Tequila Johnson: Hope is Cheap. Power is the Goal.

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Gloria sits down with Tequila Johnson, the founder leading The Equity Alliance, for a candid conversation about building independent Black political power in Tennessee. They trace the organization's start after the 2016 election, how its model has evolved from voter registration into direct service, political education, and cultural events, and why Tequila calls it "egoless leadership." They dig into the May 2026 special session that split Memphis's majority-Black congressional district, gerrymandering, political courage, and what it takes for candidates of color to run and survive in office. Tequila closes with a blunt take on hope: "Hope is cheap." What she wants from people is discipline, strategy, and power.