How to Win, By Playing the Long Game
In the high-stakes game of poker, success is not solely determined by the hand you are dealt but by how you play it. The most skilled players understand that poker is a game of strategy, patience, and calculated risk-taking. They know when to fold, when to bet aggressively, and how to bluff when necessary. For young Black professionals navigating the complexities of career growth and societal obstacles, the game is no different.
In recent times, it has felt like the deck has been stacked against us. Economic uncertainty, social injustice, and systemic barriers often seem insurmountable. However, history teaches us that those who came before us played the long game. Our ancestors were not just resilient; they were antifragile. They thrived despite adversity, shaping spiritual, physical, and economic prosperity that made today’s opportunities possible.
Before I jump into it let me introduce you to Phil Ivey. Ivey, is a professional poker player who has won eleven World Series of Poker bracelets, one World Poker Tour title, and appeared at nine World Poker Tour final tables. Ivey is regarded by numerous poker observers and contemporaries as the best all-around player in the world. In 2017, he was elected to the Poker Hall of Fame. Oh and did I mention he is a child of the soil. African American for those who don’t get that line.
It shouldn’t matter, but I think it is highly relative to hold on to that thought while you read this and think about your journey. In a world that often denigrates Blackness, especially those seeking to make their country great again, sometimes the visibility of those who have played the long game can be a great counter-narrative and source for inspiration.
Walk with me.
Where we have come from
The fight for civil rights in the U.S., U.K., and the Caribbean has always been about more than basic freedoms. It has been about the right to build wealth, own property, and establish communities that could sustain future generations. Trailblazers such as Marcus Garvey, Claudia Jones, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Shirley Chisholm knew that the pursuit of justice had to be backed by economic power.
Garvey’s Black Star Line was an attempt to control trade and wealth within the African diaspora. If you know your history, they literally created the FBI to counter him and his expressions of freedom for Black people. Claudia Jones fought for worker rights and against economic oppression in Britain, establishing the foundation for the Notting Hill Carnival as a celebration of cultural resilience. An annual festival they are still trying to shut down and move to the park, not realising so much of its essence was and continues to be about resistance. Dr. King’s final campaign before his assassination, the Poor People’s Campaign, was a recognition that economic equity was the next frontier of the civil rights movement. Complain all you want about civility Doc but the moment you question settler colonialism and preach self-empowerment, then they take out. Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, once said, “You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.”
Add to this pantheon Toussaint L’Ouverture, Walter Rodney, Thomas Sankara, Maurice Bishop, Patrice Lumumba, I think you get my point.
These figures played their hands wisely, understanding that civil rights were intertwined with economic empowerment. They were not merely reacting to injustice; they were planning for the future, ensuring that their sacrifices would yield long-term wins. Those who were brave enough to put the head above the parapet where taken out. Others just built what they had to in silence. You get to choose which works for you and your community.
Where are we at
While progress has been made, attempts to erode Black civility and success are nothing new. Throughout history, the forces that oppose Black progress have sought to destabilise, misinform, and disempower. From Garvey’s deportation to the FBI’s COINTELPRO dismantling Black leadership, to today’s attacks on movements like Black Lives Matter, the game has remained the same.
Policies and cultural shifts have attempted to erase the impact of Black contributions. The legal attacks on affirmative action, such as the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, have sought to remove critical pathways for Black students entering higher education. Companies once promising DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd have since quietly rolled them back. According to McKinsey’s 2023 DEI report, many organisations have deprioritised racial equity commitments in favour of broader, less specific inclusion goals.
Education policies have also seen an erosion of Black history. In the U.S., states like Florida have moved to sanitise discussions of slavery and systemic racism in school curriculums. The UK government has similarly resisted calls to make Black history a mandatory part of the national curriculum. As reported by The Guardian (2023), Black British history remains largely an optional subject, leaving many young Black students without a full understanding of their heritage.
The demonisation of Black natural hair continues to be a significant cultural battle. The CROWN Act, first passed in California in 2019 and later adopted in several states, was necessary because Black people were consistently penalised in schools and workplaces for wearing their natural hair. In the UK, there have been similar cases, such as Ruby Williams, a student who was repeatedly sent home from school because of her Afro hairstyle.
Access to finance remains a pressing issue. Black entrepreneurs face systemic barriers when securing venture capital. A 2021 report from Extend Ventures found that Black-led businesses in the UK received less than 0.25% of venture capital funding. Similar disparities exist in the U.S., where Black founders received only 1.2% of VC funding in 2022, according to Crunchbase. Additionally, financial institutions have historically practised redlining, restricting Black communities from homeownership and generational wealth-building opportunities.
These systemic barriers extend to voting rights as well. In the U.S., voter suppression tactics such as gerrymandering and voter ID laws disproportionately impact Black voters. Policies that once protected voting rights, like the Voting Rights Act of 1965, have been weakened in recent years, making it easier for states to implement restrictive voting measures.
The legal attacks on affirmative action, the underfunding of Black non-profits despite 2020 promises, and targeted legal challenges such as Edward Blum’s campaign against the Fearless Fund all demonstrate a coordinated effort to undermine Black progress. Project 25, originally introduced in 1981, continues to serve as a blueprint for conservative strategies aimed at dismantling gains made by marginalised communities. Reading these documents not out of fear, but as a form of strategic intelligence, is essential to playing the game wisely.
Where are we going
If we are to truly secure our future, we must transition from just fighting for civil rights to also achieving silver rights, namely through economic empowerment, financial literacy, and strategic policymaking. What does this look like?
Learning how to shape policy through lobbying and political engagement. In the UK there is a dearth of lobbying groups and think tanks focusing on such rights. I have created one for more senior black leaders but there are increasing opportunities for others to build on this. Orgs like Black Rise, UK Black Tech, BYP Network stand at the cusp of ushering a new generation to make such changes. Regardless of political leaning.
Practising collective bargaining and economic unity. Many of our parents who fought for workplace equality were members of unions. To this day I encourage younger in specific industries to be part of such unions as reps as well as leaning into them for workplace disputes. I have seen many people walk away from organisations who have treated them horrendously to only learn after the fact that they could have won a case and learn from others who have won how to navigate those spaces mentally and emotionally.
There is something about embracing principles such as those in Kwanzaa, or similar ideas. Things like cooperative economics - Ujamaa - have already been demonstrated in pardna,, susu and other similar collectives. And of course self-determination aka Kujichagulia. Consider what you want to be and what you want to achieve and assert your identity with pride and confidence
Lastly being able to strengthen networks of Black professionals to ensure access to financial resources, leadership positions, and investment opportunities. Whether they be online in chat groups, membership clubs or other associations that aren’t exclusively Black and speak to the skills, tools and knowledge needed for success.
Most importantly, we must recognise that some of the most powerful plays are not announced on social media. Many of the great movements in history were built behind the scenes before they emerged in public. The most successful poker players never reveal their hands too soon; they make strategic moves and let the results speak for themselves.
Poker, much like life, is a game of skill, adaptability, and calculated risk. Black professionals must embrace the mindset of a high-level poker player—understanding the stakes, anticipating the moves of opponents, and never losing sight of the long game.
History has shown us that those who came before played their hands strategically, ensuring that each generation could build upon the gains of the last. It is now our turn to do the same. Let us remain steadfast, resilient, and antifragile. Let us play to win, not just for ourselves but for the generations that follow.
The cards may not always be in our favour, but with the right strategy, we can still walk away with the jackpot.
