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Dear John,
As we celebrate Black History Month, we are witnessing moments that mirror the struggles and triumphs of our past. The wave of executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across federal agencies poses a significant threat to decades of civil rights progress. Yet, as you'll read in this month's newsletter, communities across the nation are responding with renewed determination and creative strategies to protect and advance equity.
From grassroots organizing to institutional resistance, we highlight how individuals and organizations are working to preserve the gains of the Civil Rights Movement while forging ahead toward a more equitable future. We showcase stories of resilience and community solidarity that demonstrate the power of collective action. We provide analysis, resources, learning opportunities, strategic actions, and inspiring examples of how communities are navigating these challenging times while upholding the principles of democracy.
As Race Forward's Chief of Staff Karla Bruce reminds us, "We've been here before. There's been doom and gloom in this country's history and what always moved us forward is that our ancestors fought back and they organized. It's important that we take the lesson of our ancestors and, frankly, not take this sitting down."
This Black History Month, we honor that legacy of resistance and resilience by continuing to stand firm in our commitment to creating an equitable future for all communities.
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What the president's order on DEI could mean for public health
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Listen to the latest episode of The Nation's Health Podcast featuring Race Forward President Glenn Harris and Executive Vice President Eric Ward. They discuss the real impact of executive orders on civil rights, how communities can resist and organize effectively, concrete strategies for defending diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and the role of local leadership in advancing racial justice despite national headwinds. As Harris notes, "robust, equity-centered systems can outlast even the most dangerous agendas."
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"Bully and intimidate": Trump's opening assault on diversity is from the Project 2025 playbook
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Race Forward Chief of Staff Karla Bruce recently discussed the administration's sweeping attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Drawing inspiration from the Civil Rights Movement, Bruce called for organized resistance and collective action. She concluded with a powerful reminder of our role in history: "One day we will be ancestors, and we will want people to look back and see that we fought for our democracy and won."
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Source: Kent Nishimura/Getty
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Some local officials vow to continue DEI as Trump removes programs at federal level
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 In a NPR news segment highlighting local resistance to federal anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion measures, local officials across the country are standing firm in their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Marsha Guthrie, director of Race Forward’s Government Alliance on Race and Equity, emphasizes that local officials shouldn't abandon equity initiatives just because of federal pressure. She advises leaders to "not obey in advance" since the full impact of these executive orders remains unclear. "Local government is where people experience their everyday lives,” she reminds us.
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Civil Servants Protect America’s Promise: We Shouldn’t Tolerate The Attack On Them
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The nation's federal civil service - one of America's most diverse workforces - manages over $4 trillion in annual budgets while serving as a cornerstone of our democracy. These dedicated public servants work tirelessly to meet the needs of our 340-million-strong population. However, as Race Forward's Carlton Eley and Sloane Kali Faye explain in their recent op-ed, current attacks on the civil service are causing widespread disruptions - from delayed disaster relief to compromised public health programs and infrastructure setbacks - that affect communities nationwide.
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Source: Kent Nishimura/Getty
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Kendrick Lamar, Uncle Sam, And America’s Next Captain
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Race Forward's Executive Vice President Eric Ward explores how Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl performance, featuring Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam, transcends simple narratives about Black identity and American patriotism. Ward challenges the reductive interpretation of Jackson's role as a "house slave," instead revealing how the performance embodied Legba, the guardian of crossroads in African diasporic traditions.
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Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty
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The article examines how this moment reflects America's current crossroads, where we must decide between embracing the full complexity of Black identity or remaining trapped in outdated binaries.
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Education For All: Defending Targeted Students — Wednesday, February 26
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This workshop focuses on building a culture of solidarity within local communities to counter Project 2025 agenda and defend the rights of all students. Participants will gain practical tools for organizing “Know Your Rights” sessions, hosting public events, and planning rapid response actions. Together, we’ll explore how school districts can protect Black students, immigrant students, LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, and even educators. Prepare your community for the challenges ahead with actionable strategies to safeguard equity and inclusion in education.
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#RaceAnd Navigating the Legal Landscape: Advancing Racial Equity in the Federal Government — Thursday, March 6
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Join us for a crucial conversation on advancing racial equity in today’s complex legal landscape. This session will explore the impact of executive orders and policies on equity initiatives, legal parameters for advancing equity across different sectors, and practical strategies for navigating challenges while advancing racial justice.Whether you’re a federal civil servant, state or local government worker, nonprofit leader, or racial equity practitioner, this event will provide insights for continuing equity work within legal boundaries.
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Learning Lab: Narrative Change for Racial Equity — Wednesday, March 6
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To make our vision of a just, multiracial democracy a reality, we must seed and spread new narratives that show what is possible when we join together to end systemic racism and create a better future for all. Race Forward is thrilled to offer this training to help build our capacity for narrative change for racial equity. Perfect for narrative practitioners, communications strategists, equity officers, culture workers, and creatives.
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Black History Month doesn't end in February; Black history is being made every day. Now, you can wear that history—every day.
Shop online at our new store and choose from an array of products like shirts, water canteens, hats, and sweaters. No matter the weather, we make Black history together!
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Get Early Access to Just Narratives!
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Calling all narrative practitioners, campaign strategists, organizers, storytellers, policy advocates, media makers, activists, civil servants, researchers: Join us at Just Narratives for Multiracial Solidarity, a multi-day convening to harness our collective narrative power to advance racial justice and collaborative governance. Mark your calendar for November 13-15, 2025, in St. Louis, MO. Early bird tickets are limited.
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Subscribe to The Fire We Face Newsletter
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The Fire We Face is a newsletter for those committed to protecting democracy, racial equity, and public service in the face of systemic threats. As we monitor the Trump Administration’s embrace of Project 2025 and other anti-democratic, racist initiatives, The Fire We Face will document actions targeting federal agencies and civil servants striving to serve the public equitably. Through in-depth analysis, reflections, and tangible examples, this newsletter aims to empower readers with the knowledge to understand and navigate these challenges.
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Sign the Solidarity Pledge
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It takes people power to bring on the necessary change our communities need. Our partners Make the Road and CASA in partnership with other immigrant rights groups, have filed a FOIA demanding info on the Trump Administration's new guidance authorizing arrests in sensitive locations.
Over 5K people across the country have signed the #SolidarityPledge. Join the movement by signing the pledge at solidaritypledge.org!
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Follow us on Bluesky!
Given the current political climate and our declining engagement on Twitter, we have made the decision to remain inactive on Twitter until further notice.
To keep the conversation going, we encourage you to join us on Bluesky. Be a part of an ever-growing network of racial justice advocates as we continue to share engaging content that moves the needle to a just, multiracial democracy.
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John, as we navigate these challenging times, our strength lies in our solidarity and shared commitment to justice. We invite you to join us in this critical work—whether through attending our upcoming events, participating in trainings, joining local advocacy efforts, or spreading awareness. We honor the legacy of those who came before us by continuing their work, and we build the future by taking action today. The path forward requires both courage and conviction—qualities that our communities continue to demonstrate in abundance.
In solidarity,
Race Forward
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Services for Organizations
Race Forward is committed to transformational, sustainable change for racial justice. We provide services to help organizations develop and advance racially equitable policies and practices.
Our services are developed and delivered by a multiracial and multigenerational team of experts with extensive knowledge and experience in various areas, including policy and program development, leadership development and strategic coaching, community organizing, and racial equity.
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