By: Terry Allen
Credit Terry Allen Taste of South,Inc.
Big Mama had a way of saying something that could stop you mid-step. She would look you straight in the eye and say, “Don’t come for me unless I send for you.” It wasn’t loud, but it was clear. It was a warning shot to anyone thinking about stepping out of line. It meant do not approach me, do not confront me, do not insert yourself into my space unless I initiate it. It asserted total control over communication and boundaries. It established the power dynamic without apology. It dismissed foolishness before it could take root.
Lucille “Big Mama” Allen believed that dignity required discipline. She taught us that boundaries are not hostility; they are protection. You don’t allow anyone to disturb your peace, your household, or your community without invitation and respect. Her wisdom wasn’t about ego. It was about stewardship — guarding what God entrusted to you.
That message feels urgent right now.
Across Minneapolis and other cities, federal immigration enforcement actions have intensified. Large-scale ICE operations have moved through neighborhoods in ways many residents describe as frightening and destabilizing. Families have been separated, communities shaken, and even U.S. citizens caught in the chaos. What people are saying — whether aloud or in whispered fear — is simple: don’t come for us unless we send for you.
Credit Terry Allen Taste of South,Inc.
When power arrives heavy without listening first, trust erodes. And when leaders are questioned about the human cost of these actions, the responses matter. In recent national interviews, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi faced tough questions about rhetoric and enforcement decisions that many believe have inflamed tensions rather than calmed them. Instead of reassurance rooted in empathy, her comments were widely viewed as political and detached, exposing a deeper concern that leadership is more responsive to an elite circle than to everyday citizens.
At the same time, leaders like Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett have modeled what an effective, message-driven response looks like — standing firm, sharp in delivery, and unapologetic in defense of the communities she represents whenever critics come after her work. That’s boundary-setting in real time. My colleague Roland Martin built an entire media empire rooted in the same Big Mama principle: control your narrative, set your boundaries, and never let anyone come for your voice unless you send for them first.
Big Mama would not have tolerated hollow rhetoric. She would have said that if you represent the people, then act like you care about all the people. Authority without compassion is just control. And control without accountability is dangerous.
This is why the call to action matters. ICE raids are rising. Voting rights are under attack. Healthcare costs keep climbing. In our season opener, we break down what’s really happening and how we protect ourselves, our families, and our communities. Silence will not shield us. Information, engagement, and collective action will.
Big Mama said, “Don’t come for me unless I send for you.” That is not rebellion. That is self-respect. And in this climate, self-respect may be one of the most powerful tools we have.
Terry Allen is an NABJ award-winning Journalist, DEI expert, PR professional, and founder of the charity – Vice President at Focus- PR, Founder of City Men Cook, and Dallas Chapter President of NBPRS.org
