*We’re Still Beggars—And That’s the Problem* It’s amazing that trade tariffs are America’s weapon of choice against powerful economies like Canada, Mexico, and China—because that’s how you deal with equals in the global market. But when it comes to Africa—right now, specifically South Africa (our so-called lead economy)—the weapon of choice isn’t tariffs. It’s cutting or freezing aid. And we prove their point every time we panic about it. Let that sink in. After 30 to 70 years on the global stage, we’re still treated as dependents, not competitors. When global powers want to punish each other, they target trade. When they want to punish us, they target handouts. That’s the clearest sign that we’re still beggars in this global economy. And until we build real economic power, nothing will change. What is the point of freedom and independence if it doesn’t reflect economically—or more importantly, financially? Even a homeless person is free. But is that the kind of freedom we want for Africa? Donald Trump may not be nice to us, but he is good for us. Why? Because he is forcing us to confront a thorny issue we always brush aside—the hard truth that no nation has ever begged its way out of poverty. Yes, no country is an island. We exist within a global economy. But we should be trading, not begging. Every African (at an individual level) must contend with this mindset: the willingness to battle and suffer for true economic freedom and, more importantly, to value it. #financialindependence #economicindependence