Two Wings of the Same Bird: Why This System Still Reeks of Captivity

(Bald Eagle Wreaking Havoc on the People/Art by Zhateyah)

Although America has made strides in its call for equality, we have to be honest — there is still a long way to go. We haven’t even reached the 100-year anniversaries of some of the most haunting markers of this country’s history — Fred Hampton’s assassination (1969), the Syphilis Experiment (ending in 1972), Ruby Bridges’ first steps into an integrated school (1960), and the Jim Crow era that lasted well into the 1960s. In historical time, those events are barely yesterday.

As Swift as an Eagle

The Scriptures speak of an eagle — a powerful nation that “shall fly as swift as the eagle flieth, a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; a nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favor to the young” (Deut. 28:49-50).

And isn’t it telling that America proudly bears the bald eagle as its national emblem? The very bird that was prophetically described as relentless, untamed, and swift — soaring overhead while consuming everything below. We wear it on our flags, coins, and uniforms like a badge of honor, and yet Scripture told us exactly what that eagle would do.

The Hidden Book of Yashar &

the First Captivity

The Book of Jasher recounts how the first captivity of Israel came not through war, but through a slow, deliberate economic strategy. Pharaoh promised safety and prosperity to the Children of Israel, inviting them to settle in the best part of the land. But over time, that “safety” became servitude. What began as employment under Pharaoh’s house became forced labor, and eventually full-blown slavery.

You can read the full account of the First Captivity here.

This is what we see today — a system that invites us to “participate,” to climb the ladder, to work within its walls — but still demands the majority of our labor for the benefit of the few. We are paid just enough to stay afloat, taxed enough to remain dependent, and entertained enough to stay distracted.

Left Wing, Right Wing — Same Bird

This is why I don’t argue over left versus right. One wing might appear more compassionate, the other more conservative — but at the end of the day, they’re both attached to the same bird. A bird that was built on stolen land, watered with blood, and still soaring on the currents of capitalism and oppression. Whether it leans red or blue, it does not erase the origins of this government, the birth of its police force, or the violent cost of its beginnings.

Why do we argue over which wing to sit under when it’s the same bird that keeps us in captivity?

The Good News: A Deliverer Always Rises

But here is the hope: history and Scripture both show us that no captivity lasts forever. Just as Moses was raised up to deliver Israel, as Esther was positioned to save her people, as Joseph became second to Pharaoh, and as Daniel found favor even in Babylon — we too will see the rise of one of our own into the most powerful positions in this nation.

Someone who will be given the authority to make change, to open gates, to set captives free, and to shift the destiny of a people.

The question is not if — but when. And perhaps the most exciting question of all: will it be a he, or a she?

You can read about the Prophetic Rise of Black Womanhood here.

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ABOUT ZHATEYAH

Zhateyah YisraEl is a multi-venture entrepreneur, writer, and creative strategist passionate about reshaping narratives for Black women and amplifying underrepresented voices. As the founder of Z Branding & Business Solutions and visionary behind SISTAH Magazine, she has built an ecosystem that celebrates Black womanhood, cultural pride, and generational wealth.

Zhateyah’s writing focuses on identity, spirituality, empowerment, and economic freedom — weaving together storytelling, history, and practical wisdom to inspire action. 

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Buy my latest book: From Hot to Wholesome