMEN:

If you want to be THE FIRST to know about ALL things Dr. Venus' tech start-up, fill out the form below so you get access FIRST to updates, launches, and the behind the scene scoop!

http://bit.ly/DrVenusAppInfo

RESOURCES

1. Beyond Tulsa: The Secret History of Flooding Black Towns to Make Lakes | The Amber Ruffin Show
2. Not Just Tulsa: Race Massacres That Devastated Black Communities In Rosewood, Atlanta, and Other American Cities
3. Tulsa isn't the only race massacre you were never taught in school. Here are others.
4. How Highways Finally Crushed Black Tulsa
5. Dr. King and the Dream of Full Employment
6. Drowned Towns: Is This Black History White Conservatives Are Trying to Hide?
7. Minimizing Development-Induced Displacement
8. Development-induced displacement

For people who love the Lord, our most sacred text is the Bible. Recently, Dr. Venus stumbled upon a Bible rooted in the doctrine of the Confederacy, the King James Version of The Spirit of Liberty Holy Bible. This version has been used since to rewrite history, as well as textbooks, to educate and indoctrinate generations of children about their God-given superiority.

It positions our Presidents as Godly and continues that narrative that Black people are less than and have no authority. This week, Dr. Venus walks this very important and deep teaching real slow, so we can uncover a mind-blowing truth: the indoctrination process of positioning presidents (from Washington to Ford) as God's instruments in the TEACHING of the Bible to the descendants of the forefathers has been GENERATIONS in the making. Let's talk.

Key Takeaways:

[5:18] Dr. Venus was just minding her business, talking to her 76-year-old mom, when the topic of the Confederate Bible came up. She discusses the physical beauty of the King James version of the Bible, and how they added stuff to it instead of deleting what we already know. By them writing "a past to remember, a future to mold" on it, this clearly shows it was created to mold the future generations and shape history a certain way.

[7:40] Dr. Venus opens the Bible and begins to read some text. The Confederate perspective of the Civil War is that it was about states' rights, not slavery. President Abraham Lincoln was trying to unify colonies and in order to do that, they needed a certain representation in Congress. They came up with the ⅗ law, where every 3 of 5 Black Men could be counted as one vote. They positioned us being "less than" a full person as something political, something that White Supremacy still very much believes today.

[11:24] The Confederate Bible took every President from George Washington to Lyndon Johnson, and used colored photos to position them as righteous men that are God's messengers. The irony that while America was founded on the principles of freedom, White ideals don't apply that to slavery.

[15:07] Dr. Venus discusses the Daughters of the Confederacy, women who were mostly teachers dedicated to preserving the legacy of their Confederate War Soldier husbands. They campaigned, developed scholarships, and raised money to have monuments in places like churches and schools that showed these men as Godly humans, patriots and noble citizens. Since every place that a statue erected had civil accountability, these men became infamous and ingrained in the subconscious of future generations.

[18:21] Here is the rub. There are many White people still to this day that believe it wasn't slavery that was the cause of all the trouble, it was the anti-slavery movment and the abolishing of slavery. In their world, they have many different ways to articulate either that slavery never happened, that we liked it, or that we were sitting around happy eating watermelon and fried chicken.

[22:55] When the Daughters of Confederacy wrote the textbooks about slavery, they framed it as a gentle and benign relationship, almost in a parent/child sort of dynamic. This trained everybody to write about it that way after, from movies to the news.

[25:48] We have to remember that they aren't talking to us. They talk to poor White people and lower middle class White people to keep the system running. We spend our focus and energy looking for equality and justice, but that's not how Americais built. It is built to justify and protect Whiteness, rendering Black voices invisible; with no authority.

[26:17] Dr. Venus understands that there are many White people out there doing the work, and she appreciates it. For the extreme White Supremacists, their religious fervor keeps them believing that White is good, and Black is bad.

[28:02] America is founded on puritanism and morality, so when we hear White people focus on the argument that George Floyd deserved to die because he was a bad person, that is indoctrination at its finest.

[31:41] Don't spend your energy trying to argue and get ahead with a group that has no genuine interest in helping you get free. You can speak up without talking down, and there is a high probability that they aren't going to meet you with the logic you are looking for.

[36:00] We have been living under the effect of the indoctrination of White education to keep relating to themselves as better than Black people. Unless we wake up and start to see this, we will continue to be controlled.

[36:51] When the Confederate Bible positions a photo of a former President next to a picture of Jesus, it trains people to see them as Godly and a "good" man.

[38:18] While in the past they have tried to silence every Black Man or Woman who has tried to move the race forward, technology gives a way to reach the world and create a safe space for real conversation. The more we put attention on creating a new infrastructure, the more we can gain tools to help us really win at their own game, capitalism.

[43:43] It may seem far away, but we are close and the times are changing. Generational wealth is very close, and soon teachings like those from the Daughters of the Confederacy will be a little less indoctrinated in future generations.

Quotes:

• "The only passion I have is for Black people to be free, have our own money, and take care of our families."
• "Speaking about history doesn't make one a victim, it makes one aware."
• "We are close and the times are changing."

