From his most recent attack on Rep. Elijah Cummings and the Baltimore community to the vile “send her back” chants targeted at Rep. Ilhan Omar, and the other three progressive congresswomen of color, President Trump’s racist, xenophobic statements endanger people of color, devolve our national discourse, and puts in peril the progress and hope for a multi-racial democracy. 

At this critical moment, in this urgent time, Race Forward, now more than ever,  is steadfast and committed to building strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture, and we won’t go back. We press forward by publishing Colorlines, which features news and analysis produced by a multiracial team of writers covering stories such as the congresswomen's defiant response to the president, the Trump administration’s inhumane immigration policies, as well as the attempts to disqualify more than 3.1 million low income earning people from accessing food stamps. 

Our programs and campaigns advance our mission and vision. Drop the I-Word demands change and holds media accountable for using dehumanizing language such as the term “illegal” when referring to undocumented people. Mass Freedom bridges the movements to end mass incarceration and to end mass deportation under a shared vision for a multiracial democracy that is truly free. 

GARE, the Government Alliance on Race & Equity works to achieve racial equity through strategizing and organizing with a national  network of local government municipalities –– all of these projects are part of Race Forward’s efforts to combat systemic racial inequities and realize racial justice. 

To join us in this fight and support Race Forward’s ongoing efforts to build racial equity and defend communities most impacted by structural racism, please make a donation here.

Check out our latest below!

Race Forward in the Media 

Here's some recent highlights of Race Forward in media! 

Race Forward’s Philanthropy Project Director, Michele Kumi Baer is quoted in this Inside Philanthropy’s article addressing changes needed within the philanthropic sector to address structural racism. Michele says, “There has been a noticeable shift in philanthropic sector conversations—more focus on racial equity at conferences, gatherings, meetings…” and recommends Deepa Iyer’s tools on “solidarity practice” and allyship. 

Hip-Hop artist, actor, and philanthropist Common, shared this Colorlines article on how to help immigrant children as part of a thread that sheds light on the abhorrent conditions that migrant children are living in at detention facilities at the border. The article amplified strategies and solutions, including donating to advocacy groups, reporting and documenting immigration raids, and holding candidates accountable to address these conditions and violations of human rights. 

Follow Race Forward on Twitter and Facebook to be a part of these important conversations happening in our racial justice work.

Campaign: Race to Democracy 

Learn more about the organizing that's happening around the country!

The Race to Democracy campaign works to build a more inclusive democracy by supporting communities across the U.S., and providing tools and resources to strengthen community-led racial justice organizing that advocates for change within local and regional government.

We’re connecting local communities to local government and working to create policies that advance racial equity, especially in communities of color that have been most affected by systemic racism. 

Check out the 100 Percent Cities Project or how Chicago is United for Equity. And visit our Race to Democracy website to read more stories, and access tools and resources. Together, we can leverage these local wins into a collective movement for racial justice.

Staff Picks

Credit: OWN Network

Find out what art & culture is attracting the attention of our staff! This month we hear from our Senior Director of Development and Partnerships, T'Shawn Rivers! 

"Ava DuVernay is magnificent and Queen Sugar is captivating with all of the twists and turns of the Bordelon family – including the struggle with racism in rural Louisiana as the Bordelons try to fulfill the late patriarch’s dream of having a successful sugar cane farm. All this while the family tries to stay united, but society finds ways to try and divide the family with drama based on past mistakes and challenges."

What are you listening to, watching, or reading? Tell us on Twitter or Facebook!

In solidarity,

Team Race Forward