Paradoxical ebullience is the unfounded belief in Black progress in the face of socioeconomic counterevidence. The gap between Black relative socioeconomic position and their racial attitudes. The thesis of paradoxical ebullience argues that Blacks’ understanding of Black group interests, including their worsening socioeconomic position, has shifted those interests from the collective to the individual, and the method to achieve those interests has shifted from protest politics to electoral politics. Additionally, paradoxical ebullience supposes that these trends have political ramifications for Blacks that lead to negative economic consequences. In short, attitudes that are incongruent with Blacks’ reality limit their collective political will to address their worsening economic position and jeopardize policies that provide economic benefits for Blacks.
BIPOC who are excessively optimistic about the future in the face of racial and other forms of oppression suffer from paradoxical ebullience.
Pronounced Hyoo-moo-nee-zhuh - A fusion of human, unity, and sophrosyne (an ancient Greek concept of balance and transcendence), Humunisia represents a community that embraces the fullness of humanity. It signifies an inclusive space where differences dissolve in shared belonging, and the collective spirit transcends barriers to welcome all. Community should and can be comprised of the totality of humanity. The intersection at which an inclusive transcendence happens where community opens to welcome humanity to belong.
In the spirit of Humunisia, we strive to build a world where every individual, regardless of background, is not only included but truly belongs.
Ghost Hustling-the act of working hard on something no one else notices, leading to little or no recognition. Ghost hustling is also the unseen labor of people still pushing for visibility and truth in environments where their language—and by extension, their work is being strategically erased.
Policy & Bureaucratic Silencing
The current climate has banned specific terms in documents and communications. This can be viewed as ghost hustling language—words are removed behind the scenes, often without public acknowledgment. Affected researchers, agencies, advocates continue their work with limited recognition or visibility. The reported banning of diversity, equity, and inclusion can be framed as ghost hustling: these concepts still exist and are being discussed, but in a way that lacks institutional support or visibility.
Cultural & Political Reframing
Subtle language shifts in public discourse—replacing words like refugee with illegal migrant, or gender equality with family values—is ghost hustling. Advocates & policymakers continue work but the terminology they use to gain legitimacy or funding is erased or altered.
Media & Public Perception
Not officially banning words but making their use politically risky (categorizing terms as "woke" or "unpatriotic"), ghost hustles language out of public discourse. The act shifts censorship to individuals and organizations in ways that aren’t explicitly mandated but are quite impactful.
Ex. I've been ghost hustling at this job for months.
Ex. Ghost hustling never gets you the credit you deserve.
Ex. Policy Silencing
Climate scientists are ghost hustling in this new political climate, still conducting vital research even as terms like ‘climate change’ quietly disappear from official reports.
Cultural and Political Reframing
By replacing ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ with terms like ‘merit-based hiring,’ policymakers are ghost hustling an entire movement out of the public conversation.
Media and Public Perception
Journalists covering issues of systemic racism are ghost hustling their narratives into mainstream media, skillfully avoiding banned buzzwords to keep their work from being dismissed as ‘too political.’
Ghost Hustling is the act of working hard on something no one else notices, often leading to little or no recognition.
He's been ghost hustling at that job for months, and his boss still thinks he does nothing.
Ghost Hustling is the act of working hard on something no one else notices, often leading to little or no recognition.
He's been ghost hustling at that job for months, and his boss still thinks he does nothing.
Plum Nelly- denoting the relative distance between to locations, especially if that distance is, great, expansive, or far.
When the passenger gave the cab dispatcher their address, the dispatcher's response was, "You live in plum nelly. Plum outta the city, and nelly outta the state."
Mamavator- a combination of the words Mama + Motivator. The Mom who motivates, encourages, and elevates their own children and other people's children as well, no matter how grown.
My Mom was awesome. Although she didn't give birth to me, she taught me, poured into me, motivated, and encouraged me to success! My Mom, the Mamavator, did this for everyone she encountered. In honor of Mother's Day, Happy Mamavator's Day, Mom!