Big Mama Said “No”

By Terry Allen
Texas Metro News
https://www.texasmetronews.com

Big Mama always said, “Some­times, you’ve got to close the door to nonsense so the truth can walk in.” That’s the power of No. It was the word our people leaned on during the worst of times—Jim Crow, segregation, and the civil rights struggle. It wasn’t said in fear. It was said with clarity and conviction. No to being dehu­manized. No to second-class sta­tus. No to waiting for permission to be seen.

Today, No still holds weight— maybe even more than ever. In a world where systemic racism keeps reinventing itself, we need to bring that word back with in­tention. Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, recipi­ent of the City Men Cook “Mentor of the Year” award, challenges us not to hide behind the com­fort of being “not racist,” but to stand firm and act as antiracists. He reminds us that racism isn’t just about personal behavior— it’s about policy and power. And to disrupt that power, we must speak up, show up, and, when necessary, say No to injustice in any form.

There are examples all around us. Here in the U.S., the return of travel bans targeting Black and brown nations under the guise of “national security” is nothing new—it’s just Jim Crow in new clothes. And globally, the racial­ly motivated murder of a Tuni­sian man in France underscores how widespread and dangerous hate-fueled ideology remains.

But here’s the other side of the story: where we say Yes to change. City Men Cook has done just that. For years, it’s been the highest Nielsen-rated event on Father’s Day weekend, showcas­ing positive Black male images that counter every tired stereo­type. It reshapes the narrative by celebrating Black fatherhood, mentorship, and community. This kind of platform is powerful—it shifts the lens from deficit to dig­nity, from stereotype to strength.

So as we face today’s battles, we carry the wisdom of the past. Big Mama said No, and we should too—No to silence, No to system­ic oppression. And then we say Yes—to truth, to power, to stand­ing together. That’s how we win. Come see proof at City Men Cook.

Terry Allen is an NABJ awardwinning Journalist, DEI expert, PR professional, and
founder of the charity – Vice President at FocusPR, Founder of City Men Cook, and Dallas Chapter President of NBPRS.org