politics Archives - Sage Collective

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08.14.25 | Personal Development

Black Genius: Tre Johnson Reclaims Brilliance in the Everyday

Tre Johnson’s newly-published Black Genius: Essays on an American Legacy is a smart‑talking, deeply felt celebration of Black ingenuity that redefines genius for the Sage Collective® audience. Across 30 polished essays, Johnson dives into the daily, the personal, the unexpected—to show us a broader American excellence rooted in Black creativity, survival, resistance, and joy.

The Genius of the Everyday
Johnson opens with a central provocation: “We’re utterly amazing, yet Black folks are… left out of conversations about genius.” Rejecting the narrow focus on recognized luminaries, he instead draws attention to the brilliance embedded in everyday experiences—from his auntie’s weekend bus trips to Atlantic City to the bold designs of ’90s airbrush tees, and the razor‑sharp, profanity‑laced monologues of Dick Gregory. These essays invite readers to ask: is this not genius too?

Cultural Critique with Humor and Heart
Johnson’s writing is chatty, witty, and fiercely observant. He moves fluidly between family reminiscence, pop culture deconstructions, and historical reflection. Whether tracing his uncle’s path from Black Trenton to the University of Pennsylvania in 1977, spotlighting the Odunde festival in Philadelphia, or exploring comic‑book narratives and streetwear trends, Johnson’s voice remains grounded, urgent, and alive.

Depth and Range
What sets Black Genius apart is the thematic cohesion across distinct essays: appropriation and cultural extraction; communal structures and Black Paranoia™ (Johnson’s coined term for racialized surveillance); institutional failure versus grassroots creativity; and generational memory as inheritance and resistance. Published reviews affirm that each piece stands alone, yet the essays build a richer tapestry when read together—“astute and deeply felt,” with “thematic threads” that elevate the collection as a whole.

A Love Letter and a Call to Action
At its heart, the book serves both as a love letter to Black brilliance and a wake‑up call to readers of all backgrounds. Johnson challenges us to expand our definitions of genius beyond metrics, accolades, and dominant culture narratives. In doing so, he invites vigilance about how culture is appropriated, how language is policed, and how Black communities define their own legacies on their own terms.

About Tre Johnson
A Philadelphia native, Tre Johnson is an acclaimed essayist and cultural critic whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Vanity Fair, among others. Known for his incisive explorations of race, identity, and pop culture, Johnson rose to national prominence with his viral 2020 essay, “When Black People Are in Pain, White People Just Join Book Clubs,” published in The Washington Post. His voice is both intellectually rigorous and emotionally resonant—qualities that have earned him a devoted readership. Black Genius marks his debut as a book author, and it solidifies his place as a leading voice in the contemporary conversation around cultural justice and collective memory.

Final Take for Sage Collective® Readers
Black Genius is perfect for readers seeking thoughtful cultural criticism infused with joy, wit, and ancestral wisdom. It’s a timely riposte to exclusionary narratives—rooting genius in ordinary moments and collective memory rather than mythology. While Johnson’s perspective is steeped in Black American experience, his assertions resonate across culture, race, and academic inquiry.

Some essays close with lingering questions rather than tidy conclusions—fitting for a work that asks readers to continue the conversation rather than just receive it. For those in Sage Collective®’s audience who engage teaching, civic life, or creative work, Johnson’s reframing of intelligence and brilliance offers a powerful toolset.

In short: vibrant, thought‑provoking, and unflinchingly honest, Black Genius is exactly the kind of book you will want to discuss, reference, and carry forward.

Black Genius: Essays on an American Legacy was published by Dutton in July, 2025. You can find it in local libraries, bookstores, and online.

https://www.facebook.com/DuttonPenguin/posts/chatty-yet-profound-black-genius-by-tre-johnson-subverts-expectations-from-the-v/1138186201657053/

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09.22.22 | Community

Community Service Spotlight: Election Working

For the past few years, Americans have had to navigate a variety of hardships, affecting the everyday lives of nearly everyone. Because of this, the importance of political engagement has been expressed more than ever before. We’ve previously discussed the significance of engaging in politics and using your voice to stay engaged, but those actions wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for poll workers. Often forgotten, election workers are the soul of America’s electoral system and crucial to voters looking to exercise their rights on election day.

