Power 101: Let’s Stop Arguing Feelings and Start Learning Facts

Not y’all out here arguing politics like it’s a group chat fight. Loud, emotional, and half-informed. Everybody’s got opinions, but don’t have the language to back them up. 

We’re seeing people shout about “the system”, “freedom”, and “rights” without knowing what half these words even mean. And it’s really no shade; it’s a reality check. When we don’t understand the basics, we lose ground in conversations that actually shape our lives.

We’ve been gaslit, misinformed, and straight-up distracted for generations. So, while the country is on fire, folks are still arguing feelings instead of facts. This post is about changing that. We’re breaking down the words that get thrown around - the isms, the politics, the social labels. All of it. So the next time somebody tries to play in your face with big talk and small understanding, you’ll have the knowledge to shut that down intelligently. Because being informed is a form of resistance. And ignorance? That’s how they keep winning.

The Political Spectrum ( AKA Where People Stand on Power)

Conservative

Tradition first. Conservatives usually want less government control over business, but more control over things like gender, race, and morality. 

Liberal

Change first. Liberals push for social reform, equality, and government programs that help level the playing field.

Progressive

The cousin to liberalism, but louder. Progressives push for deeper change, not just fixing the system, but transforming it.

Moderate 

Somewhere in the middle. They like balance and compromise. Usually preferring “safe” or middle-ground solutions.

Authoritarian 

When power’s locked in at the top. One person (or crew) calls all the shots, and everybody else just follows. No debate, no freedom, just control.

Democracy

Citizens vote and leaders are supposed to represent the majority’s will. Keyword: supposed.

Republic

A democracy where we elect representatives to speak for us. Whether they actually do that is another story.

Money, Systems, and Control

Capitalism

The hustle system we live under. You own your own stuff, you make your own money, and the market decides your value. It creates freedom for some and struggle for most.

Socialism

Community-based economics. Everyone contributes, everyone gets access to basic needs like healthcare and education.

Communism

A classless society where everything’s shared equally. Sounds peaceful in theory, but usually leads to heavy government control.

Fascism 

One leader, one voice, one nation, and no room for disapproval. 

Power & People

Racism

Not just hate, it’s an entire system built on race-based power. It shapes who gets believed, protected, employed, and paid.

Bigotry

A fancy word for deep intolerance towards difference; whether it’s race, religion, gender, or class.

Misogyny

Hatred or bias toward women, especially those who refuse to “stay in their place.”

Xenophobia

Fear or hatred of people from other countries.

Classism

Discrimination based on income or social standing. 

Homophobia/Transphobia

Hostility toward LGBTQ+ folks. Shows up in laws, schools, and policies.

Terms You’ll See in the Media

White Supremacy 

The belief that white people should dominate society and the systems that quietly keep that power in place.

Populism

When leaders ride “the people’s” anger to gain power. Sometimes it’s real, sometimes it’s manipulation dressed like solidarity.

Woke

Used to mean “socially aware”. Now used as an insult by people uncomfortable with accountability.

Cancel Culture

Public pushback when someone crosses a line.

Identity Check: Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality, What’s the Difference?

Let’s clear this up once and for all, because these words get mixed up a lot, even by the media.

Race

Race is about how the world sees you. 

It’s based on physical traits; skin color, hair texture, facial features - that society turned into categories like Black, White, or Asian.

Ethnicity 

Ethnicity is about culture and roots.

It includes language, ancestry, and shared history.

Two people can be the same race but different ethnicities. Like a Ghanaian and an African American are both Black, but culturally distinct.

Nationality

Nationality is about legal belonging. 

It’s what country you’re a citizen of; what your passport says. 

You can be Afro-Latina with Dominican nationality, or a Black person with Nigerian nationality. Race and nationality don’t always match.

Why It Gets Messy

Because politics blurs these lines on purpose. 

When they say “immigrant”, they often mean Latino.

When they say “urban”, they mean Black.

When they say “American”, they often mean White.

Understanding the difference helps us tell our own stories clearly and keeps us from letting others define them for us.

Why It Matters

The truth is, politics already affects every part of our lives, whether you care or not. From rent, rights, healthcare, food, freedom - it’s all policy. And when you don’t know how the system works, the system works you.

They bank on us being too tired, too distracted, or too divided to pay attention. But knowledge kills manipulation. The more we learn, the more dangerous we become to the people who depend on us staying confused.

And they WANT us confused. Let’s be clear. Because once we understand the terms, we can start rewriting the system, and that’s when change really begins.