Op-Ed: They Not Like Us Revolution Michelle Chambers

By Michelle Chambers
Where Are You in the Revolution?

As I sat watching the Super Bowl with my family, three generations to be exact—I couldn’t shake the overwhelming sense that we were witnessing something far more significant than a football game. There, in the middle of America’s grandest stage, Kendrick Lamar delivered a halftime show that was more than entertainment—it was a cultural earthquake. The symbolism, the energy, the unapologetic Blackness of it all felt like a revolutionary act. And as I watched my great-niece and nephew dance alongside my niece, their tiny feet moving instinctively to the rhythm of a movement much larger than them, I wondered: *How will this revolution shape their future?

The revolution is here. It is happening in real-time. And despite what some may want us to believe, it “is” being televised. The only question that remains is: Where do you stand in this moment?

The Illusion of Progress: Who Really Benefits from DEI?

For years, America has been sold a dream wrapped in three letters: DEI—Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We were told these initiatives would bring forth a more just and representative society. Yet, the data tells a different story. Reports indicate that the primary beneficiaries of DEI policies have not been Black Americans, Latinos, or other historically marginalized communities. Instead, white women have gained the most from these efforts.

This isn’t just an opinion, it’s a fact. And it serves as a stark reminder that in America, even the well-intentioned can become tools of systemic advantage. If DEI was truly meant to correct centuries of racial injustice, why are the communities most affected by that injustice still waiting for meaningful change? The revolution is here, but not everyone is fighting the same battle.

Executive Orders and Mass Layoffs: The Backlash Is Real

If we needed more proof that the revolution is actively being suppressed, we need only look at the current administration’s executive orders. In just a short time, the rollback of progressive policies has sent a clear message: The protections, opportunities, and small victories of the past decade are under attack. Corporate layoffs are surging, disproportionately affecting industries where diversity efforts had finally begun to make a dent. Those who worked tirelessly to make America more inclusive are now being pushed out under the guise of "economic restructuring."

We’ve seen this before. Progress has always been met with backlash. Reconstruction led to Jim Crow. The Civil Rights Movement led to mass incarceration. And now, after a period where racial and social justice seemed to gain traction, we find ourselves in yet another moment of resistance from those who have never truly been invested in an equitable society.

Kendrick, Gil Scott-Heron, and the Soundtrack of Revolution

Fifty years ago, Gil Scott-Heron told us "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." His words were a warning that true change would not come neatly packaged on a screen but through action, through struggle, through movement in the streets. And yet, here we are in 2025, watching the revolution unfold on our TV screens in real time.

Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is more than a diss track—it’s an anthem. It embodies the defiance, the self-awareness, and the unfiltered truth of a generation that refuses to be silenced. When DL Hughley reviewed Kendrick’s Super Bowl performance, he wasn’t just talking about a rapper on stage; he was talking about a cultural reckoning. Black America has always known that “they” are not like us—not because of division we created, but because the systems in place have consistently othered us. And now, the world is being forced to watch as the revolution takes shape, whether they like it or not.

The Revolution Is Calling—Where Are You?

As I watched my family, my babies, I felt a deep urgency. We are at a turning point. The revolution is here, and it is not waiting for anyone to catch up. The question is no longer “if” change will come, but rather “who will stand on the right side of history when it does?”

We cannot afford to be passive observers. We cannot be lulled into complacency by symbolic gestures that do not translate into real policy or systemic change. The layoffs, the executive orders, the DEI deception—it’s all part of the same struggle.

So, I ask again: “Where are you in the revolution?” Because whether you recognize it or not, it is happening. And this time, it “is” being televised.