David Matthew Olatunji Bey
Published April 11, 2026
One of my loyal readers personally wrote to me “Well, heck yeah I wanna know!” Shout out to Tawhiyda. Thank you Sis!
After leaving the building that morning, knowing it was the last time, I didn’t go back. Before I left, the receptionist asked me, “What happened?” She had seen the email, but I just told her, “I’ll explain later,” and quietly left. It was about 8:30 a.m. By 8:50, I was home, and soon the calls started pouring in. Employees thanked me: they said I gave them courage, that I showed them how to handle a tough situation. But I was clear—I didn’t do it for praise. I did it because it was right.
By lunchtime, the receptionist called again. The office was buzzing; they’d all read the email, and the family, it seemed, was shaken. Later that day, the whole second shift fulfillment team had walked out completely. I received a call in the evening from the Mexican-American department manager to say she wasn’t the manager anymore. She had quit. She wanted to thank me for giving her the courage to leave. Not just her but the others as well.
It's a brand new day and a lot has happened. Happy Friday! But not for some. I got an update from the receptionist letting me know that the whole family did not come to the office that day. They had been checking in every hour to see if any news stations or reporters showed up. Things really started to escalate after I threw that rock into the pond. “This Is Not Acceptable!” rippled cascading events beyond my doing.
I spoke one last time with the manager that quit. When I asked what was happening, she told me about Uncle. Months ago, he’d been injured, equipment fell on his leg. They never took him to the hospital. And because he is diabetic that “minor” injury turned into a life-altering crisis: he was facing amputation. I was stunned. They never took him for care.
His family now had him talk to a lawyer. After that, things escalated. I didn’t speak to anyone else directly, but I know this: OSHA and the fire department stepped in. They padlocked the doors for safety violations. I didn’t orchestrate this, but the business never reopened. Allegedly, they were sued, though I can’t confirm that. What I can confirm is that it’s gone. The listing is gone; the business is shut.
I never expected this. I didn’t realize the gravity, but I do know this: I gave others a voice, a chance to take back their power in a situation where they felt trapped. I don’t know their full stories–some may have been undocumented, some financially dependent—but the weight of that endurance is real.
As a global traveler, I’ve seen these patterns in countries that are still colonized, economies stalled by imposed limits. And on a personal level, my mother was an immigrant from Jamaica. She never told me all her struggles, but I know they must have been there. So when I see injustice, I don’t walk away. I take it personally. Because if we’re standing somewhere, witnessing others diminish themselves, it’s on us to be the voice—to stand up for freedom, for dignity, for a life they deserve.
Our voices when activated have presence and power.
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Let's Celebrate! My first book—Steamed Bread: Inside the Wall of a Chinese Tech Company! It's now available as an eBook PDF, and it’s full of stories that’ll inspire and intrigue you.
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Copyright © 2026 by David Matthew Olatunji Bey