When Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh recently stated that “India needs a strong military, weak defence can leave nations vulnerable to subjugation,” his words carried profound implications far beyond South Asia’s geopolitical landscape. For African Americans, a community with centuries of experience fighting for autonomy and self-determination, this warning resonates deeply with historical lessons about the relationship between strength, vulnerability, and freedom. From the systematic disarmament during slavery to the destruction of prosperous Black communities like Tulsa’s Greenwood District, history has repeatedly demonstrated that economic, political, educational, and physical weakness invites exploitation and subjugation. The challenge for Black America today is building comprehensive strength across all these dimensions—not through separatism or aggression, but through strategic empowerment that ensures communities negotiate from positions of strength rather than dependency. As both history and the IAF chief remind us, the price of inadequate defense is measured in freedom lost. Continue reading →