08/16/2026
THE PEOPLE ARE THE FOUNDATION. THE POWER IS OURS.
GREAT DAY, PRAIRIE VIEW.
Bob Marley gave the world a challenge that still reaches across generations: “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.”
Those words reach beyond music and beyond politics. Before people can exercise power, they first have to understand that they have it.
Government does not grant citizens their voice. Government exists because citizens have a voice. That is the message behind this image.
Look closely at the symbolism. The people stand above City Hall—not because citizens are above the law and not because government is the enemy, but because in representative government, THE PEOPLE ARE THE FOUNDATION.
Beneath City Hall stands leadership, carrying the weight of public trust. That weight includes infrastructure, taxpayer dollars, transparency, neighborhoods, businesses, our children, our seniors and the future we leave behind.
PUBLIC OFFICE IS NOT A TROPHY. PUBLIC OFFICE IS A RESPONSIBILITY.
If you accept the office, you accept the weight.
Minister Louis Farrakhan has long emphasized themes of self-determination, discipline, responsibility and communities recognizing their collective strength. Whatever differences people may have with any public figure, there is a principle worth considering: a community that does not understand its own power risks allowing others to define that power for it.
Scripture gives us an even deeper standard:
“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” — Luke 12:48
That applies to all of us, but it carries special meaning for those entrusted with public authority. If the people give you their vote, much is required. If taxpayers entrust government with their money, much is required. If citizens place part of their community’s future into the hands of elected officials, MUCH IS REQUIRED.
Accountability is how citizens examine whether that responsibility is being honored. Ask questions. Read the records. Study the budgets. Attend the meetings. Demand transparency.
A strong citizen does not have to hate government to question government, and a strong government should not fear an informed citizen.
THE TWO SHOULD MAKE EACH OTHER BETTER.
That brings me to something I believe:
“Leadership carries the weight, but the people determine whether that weight is being carried in the right direction.” — Alfred Johnson
That is what the AL character represents in this image. Not a king. Not someone ruling over Prairie View. He represents a citizen willing to help carry the community while still demanding that public leadership carry the responsibility it accepted.
And above everything stands THE PEOPLE’S PIECE.
We introduced that piece for a reason. On the political chessboard, elected officials make moves. Administrations change. Personalities come and go. But one piece must never forget its strength:
THE PEOPLE.
The people ask the questions. The people demand accountability. The people shape the future. THE PEOPLE HOLD THE POWER.
That doesn’t mean every citizen will agree—and we shouldn’t expect to. Democracy isn’t supposed to produce unanimous thinking. It is supposed to protect our ability to participate, question, debate and hold public institutions accountable.
So disagree. Debate. Challenge leadership. Give leadership credit when credit is earned. Offer criticism when criticism is warranted.
And challenge me when necessary.
Because I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:
THE OBJECTIVE ISN’T FOR ALFRED JOHNSON TO BE RIGHT. THE OBJECTIVE IS FOR PRAIRIE VIEW TO GET IT RIGHT.
That distinction matters.
This cannot become about personalities. It cannot become about who likes whom, who supports whom or which side somebody believes they’re supposed to be on.
IT HAS TO REMAIN ABOUT PRAIRIE VIEW.
City Hall does not rule the people.
CITY HALL ANSWERS TO THE PEOPLE.
And accountability does not have to mean hostility. Citizens and responsible public leadership can challenge one another, work with one another and still recognize that ultimately we share the same city.
That is how we move from simply demanding better to actually building better.
TOGETHER, WE BUILD A BETTER PRAIRIE VIEW.
The people are the foundation. Leadership carries the weight. The people deserve the results.
And the People’s Piece must never forget:
THE POWER IS OURS.
KNOW THE TRUTH. UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS. DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY. BUILD OUR FUTURE.
FROM THE HILL TO HOUSTON AND BEYOND.
— Alfred Johnson
Presented by PV POWER Promotions
In collaboration with PV Civic Watch
Political Commentary & Editorial Opinion