On election day, voting locations across the country become filled with life, but it takes more than just a morning to organize and set up the polls. For weeks before the election takes place, poll workers are trained and guided in the critical roles they take up during election days.

From the firm election rules to common – and uncommon – situations they may encounter while working, election workers become experts on how to successfully maneuver the tribulations of election day. What many don’t realize is the time and energy poll workers pour into the work. Typically all-day affairs, poll workers commit more than just a few hours at the booths.

And while the endeavor can be tiring, election working is extremely rewarding, especially for those looking to spend more time engaging with their community. Luckily the process of signing up to become a poll worker is easy! First, ensure you’re a registered voter in your state. Requirements differ in each state, so check with your local election office before signing up.

Now more than ever before polling locations across the country are looking for poll workers passionate about protecting the democratic process. So, what’re you waiting for; apply to be an election worker to help your community before the next election!

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09.28.21 | Sage Advice®

National Voter Registration Day

At Sage Collective, we believe everyone should actively participate in the privilege of engaging in politics. We’ve previously discussed the importance of older adults engaging in politics, which you can read about here. The civic duty of voting in elections at all levels throughout the year is a vital aspect of political involvement. However, before you participate, you must first be registered to vote.

Today, September 28, is National Voter Registration Day. The task, which many believe to be time-consuming and demanding, is actually very simple. Voter registration rules and regulations vary by state. In Illinois, citizens have the option of registering in person (before an election or same day), by mail or online.

We encourage you to register to vote and learn more about specific deadlines, rules and directions at vote.org or here.

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01.28.21 | Sage Advice®

The Importance of Older Adults Engaging in Politics

Democracy is at its most powerful when we all participate. These past four years have demonstrated the vital importance of using our voices and staying civically engaged. Now and always, older adults have played an essential role in our political process and climate. Older adults involving themselves in and engaging in politics is endlessly important — and here’s why.

A Sage Quality

First and foremost, our name (and the word) sage applies here. Older adults are the keepers of history; the storytellers; the parents, grandparents and neighbors that have gathered life experiences and now share their sagacity and wisdom with others. Older adults have seen politics unfold across numerous crises and elections and, imbued with experience, approach engaging in politics with a thoughtfulness those without the same wealth of knowledge simply can’t.

Electoral Influence

Your voice is powerful, too — it is perhaps because of this aforementioned sagacity that older adults are the group most likely to vote. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the 2016 election saw 71% voter turnout overall from the population of Americans 65+ years of age, compared to 46% voter turnout overall in Americans 18-29. And despite record youth voter turnout in 2020 (up from 46% to now 52-55%), older adults’ standout voter turnout numbers made up a whopping 25% of all total votes cast in the 2020 presidential election.

All this goes to show that people over 65 continue to show up at the polls far more than any other age group. Not only that, but the number of people that fall into the “older adult” age group continues to rise each year. Older adults — and your willingness to show up — has the power to sway elections and make change.

Civic Engagement Beyond Voting

Civic engagement goes beyond voting to cover a broad swath of behaviors, including being involved in political campaigns, participating in paid and unpaid community work, staying up to date on news and public affairs and even helping one’s neighbor.

Oftentimes, volunteerism is the most emphasized of these participation methods. However, not all older adults are retired. Many continue to work to make a living wage, have become full-time caregivers of their loved ones, stepped in to take care of grandchildren or have otherwise hefty responsibilities and time commitments.

Nevertheless, older adults are invaluable community members who command respect and have much to share and teach others. Whether it’s doing a favor for a neighbor, having conversations with family members or joining a local grassroots organization in a capacity that best suits your abilities, older adults’ engagement in politics is important, powerful and part of vibrant living.

A cardboard sign at a protest reads Fight today for a better tomorrow

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Tag: politics

Sage Advice^®

Black Genius: Tre Johnson Reclaims Brilliance in the Everyday

Sage Advice^®

Community Service Spotlight: Election Working

Sage Advice^®

National Voter Registration Day

Sage Advice^®

The Importance of Older Adults Engaging in Politics

A Sage Quality

Electoral Influence

Civic Engagement Beyond Voting

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