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John,
Sometimes we forget that we are among the first generations of Black people who were not born into legal slavery or segregation.
For centuries, Black communities have been enslaved, displaced, and restricted, but also resistant, self-determined, and visionary. The progress we see today is hard-won, and that’s why some fight so hard to undo it.
Through it all Black people have been joyful—that’s resistance in and of itself. We’ve been creative and we’ve pushed the boundaries of art and culture.
We must always remember: our ancestors fought, and they won. Our parents and grandparents resisted, and they overcame their oppressors. And so will we. Freedom is our inheritance, it’s in our blood, it’s in our spirit.
From revolutionaries to nation-builders, across continents and movements, Black communities have reclaimed space, rewritten narratives, and shaped the future on our terms.
This Black Futures Month, we honor those who secured our freedom and those forging the next era of Black power—our elders, our children, and everyone in between. The Black Future is global, yet deeply local. The Black Future is community, yet limitless.
We’re going to highlight leaders like:
Kwame Nkrumah—the first president of Ghana and a visionary whose dream of pan-African unity changed the trajectory of African independence.
Claudia Jones—a Trinidad-born activist, who brought the issues of race, gender, and class to the forefront in Britain.
Patrice Lumumba—the first Prime Minister of the Congo who rightfully became a symbol of defiance and freedom.
And Fannie Lou Hamer—a tireless advocate for voting rights, equality, and justice and a central figure in the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.
The next era of Black power is being forged worldwide and is globally rooted. We’re bringing the focus back on the global diaspora of Blackness and we need your help!
As we look toward and celebrate our Black Futures, we need to invest in it. We’re not going to achieve Black liberation unless we have the resources to achieve it together.
Can you pledge a monthly donation of $5 or more this Black Futures Month? To achieve the future we want we’ll have to continue to fight onwards. We can win but it’ll take grit, determination, and consistency.
The Black Future is ours. Because we are unstoppable.
Happy Black Future Month!
—Black Lives Matter
P.S. If you haven’t yet, submit your response to our Black Futures Map Project. You’ll be a part of our visual representation of our global solidarity!
Our grassroots movement is pushing for Black liberation every single day. We are striving to create a world where Black people do so much more than just survive. It’s time we thrive.
As an organization one of our biggest hurdles is consistency.
A recurring contribution of anything you can afford goes a long way as we plan for the months, years, and even decades ahead. This is the most effective way for small-dollar donors (like you) to power our Black liberation work.
Will you make a recurring contribution of $5 or more today so that we can keep building momentum for our movement?
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