As I walked through Pocahontas Island—the oldest free black community in the United States—on my 3,000-mile journey across America, I felt the weight of history and hope for tomorrow.
This walk, which started in New York City on September 1, 2025, has now taken me through Virginia. I have been far away from all the disagreement online, but I have seen enough to see how this division is tearing our nation apart. The reason for my walk is to call for a restoration of merit, faith, and the American Dream, and none of this disagreement moves us in that direction, a direction, a goal that I think most of us aspire to.
During this walk I received a gift that I did not expect: silence. The hours of silence along the way have allowed me to reflect, pray and listen – to God, to myself and to the people I meet along the way. The Bible tells us in James 1:19, “My dear brothers and sisters, take heed to this: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” That verse has guided me on this walk and reminded me that true understanding begins with listening.
AT LANCASTER MARKET I WITNESS AN AMERICA THAT STILL WORKS – NO POLITICS REQUIRED
In today’s world we are polarized, angry and quick to judge. Online, a single disagreement can turn into a shouting match, reducing the entirety of an individual to that one alleged political crime. But here in the real world, face to face with people from all walks of life, I see something different.
In today’s world we are polarized, angry and quick to judge. Online, a single disagreement can turn into a shouting match, reducing the entirety of an individual to that one alleged political crime. But here in the real world, face to face with people from all walks of life, I see something different.
I’ve met people I might have clashed with on social media – over politics, race or policy – but in person I’ve discovered their hearts. One farmer disagreed with my views on education reform, especially school choice, but shared how he prays for his children every night. A young mother argued with me about who was responsible for the government shutdown, but then told me about her dream of starting a business. These conversations revealed people’s souls, not just opinions.
THE FIELDS OF FREDERICKSBURG STILL SPEAK. I PRAY THAT AMERICA WILL LISTEN TO THE ECHO OF FREEDOM
This reminds me of Proverbs 18:13, which says, “To answer before you listen is foolishness and shame.” Too often we are guilty of this online. We attack without hearing the other side. We fall for clickbait headlines. But on this walk, the silence restored my patience. It has taught me how to sit next to someone, hear their story and find common ground. I may not agree with everything they say, but I see their humanity. And that is where healing begins.
Pocahontas Island was a powerful stop for me. It is the oldest free black community in America. By the early 19th century, the population included both free black residents and enslaved individuals. Those who were free could own property and live independently, a rarity in the pre-Civil War South. They faced problems bigger than ours. Their freedom was dangerous; slavery was everywhere. Yet they focused on freedom.
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We lose sight of that today. As I said before, I am running to help us restore merit, faith, and the American Dream as our guiding light. Far too many people are more interested in petty squabbles and historical revisionism. They are destroying the fabric of America with their toxic brand of identity politics and tribalism – and some are even monetizing our attention. Who loses in the end? We do.
That’s why this walk has been such a blessing for me, especially the silence and the face-to-face conversations. It has given me time to pray and hear God’s voice, as Psalm 46:10 urges, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
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We can disagree and still love each other. But we have to listen to each other. When we see the humanity in our fellow Americans, we are reminded of what unites us in this great country. That’s the way forward.
So let’s silence the hate, restore our faith, and reclaim the American Dream – together, starting today.
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