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Every generation faces a choice about whose stories will define the future. Right now, we're watching that choice play out in real time. What we’re witnessing is the systematic weaponization of narrative—designed to restrain dissent and freedom of speech. At the same time, we’re seeing our communities rising to meet this moment with a clear vision for inclusive democracy.
At Race Forward, we’ve spent decades working alongside advocates, racial equity practitioners, and community members who understand how to win the narrative battle for democracy: through authentic stories that connect individual struggles to systemic solutions, through cultural expressions that help people envision liberation, and through coordinated strategies that build collective power.
That’s why I’m personally inviting you to join us at Just Narratives for Multiracial Solidarity (November 13-15 in St. Louis), the anchor event of Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy. Registration for Just Narratives closes October 20, 11:59pm PT.
Across our country, authoritarian forces are deploying narrative and messaging strategies designed not just to win elections, but to fundamentally reshape how we understand truth, justice, and democracy itself. They're pressuring media platforms to abandon editorial independence, orchestrating attacks on museums to control historical narratives, and flooding social
media with divisive content to fracture organizing efforts. Perhaps most troubling is how quickly false narratives spread in the aftermath of tragedy.
Race Forward stands in the proud tradition of freedom fighters and organizers who built the Black press during Jim Crow to counter false narratives, published labor newspapers to amplify the stories of working-class people, and used art to resist fascist propaganda throughout the world.
This is precisely why Just Narratives for Multiracial Solidarity is so essential at this moment. When narrative strategists,
cultural workers, and movement leaders align their approaches, we strengthen our collective power and capacity to rewrite the narrative for a more just and equitable democracy. When communities use art, music, and storytelling to build relationships across differences, we build stronger, resilient movements.
We have the tools, the strategies, and a growing movement of people who understand how narrative power leads to systemic change. What we need now is more spaces to strategize, coordinate, and co-create. This November, join us in building narrative and cultural power that transforms systems.
John, the narrative battle for democracy is happening now—and we're building the power to win it. Tap in.
Special thanks to our friends at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Presenting Sponsor) and Transgender Law Center (Ally Sponsor) for supporting Just Narratives.
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Glenn Harris
President, Race Forward
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Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month
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From increasingly stringent immigration policies to the excessive deployment of federal troops in our nation’s cities, the re-emergence of authoritarianism has led to intensified attacks on Latino/a/x communities. Now more than ever, the terms Hispanic and Latino/a/x continue to be weaponized by government agencies, including police departments and schools, to identify individuals racially.
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But what do people who identify as Latino/a/x consider themselves? And why should we care?
In “Who Do We Think We Are,” Colorlines explored the experiences of Latinx-identified movement leaders, artists and cultural innovators interviews. In a series of interviews, they answered the same set of questions about how they define Latinidad and what the implications of Latinx racial identity mean for their work, for racial justice and beyond.
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Attacks on immigrant and refugee rights are nothing new; harmful narratives villainizing communities of color have permeated in American culture for years. However, these attacks are increasingly intensifying as authoritarianism looks to eradicate human dignity.
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Drop the I-Word was one of Race Forward’s most impactful narrative campaigns to eliminate the use of the dehumanizing slur “illegal” to describe immigrants. Launched in 2010, the campaign focused on specifically targeting news outlets and journalist associations. Once the Associated Press formally agreed to remove the word from its news coverage, usage of the i-word gradually declined in major media outlets including the New York Times, USA Today, and the Washington Post.
Drop the I-Word is
a timely reminder that words do matter. Revisit the campaign’s findings and see our three reasons why we must continue to drop the i-word.
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Messages to Grow and Uproot: Narrative Strategy Amid Attacks on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Racial Justice
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Narrative IS power. The stories and messages we repeat over time shape policies, outcomes, culture and material conditions.
Race Forward's new guide equips organizations with the tools to counter harmful narratives while strengthening messages that advance racial equity and justice. It’s perfect for diversity, equity and inclusion practitioners, communications professionals, organizational leaders, community advocates, and anyone defending equity work in their organization or community.
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- Reflection and Assessment Tool to sharpen your messaging strategy
- Sample messages you can adapt for your organization
- Communication considerations for navigating high-risk environments
- Real examples of how Race Forward applies narrative strategy
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Don't let harmful narratives go unchallenged. Equip your organization with the tools to fight back and build the narrative power our movement needs.
