I'm not American, so when Candace Owens came up in a deep conversation I was having with an American friend, I decided to take a closer look at who she was. My friend, at the time, wasn't happy with some of the things I said about organizations like BLM and told me I was starting to sound like, in his words, “that coconut Black woman, Candace Owens.” I’ve never been one to follow the crowd or pay much attention to what everyone else is saying, but his strong reaction made me curious to find out who this woman was and why he disliked her so much.
Before diving into my research, I asked a few other people—a simple question: “Who is Candace Owens, and what do you know about her?” The responses, all from Black people, were overwhelmingly negative, filled with palpable disdain. It made me think, “She must really be a nasty piece of work.”
Eventually, I began my deep dive into all things Candace Owens. I watched hundreds of her videos, read articles she was connected to, followed her YouTube channel and podcasts. At first, I listened with the expectation of finding something to justify all the hatred. I wanted to find a reason to dislike her, to point out where she was wrong. Over several months, I watched and waited for her to slip up—say something that would validate the harsh criticism.
But to my surprise, I found nothing. Instead, I found myself not only liking her but admiring her. She demonstrated qualities I deeply respect: intelligence, integrity, morality, wisdom, fairness—and most importantly, courage. What struck me most was her fearlessness, reminding me of my own mother, who never backed down from anything or anyone, and only feared God—sometimes even that was debatable. Candace Owens, to me, became one of the most courageous women I’ve seen in the media.
Once I realized that Candace Owens wasn’t the demon everyone made her out to be, I started to wonder why so many people saw her that way. I began asking people why they hated her so much, and the responses I received from Americans who weren’t fans of hers were all the same—name-calling and statements with no factual basis. There was no solid reasoning behind their dislike, just emotion. In most cases, the conversations became so heated that I had to back off and drop the subject altogether.
Their reactions reminded me of the time I chose not to take the COVID vaccine. Initially, my decision was based on a gut feeling—it all seemed rushed, and something felt off. But the more my friends and even some family members tried to pressure me, the more determined I became to do my own research. I dug deep into all things COVID, and as I uncovered more information, I became certain that I didn’t want the vaccine anywhere near me. That deep dive opened my eyes to many things about the medical world that I hadn’t known before. In the process, I became a different person—let’s just say I wised up.
What struck me was the irrational response people had toward those who chose not to get vaccinated—it mirrored the way people reacted to Candace Owens. In the case of COVID, the reaction was driven by fear. With Candace Owens, it was driven by hate, gossip, ignorance, and, frankly, social conditioning. Neither response made sense, and both seemed fuelled by forces other than reason.
I find it difficult to understand why so many of my American associates speak so highly of Black women like Megan Thee Stallion, Sexy Red, and even Beyoncé, while they harbor such intense hatred for someone like Candace Owens. It made me realize that something in society has become deeply twisted—we elevate those who reflect the worst in us and tear down those who represent the best.
I’m not here to tell anyone who they should like, follow, or listen to. As I’ve said before, I walk my own path and let others walk theirs. However, what I won’t tolerate is people lying, gaslighting, or distorting the truth to me about anyone or anything. I’m not afraid of where that stance may lead me—whether it's alienation from friends, society, or even real consequences like jail. I will always think for myself and reach my own conclusions.
As for Candace Owens, here’s where I stand: Not only is she undeserving of the hatred directed at her, but she’s also someone people should actually listen to. If you're humble, open-minded, not driven by blind ideologies or hatred, and have a fair and independent mind, you can learn a lot from a woman like Candace Owens.
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