We Are the Resistance: Black America and the Fight for the Future
One year ago this week, after a majority of voters returned President Donald Trump to the Oval Office, Black America began steeling itself for the sequel no one wanted and everyone feared. The dreadful previews had been nonstop: Trump’s unabashedly racist campaign rhetoric, his promise to deploy U.S. troops to American “inner cities,” and the ominous shadow of Project 2025.
Anti-Black Blitz
The challenges began almost immediately on Inauguration Day, when Trump issued a flurry of executive orders rolling back civil rights protections, scrubbing Black history from national parks and museums, and gutting the Department of Education. He mass-fired civil servants, targeting numerous Black bureaucrats, including the first Black Librarian of Congress and the first Black woman on the National Labor Relations Board. Each action felt like a direct assault on the dignity, progress, and history of Black America.
In the following months, Trump dismissed the Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and oversaw the exodus of over 300,000 Black women from the workforce. He strong-armed red states into erasing Black congressional districts and hesitated on emergency funding for vital anti-poverty programs during government shutdowns.
Three Simple Questions
Amidst this onslaught, Black leaders across the nation raised the alarm. Yet, as we edge closer to a second election, what should the resistance look like moving forward? With off-year elections showing a possible Democratic resurgence fueled in part by Black voters, there’s a glimmer of hope. The questions a year into Trump’s presidency include: Have your expectations changed? What should resistance entail? And how can Black people survive this moment?
A Tapestry of Perspectives
Throughout the struggle, the voices from within the community are essential. Leaders from various backgrounds weighed in on how to approach resistance.
Jennifer Taylor-Skinner, Founder & Host of The Electorette
Taylor-Skinner emphasizes the importance of understanding history and creative resistance. “It’s not just about putting our bodies on the line,” she notes, referencing Ida B. Wells’s anti-lynching campaigns that shamed the U.S. on global platforms. Her call to honor ancestors serves as a reminder that resistance can manifest in manifold ways, not just through direct confrontation.
Shavone Arlene Bradley, President & CEO of the National Council of Negro Women
Bradley is focused on “core four” issues: economics, healthcare, education, and social justice. She speaks about initiatives aimed at supporting Black women while emphasizing the need for collective action in upcoming elections.
Ras Baraka, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey
Baraka expressed dismay at the reality of attacks on Black history and representation. He warns that resisting extremism with moderation is a misstep and advocates for a unified, bold movement in response to rising threats.
Jotaka Eaddy, Founder of Win With Black Women
Eaddy underscores the importance of representation, a necessity in overcoming systemic barriers. She highlights that unified efforts among Black women bolster the community’s strength.
Brandon Scott, Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland
Scott reflects on the urgency of local action. He insists that the fight must come from every corner of our communities, not just top-down initiatives. His perspective reinforces the notion that grassroots movements can shape the political landscape in powerful ways.
Alexis McGill Johnson, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood
Johnson highlights the existential threat to fundamental freedoms under Trump’s presidency, urging community involvement as an antidote to authoritarianism. Her call to “be unafraid, undeterred, unstoppable” resonates deeply in the current climate.
LaTosha Brown, Founder of Black Voters Matter
Brown asserts a proactive approach to countering systemic racism. She urges the community to prepare for upcoming elections and push back against a culture of fear. Her advocacy for strategic patronage underscores the economic power embedded within the Black community.
Dr. Mustafa Ali, Activist & Poet
Ali brings a poetic lens to the resistance, tying together historical movements and contemporary struggles. He highlights the need for strategic grassroots organizing and community mobilization, blending old and new methodologies for resistance.
Sebastian Stewart-Johnson, Founder of Black Menaces
Stewart-Johnson calls for a focus on progressive policies that uplift the community, echoing the urgency for collaborative, supportive initiatives that resonate with hopes for a brighter future.
Dr. Bahia Cross Overton, Executive Director, Black Parent Initiative
Overton emphasizes the interconnectedness of all oppressed communities. Bringing light to every Black person, especially women, and the need for collective understanding in resisting oppression is crucial in her message.
Collective Power for a Brighter Future
Across these discussions, one theme emerges: the necessity of collective action and unity. Amidst oppression, there lies an undeniable power in community, solidarity, and shared purpose. From strategic economic engagement to grassroots organizing, the resilience of Black America is a living testament to the enduring human spirit. The road ahead may be fraught with challenges, but history teaches us that only together can we rise to meet them head-on.
