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"There is never a day when systemic racism and economic inequality do not impact people's daily lives."(Photo: Stauros/flickr/cc)
Celebrate Black History Month by Fighting for Justice and Equity
Until all of us are free, none of us are free.
Feb 02, 2018
February is Black History Month. One month is hardly enough to celebrate all the immense contributions of Black Americans to our society, to our nation's story, and to the fight for justice and equity. Many Americans still do not know the full history of the Civil Rights Movement, and many Americans do not know the extent to which that struggle for freedom and justice continues today.
Our nation was built on the backs of immigrants and slaves. Throughout US history, Black Americans have faced slavery, systemic racism, mass incarceration, generational trauma, a racially motivated war on drugs, and other symptoms of a rotting system that punished them for the color of their skin. Throughout US history, many Black American heroes have fought for human rights, for civil rights, and for progress. As we celebrate Black History Month, we will honor those heroes with action. We will keep fighting for justice and equity for all.
The struggle continues. Until all of us are free, none of us are free. Black History Month highlights the critical need to recognize and share an integral part of our nation's history, while reminding us how far we still have to go to bend the arc of the universe fully toward justice.
As James Baldwin noted, "Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have." We must continue to educate ourselves to further understand the roots of systemic inequality and injustice and devise solutions to bring about systemic change. We must counter hatred and bigotry in all its forms and center the voices of people directly impacted by racist, inhumane policies. We must fight for policies that restore dignity and fairness. And we must continue to recognize and honor the movement leaders who have made such immense contributions to our history, including those who gave their lives for a noble cause. Black Lives Matter. Black Voices Matter.
There is never a day when systemic racism and economic inequality do not impact people's daily lives. That can and must change. We cannot say we are truly the Land of Opportunity, or the Land of the Free, until opportunity and freedom are available to all.
Keep fighting. We are far from done.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
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February is Black History Month. One month is hardly enough to celebrate all the immense contributions of Black Americans to our society, to our nation's story, and to the fight for justice and equity. Many Americans still do not know the full history of the Civil Rights Movement, and many Americans do not know the extent to which that struggle for freedom and justice continues today.
Our nation was built on the backs of immigrants and slaves. Throughout US history, Black Americans have faced slavery, systemic racism, mass incarceration, generational trauma, a racially motivated war on drugs, and other symptoms of a rotting system that punished them for the color of their skin. Throughout US history, many Black American heroes have fought for human rights, for civil rights, and for progress. As we celebrate Black History Month, we will honor those heroes with action. We will keep fighting for justice and equity for all.
The struggle continues. Until all of us are free, none of us are free. Black History Month highlights the critical need to recognize and share an integral part of our nation's history, while reminding us how far we still have to go to bend the arc of the universe fully toward justice.
As James Baldwin noted, "Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have." We must continue to educate ourselves to further understand the roots of systemic inequality and injustice and devise solutions to bring about systemic change. We must counter hatred and bigotry in all its forms and center the voices of people directly impacted by racist, inhumane policies. We must fight for policies that restore dignity and fairness. And we must continue to recognize and honor the movement leaders who have made such immense contributions to our history, including those who gave their lives for a noble cause. Black Lives Matter. Black Voices Matter.
There is never a day when systemic racism and economic inequality do not impact people's daily lives. That can and must change. We cannot say we are truly the Land of Opportunity, or the Land of the Free, until opportunity and freedom are available to all.
Keep fighting. We are far from done.
February is Black History Month. One month is hardly enough to celebrate all the immense contributions of Black Americans to our society, to our nation's story, and to the fight for justice and equity. Many Americans still do not know the full history of the Civil Rights Movement, and many Americans do not know the extent to which that struggle for freedom and justice continues today.
Our nation was built on the backs of immigrants and slaves. Throughout US history, Black Americans have faced slavery, systemic racism, mass incarceration, generational trauma, a racially motivated war on drugs, and other symptoms of a rotting system that punished them for the color of their skin. Throughout US history, many Black American heroes have fought for human rights, for civil rights, and for progress. As we celebrate Black History Month, we will honor those heroes with action. We will keep fighting for justice and equity for all.
The struggle continues. Until all of us are free, none of us are free. Black History Month highlights the critical need to recognize and share an integral part of our nation's history, while reminding us how far we still have to go to bend the arc of the universe fully toward justice.
As James Baldwin noted, "Ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have." We must continue to educate ourselves to further understand the roots of systemic inequality and injustice and devise solutions to bring about systemic change. We must counter hatred and bigotry in all its forms and center the voices of people directly impacted by racist, inhumane policies. We must fight for policies that restore dignity and fairness. And we must continue to recognize and honor the movement leaders who have made such immense contributions to our history, including those who gave their lives for a noble cause. Black Lives Matter. Black Voices Matter.
There is never a day when systemic racism and economic inequality do not impact people's daily lives. That can and must change. We cannot say we are truly the Land of Opportunity, or the Land of the Free, until opportunity and freedom are available to all.
Keep fighting. We are far from done.
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