Mentioned:

Dr. Venus Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Amazon Pilot

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Complete Series

(https://www.youtube.com/c/DrVenusOpalReese)

Join the conversation! Hot Mess Millionaire Facebook Group

Free Gift When You Join The Truth Tribe

The Black Woman Millionaire Hot Mess Edition

ATTENTION BLACK WOMEN:

If you want to be THE FIRST to know about ALL things Dr. Venus' tech start-up, fill out the form below so you get access FIRST to updates, launches, and the behind the scene scoop!

http://bit.ly/DrVenusAppInfo

RESOURCES

1. The Confederate Bible
2. Catechism on the History of the Confederate States of America, 1861–1865 (Religious Exposition)
3. United Daughters Of The Confederacy
4. Slave Bible From The 1800s Omitted Key Passages That Could Incite Rebellion
5. The Slave Bible

The Judge has spoken. A 22 and ½ year sentence. Parole eligibility in ⅔ of the sentence. Was justice for George Floyd served? Was this really a fair outcome for a helpless and restrained Black Man being murdered by the Police, as America watched and the world cried for justice? As Derek Chauvin stood with his hands in his pockets, defiantly and brazenly glaring directly into the camera, deaf to all the bystanders screaming for him to stop?

For Dr. Venus, the answer is no, justice wasn't served. However, it's not because of the sentence. It's about the fact that until we hold police truly accountable and see reform, it's truly an empty gesture. However, to understand this and see how real change can come about, we must understand how Whiteness protects itself and how systemic racism is very much here and alive today. Let's talk about it.

Key Takeaways:

[3:49] Dr. Venus discusses how the public murder of George Floyd broke her brain and changed her forever. Not because she didn't know history or cultural trauma, she is educated and deeply rooted in an understanding of it. But, because of how confident and brazenly Derek Chauvin was in taking a Black life, with spectators, in the middle of the day.

[6:22] Seeing this changed Dr. Venus in a way that couldn't and wouldn't let her go back to business as usual. How could a police officer, who is supposed to serve and protect his citizens, put his knee on the neck of a man for over 9 minutes with such cavalierness, looking into the camera as people screamed for him to stop?

[8:50] The world marched in protest, from Antarctica to Iceland. Dr. Venus felt as though real change had been made when she saw White women putting their bodies in front of Black Men and Women to protect them. Then, the election happened and she found out 56% of White women voted for Trump. Her feeling of defeat came less from it being about Trump and more from realizing that things hadn't changed as much as she expected and that to win at all, we needed to create our own structures and make our money in the game of capitalism.

[9:04] After George Floyd, Dr. Venus shifted her content away from marketing and more towards police reform and social change. She also took her focus away from the impact of White Supremacy on Black Men and Women, and the effect it had on society and started looking at it from their point of view. Finally, it made sense why Derek Chauvin could be so brazen. He has had law and privilege on his side and has had 19 prior examples that the law would back him up. It was just another example of systemic racism protecting its own.

[15:06] Dr. Venus discusses the effect of slavery throughout her bloodline. She has been the first one to go to high school, let alone college. The murder of George Floyd clearly showed us that the impact and institutions of White Supremacy, an ideology rooted in positioning yourself as superior, is still very much clearly at play.

[17:57] Dr. Venus talks about the Confederate Bible, where it was set up to create a level of belief and passion behind a group of people relating to themselves as God. They even accounted for history in a way that said slavery was a good thing for Black Men and Women, and remember history in a way that serves their narrative. It's important to read this and learn about it because you can't win unless you know what your opponent believes.

[23:03] Dr. Venus doesn't think justice was served for George Floyd. Not because of the sentence, but because we haven't dealt with how we are going to turn it around and create our own system. She is a patriot and loves America, and has even served in the military, and will join you in the marches, but Dr. Venus knows that we need to play at their level or higher in their own game — capitalism.

[25:02] This is why Dr. Venus is building her own digital platform, so we have our own outlets to have conversations rooted in honesty and truth without getting barred or trolled. As Black Women have a buying power of $3.8 trillion, we don't need White money and until we know that and create our own, we will always be enslaved.

[28:58] When we take our buying power and use it in a way that is for us and buy us, they lose money. They depend on us to buy from them and don't take us seriously so that we can really change things.

[30:11] We are awake and aware now, or at least Dr. Venus is. It's not about needing and hoping for favoritism or a break, it's about learning to fund a system ourselves that can have a lasting change for generations to come. Let's capitalize on capitalism and systemically make our own money.

[33:52] For Dr. Venus, it's about putting culture in the cloud and making money from what you know rather than what you do. For you, it can be real estate, business, or anything else.

[33:52] We need to stand up and deal with their ugly, and know that our brightness is beyond their ugly.

Quotes:

• "I cried when White women put their bodies on the line for Black bodies."
• "Their ugly is not a match for your bigness."
• "I'm committed to creating a safe space for Black Women to tell the truth."
• "Change is here and we are the change we want to see in the world."

