At the recent Public Policy Conference, Darrick Hamilton delivered a powerful message on power, paradigm, and political economy—themes that continuously shape our world. His talk was more than a lecture; it was a call to think deeply about who holds power, how it is used, and what it means for justice and equality in society.
Hamilton began by reflecting on the role of the free press. What was once seen as the guardian of truth, now stands at the heart of the struggle to build a society rooted in honesty and accountability. In his words, power and the economy often intertwine to serve those already at the top, while leaving the poor and marginalized behind. He also drew on the timeless wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who reminded us that freedom is not only the right to vote—it is the ability to live with dignity, free from hunger and systemic injustice. One of Hamilton’s most striking points was about race and identity. He noted that they are often used to create division and to justify poverty as a personal failure, instead of recognizing it as the outcome of unfair systems. For instance, as an international student from Africa, I have heard so many narratives of Black Americans being lazy or not valuing education. However, these claims are false and fictitious methods of weaponizing race.
Hamilton was clear that his frustration is not with the wealthy for having money, but with how their wealth shapes the political economy—turning democracy into what he called “a game of power.” His reflections made me think about Jason Hickel’s arguments in The Divide– a book I am currently reading in my Human Security 240 class– and what we have discussed in class about how the G7 powers use global systems to maintain their dominance, keeping G77 countries underdeveloped for their own benefit. It’s a cycle of inequality that reflects the very issues Hamilton described. Still, Hamilton’s message was not one of despair—it was one of hope. He called on us to build movements and organizations that unite rather than divide, and to use our voices and platforms to challenge structures of inequality. In the end, his words were a powerful reminder: power doesn’t last with the few—it lasts with the people. When we come together, when we speak truth to power, and when we refuse to be divided by race, class, or identity, we can reclaim that power in order to shape a more just and inclusive world.
-Debra Gonkpah