Reclaim Your Roots Series

4th of YOU-Lie: Freedom From The Mental Plantation

Why Real Freedom Depends On Embracing OUR Story, NOT HIS Story

In Conversation

July 4th isn’t our Independence Day. We weren’t “free” when they claim the country was!

FREE ONLINE EVENT: Friday, July 4, 2025 @ 1pm EST

Dr. John Henrik Clarke said, we need to understand how this situation came to be. So let’s back up and take a look at what Africa and the Americas looked like prior to colonization and where we go from here!

Spend so-called “Independence Day” with US and let’s look at our past, our greatness, and explore what our real freedom looks like.

Discover how reconnecting with your roots can empower you, inspire your journey, change everything you thought you knew about Black history and your responsibilities to future generations.

You can’t celebrate freedom when your people were not free.

Every July 4th, America lights up the sky with fireworks, barbecues, and bold claims of “independence.” But in 1776, when this nation declared its freedom, our ancestors were still in chains. So what exactly are we celebrating?

At Urban Intellectuals, we’re flipping the script.

We’re calling out the lie — the YOU-Lie — behind the red, white, and blue story we’ve been told.

This isn’t about flag-waving. It’s about mental liberation, historical truth, and cultural pride

A Bold Conversation About Freedom — On Our Terms

Join us on Friday, July 4th from 1–3PM EST for a live online event that goes deeper than fireworks and freedom myths.

In 4th of YOU-Lie: Freedom From the Mental Plantation, Freddie Taylor will host a truth-telling, mind-freeing conversation on what real liberation looks like for Black people today.

What You Can Expect:

✅ Mental Emancipation:
Break free from the lies of mainstream history and explore how the truth about our past can unlock a stronger, more purposeful future — starting with what and who we were before 1776.

✅ Cultural Identity & Self-Worth:
With powerful insight from Gwen, you’ll explore how embracing your African roots, traditions, and ancestral pride can heal generational wounds and redefine what freedom really means.

✅ Black Economics & Real-World Power:
Mr. Damon will show you how African-centered economic strategies can shift your mindset from survival to sovereignty. Learn how to build wealth that’s rooted in your values — not theirs.

✅ Community & Conversation:
This isn’t a lecture — it’s a family gathering. Come vibe with like-minded folks, ask questions, speak your truth, and connect with a community that’s here to grow together.

✅ Truth, Clarity, and Motivation:
We’ll leave no stone unturned as we examine the myths of Independence Day and why the “YOU-Lie” still affects us today. Get fired up with clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Event Details:

Name: 4th of YOU-Lie: Freedom from the Mental Plantation (Virtual)
Date & Time: Friday, July 4, 1 PM – 3 PM EST
Duration: 2 Hours of Programming
Where: Livesteamed on our YouTube Channel.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this event is to provide an engaging and insightful exploration of Black history, with a focus on the African diaspora, reconnection, and what this understanding does for you as a person and conduit to our future.

We aim to uncover gaps in your understanding of Black history and showcase the richness of our global contributions to humanity. A key goal is to introduce you to the power of Black history, your place in it, and your obligations for our collective future. We will fill in the gaps of historical understanding, challenge some narratives that aren’t serving you, and provide practical solutions to help you move forward.

The Experts

Featured Speakers

Damon Tyler, Educator and Counselor

Damon is a veteran Educator, Founder, and Life coach with 18 years of teaching experience within the Dallas Independent School District. Teaching in schools that serve students from impoverished urban neighborhoods has given him a unique set of understandings, skills, and qualifications as it relates to facilitating and supporting those struggling students as they attempt to circumvent all of the pitfalls of learning when growing up in poverty.

He has a professional background in Education Administration, Counseling, and African-American Psychology. He firmly holds the belief that most children need coaching on how to build and maintain healthy relationships, resolve conflicts, accept personal responsibility, and process emotions in a healthy manner. Fittingly, his teaching philosophy is trauma-informed, culturally competent, and student-centered.

Gwen Ebron, Historian and Counselor

Gwendolyn W. Ebron, M.Ed., is the President and CEO of G. S. E. Enterprise, Inc., and has been a counselor for over 38 years.

She developed the African and African American History Studies curriculum for the former Wakisha Charter School and has presented workshops and interactive experiences on African history for various institutions. Gwen will discuss the integration of African history into education and counseling to improve behavioral outcomes in students.

Your Host: Freddie Taylor, CEO of Urban Intellectuals

Freddie Taylor will kick off the summit with opening remarks on the significance of Juneteenth and the importance of understanding Black history. And they close it out with a very special presentation called “The Case for Black History: Reconnecting to our history is the missing link”

Why You Need to Register

This Ain’t for the Spectators — It’s for the Seekers of Truth

Registration is free, but required.
Once you register, you’ll unlock:

✅ Access to the private Zoom link

✅ Calendar links to add the event to your schedule

✅ A seat at a powerful conversation that challenges the status quo and speaks directly to YOU

We’ve saved your seat.

It’s time to gather around the (virtual) table and talk about how we free ourselves — mentally, culturally, economically.