Stephen A. Smith Wasn’t Wrong — He Was Asking the Right Questions

When Accountability Feels Like Betrayal

Stephen A. Smith sparked another online firestorm — this time by calling out Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett for what he viewed as constant, unproductive attacks on Donald Trump. He didn’t insult her. He didn’t silence her. He asked a simple but powerful question:

“Is this helping your constituents in Dallas? What policies are you pushing to move your district forward?”

And for that — he got dragged.

DL Hughley, Plies, and others accused him of targeting a Black woman instead of calling out white figures who do the same thing. Some even called for him to be canceled.

But before we jump on the outrage train, let’s pause for a second: is he wrong?

Does Name-Calling Move the Needle?

We’ve spent the last 10 years calling Trump every name in the book — racist, criminal, unfit, fascist, dictator — yet here we are. He’s still dominating headlines, still influencing policy, still running strong.

So what’s the strategy here? Is calling him names helping the people you represent? Is it building legislation? Is it improving your community? Or is it just a way to go viral and get applause on social media?

Politics isn’t about personality wars; it’s about progress. And progress doesn’t come from insults — it comes from ideas.

The Groupthink Trap

Here’s what really bothers me: if you’re Black and don’t align with the mainstream Democratic script, you instantly become “the enemy.” You’re a coon. You’re “not really Black.” You’re “shucking and jiving for massa.”

But when did independent thought become betrayal?

We’ve built a culture where thinking for yourself means being attacked by your own people. Meanwhile, the same folks preaching “open-mindedness” are quick to silence anyone who challenges their narrative. That’s not liberation — that’s control.

If you disagree with the herd, the fallback argument is always, “Well, what about them? They do it too!”
But that’s not leadership — that’s lazy logic. True progress means addressing the problem, not deflecting it.

It’s Time to Build, Not Bark

At this point, we’ve made it clear: we don’t like Trump. We get it. But now what? What’s the next step?

Who’s being trained and prepared to take on JD Vance or whoever represents the next wave of right-wing populism? Who’s shaping policies that actually empower the communities Democrats say they represent?

We can’t stay in permanent outrage mode. Anger without action is just noise.

A Message to the Culture

Stephen A. Smith didn’t “attack” Jasmine Crockett — he challenged her to lead. And honestly, that’s what we need more of: accountability without ego. Debate without division. Leadership without labels.

Trump isn’t the final boss in this game — he’s just a level. There’s more to come, and if we’re too busy yelling, tweeting, and canceling each other, we’ll miss the opportunity to actually shape the future.

So in the words of Luther from Set It Off:

“Shut the f* up and get back to work.”

Let’s stop chasing clout and start chasing progress.

Final Thought

Stephen A. wasn’t wrong — he was necessary. Because real leadership requires the courage to question your own side just as much as the opposition.

And that’s the kind of mindset The Resilient Mind is built on.

Empowering Minds, Building Resilience