Friends,

This is an exciting day! 

We’ve had this project in the works for some time, and today we finally get to announce it to the world. It’s a new publication called The Big Picture where I will have the privilege of speaking with you directly, not just about what’s going on with current events and culture, but about the way it all fits together within larger trends and ideas.

I’ve been around nearly 86 years. 

In my time I’ve seen and lived through much. 

I survived World War II and the internment of my family and community.

I saw Jim Crow and segregation fall before the power of the Civil Rights Movement. 

I marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., protested against the war in Vietnam and witnessed the rise of the gay liberation movement with the Stonewall Riots. 

I voted for our first African American President then watched as we tumbled into chaos under the next guy. I have experienced enormous heartbreak but also seen incredible change for the better. 

When I was a boy, I couldn’t even legally marry outside my race. Now I’m happily wed…to a White dude! Love you, Bradder.

With these experiences have come, I hope, some grace and wisdom. 

In the time I have remaining on this planet, which I trust will be many more years, I’m here to pay that forward. 

With the help of my team, which has worked closely with me for over a decade on my social media content, we are excited to launch The Big Picture on Substack, where I invite you to join us to discuss the many challenges and opportunities that we face and that still lie ahead. 

In the first few pieces, we’ll be talking about a range of topics, from what I think it will take to see accountability and justice in the era of Trump (look for that piece tomorrow!) to the rising threat of authoritarianism under Florida Gov. DeSantis; from dangerous attacks by the right on so-called “groomers” to the new trend in green burial services.

There will be history, context, and above all, hope on the menu. 

It’s all part of The Big Picture.

It has become increasingly difficult to communicate with audiences and fans on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, which are run by algorithms and at the mercy of out-of-touch billionaires. For all the content my team and I create, we keep swimming upstream against an unrelenting current. 

My posts on social media now only reach a fraction of audiences they once did. And frankly, I’d much rather speak with you directly and create a troll-free community around important, meaningful topics. That’s why we decided to create The Big Picture to better engage with all of you, hosted on a page that we curate and moderate ourselves.

We are offering my essays and our main articles without a paywall and free of charge. But to help cover my team’s terrific work, I’m asking for your voluntary support. 

With The Big Picture, my team and I will offer our best efforts to educate around and place into larger context the big challenges of our time. 

In exchange, I invite you to support us with a subscription of $6 / month—or around the cost of a coffee drink—and discounted if you sign up for a year.

A subscription reflects your desire to support quality content as well as your appreciation of our work for these past 10 years and going forward with our substack publication.

Good, ad free content is something people today are willing to pay a bit for, I hope you agree. 

And if you happen to be blessed with greater means, please consider becoming a Founding Member at the higher annual donation level. Your gift will underwrite 10 annual subscriptions for readers on fixed income or disability who would love to subscribe but cannot afford to do so.

Become A Founding Member

As a bonus, our paid subscribers will have full access to our community features, including the comments where I will be active! I can’t wait to interact with some of you there. 

Paid subscribers also will receive our special guest contributor pieces and our bonus weekend “winning moments” on the internet, compiled by Team Takei.

I want to be very clear here, though. The primary content we will offer each week will be free of charge to everyone, and this project will be supported solely through voluntary contributions from readers.

Thank you in advance for your support and your faith these many years in our mission. It is one we intend to take to a whole new level with The Big Picture, full of meaningful, in-depth content that, we hope, will help shape a better world for all.

May we all live long and prosper together. 🖖

~ Uncle George