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Solidarity as Strategy: Building Power Across Movements
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As we prepare to gather at Just Narratives for Multiracial Solidarity, we’re honored to lift up an episode of the Solidarity is This podcast, originally produced by Solidarity is This, an initiative of the Building Movement Project. This episode–hosted by Adaku Utah–explores the vital work of building multiracial solidarity in a moment of growing backlash against racial justice.
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Nikko Viquiera, Race Forward’s Deputy Senior Vice President of Programs, reflects on the challenges organizations face when their efforts come under fire—and how powerful storytelling can help shift public consciousness from isolation toward collective action.
At its heart, this episode reminds us that solidarity is love in motion. It’s the work of naming structural racism, nurturing trust, and holding both fear and hope as we move forward together. In a time when racial equity itself is being challenged, Race Forward and the Building Movement Project show that transformation begins when we lead with community, imagination, and the belief that our liberation is deeply intertwined.
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Just Narratives for Multiracial Solidarity
November 13-15
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Our Program at a Glance is Here!
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Join us for these powerful plenary sessions at Just Narratives for Multiracial Solidarity this November 13-15 in St. Louis.
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Growing the Infrastructure Needed to Build Narrative Power for Solidarity
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Featuring Rinku Sen (Narrative Initiative), Julia Roig (The Horizons Project), Anna Castro (Transgender Law Center), and Jennifer M. Ng'andu (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
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To make our movement’s narratives dominant, we need a sustainable infrastructure that will allow us to amplify and embed just and equitable narratives consistently and at scale across multiple spaces, platforms, and disciplines. We need an infrastructure that is reinforced by a narrative ecosystem that includes all of us together.
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The Role of Artists in Building Narrative Power
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Featuring Tonika Johnson and Janell Nelson
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As artists, Tonika Johnson and Janell Nelson center creativity as both method and message—using art to open doors, deepen relationships, and shift narratives. This plenary explores their approach to Power in Partnerships: starting with self, then aligning with people in their networks to catalyze broader change. Grounded in the game-changing UnBlocked Englewood project, they will share how art and collaboration is transforming a residential block—and so much more. The session will open with a 15-minute documentary, followed by dialogue on how we all can leverage creative practice and authentic partnerships to propel more just narratives.
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Why Solidarity Narratives Matter in Advancing Racial Justice
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Featuring jaboa lake (Race Forward), Ishita Srivastava (FrameWorks Institute), Pamela Mejia (Berkley Media Studies Group), Rachel Weidinger (Narrative Initiative), Elsie Iwase (Harmony Labs), and Camilla Griffiths (BLIS Collective)
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As artists, Tonika Johnson and Janell Nelson center creativity as both method and message—using art to open doors, deepen relationships, and shift narratives. This plenary explores their approach to Power in Partnerships: starting with self, then aligning with people in their networks to catalyze broader change. Grounded in the game-changing UnBlocked Englewood project, they will share how art and collaboration is transforming a residential block—and so much more. The session will open with a 15-minute documentary, followed by dialogue on how we all can leverage creative practice and authentic partnerships to propel more just narratives.
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Tickets are limited by design—and there are only two weeks left to register.
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Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy
November 8-16
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Enhance your experience by joining us throughout the week of November 8-16 for culture, creativity, and connection. The Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy, taking place in communities, cities, and in virtual spaces across the country is the broader initiative that anchors Just Narratives.
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Get the tools you need to participate
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Organize your own cultural activity and add it to our map. Our toolkit can help you organize your own event. Here are some possibilities:
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- Potluck or mixer at home with family, friends, or neighbors that host a space for meaningful discussion on visioning using tools learned from the virtual kickstarter.
- Public installations or murals that celebrate racial justice and democratic movements.
- Teach-ins and storytelling events that reclaim banned histories and elevate lived experience.
- Pop-up exhibits or art shows on themes like freedom, community, and resistance.
- Community assemblies or forums on local democratic participation and racial equity.
- Faith gatherings focused on healing and spiritual grounding.
- Youth-led actions or performances highlighting their vision of the
future.
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Once you're done, add your event to our interactive map.
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| Don’t think you can plan your own event in time? No problem. Find existing events on the map that you can join or support!
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Racial justice isn't history. Racial justice is happening 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 history together!
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Services for Organizations
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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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Copyright © Race Forward, PO Box 96353, Washington, DC 20090-6353, USA
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