Mentioned:

Dr. Venus Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Amazon Pilot

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Complete Series

(https://www.youtube.com/c/DrVenusOpalReese)

Join the conversation! Hot Mess Millionaire Facebook Group

Free Gift When You Join The Truth Tribe

The Black Woman Millionaire Hot Mess Edition

ATTENTION BLACK WOMEN:

If you want to be THE FIRST to know about ALL things Dr. Venus' tech start-up, fill out the form below so you get access FIRST to updates, launches, and the behind the scene scoop!

http://bit.ly/DrVenusAppInfo

RESOURCES

1. Why Derek Chauvin's sentencing for murdering George Floyd is a rarity
2. Black men sentenced to more time for committing the exact same crime as a white person, study finds
3. The Confederate Bible
4. How Southern socialites rewrote Civil War history
5. White Privilege Shapes the United States
6. Anointed for the Altercation — Bishop T.D. Jakes

While Dr. Venus is very clear that the federal holiday of Juneteenth is a symbolic victory, she feels it has no direct impact on the quality of life of Black people. Knowing that, why are Black People, but specifically Black Women, SO ok with accepting so very very little? Why are we so okay with accepting scraps that we are thankful that White people or the government or Senate would give us a holiday to BBQ, but not pass the laws that would stop the police from killing us?

Dr. Venus has MANY followers who are thankful for Juneteenth becoming a Federal Holiday, and has received numerous comments on her platforms chiding her for not being grateful for this step in the "right direction." In this episode, she passionately explains the historical wound behind why we want approval, and why she isn't celebrating just yet.

Warning: This is a rant. Dr. Venus goes ALL THE WAY in on this one. It's real, raw, and unapologetic. If you are easily offended, you are advised to NOT watch this video. You have been warned.

Key Takeaways:

[2:30] Dr. Venus makes it clear that she is proud of us for Juneteenth and this is NOT a slam. She is thankful for recognition but dissatisfied with the lack of true change. While it may be a step in the right direction, we have been stepping for 400 years.

[3:44] We may feel that White validation equals something, but in fact, it has given us nothing. They make money off our pain, and Juneteenth will be no different. They will capitalize on it and monetize it, all the while trying to pass it off as a holiday. But we can't talk about the Tulsa Race Riots or Critical Race Theory in schools, and many of the people celebrating Juneteenth don't even know what or why they are celebrating.

[6:40] You need to be aware when they are pulling your strings. If we are so excited about a day off and symbolic gestures, then they can say "we gave you Juneteenth, what more do you want?" What Dr. Venus wants is real change, including police reform as one example. Dr. Venus isn't even mad at White people doing what is in their self-interest anymore. She thinks of it as an occupational hazard. What we aren't going to do is pretend it's a good thing when it didn't do anything we currently requested.

[9:33] Our acceptance and gratitude are signals and signs to them that we are not to be taken seriously when they can buy us off with a BBQ or a parade. They will commercialize and monetize our pain, and our ancestors worked too hard and sacrificed too much to let that happen.

[12:54] You are powerful and when you settle for crumbs you literally are not standing for your power.

[13:24] Dr. Venus feels livid because if we can't talk about oppression, slavery, and Critical Race Theory in public schools — why are we celebrating? Black people have been so indoctrinated that White is right that our validation comes from thinking their approval and inclusion actually means something.

[15:37] Until you get that fire in your belly, you will be used. Your voice matters, your vote matters, and that is the truth.

[20:01] More Black Men can see that it's about business. Black Men, say it in love to your sisters and don't hurt their feelings and pride. Until we build our own infrastructure, we will continue looking for approval and trading our hours for dollars for what we do rather than what we know. That is one of the changes Dr. Venus will be creating with her tech startup.

Quotes:

• "We are worth more. It may feel like a victory, but it's false."
• "When you settle for crumbs, you literally are not standing for your power."
• "It is a signal and sign to them that we are not to be taken seriously when they can buy us off with a BBQ or a parade."
• "Until you get to that fire in your belly that you are not going to be used, taken advantage of, you will be used."
• "Until you stand up, you will fall for anything."
• "Show me the money, don't talk to me about a cookout."

Mentioned:

Dr. Venus Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Amazon Pilot

"Hot Mess Millionaire" Complete Series

(https://www.youtube.com/c/DrVenusOpalReese)

Join the conversation! Hot Mess Millionaire Facebook Group

Free Gift When You Join The Truth Tribe

The Black Woman Millionaire Hot Mess Edition

ATTENTION BLACK WOMEN:

If you want to be THE FIRST to know about ALL things Dr. Venus' tech start-up, fill out the form below so you get access FIRST to updates, launches, and the behind the scene scoop!

http://bit.ly/DrVenusAppInfo

RESOURCES

1. Congress Made Juneteenth A Holiday In Just 3 Days. Why is Reparations Taking Over 30 Years?
2. Juneteenth Is a National Holiday Now. Can It Still Be Black
3. What could Congress actually accomplish on police reform?
4. Critical race theory in the classroom: Understanding the debate
5. Biden signs anti-Asian hate crime bill marking 'significant break' in partisanship
6. Pass the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act