NEO Philanthropy’s Post

For those who will be in the Vineyard mid-August, please join this conversation hosted by the The African American Policy Forum about attacks on Black women In the Bullseye of Backlash: Anti-Wokeness and the Attack on Black Women Union Chapel, Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard Mon, Aug. 12 @ 5p ET In March earlier this year AAPF convened an urgent panel as part of our Her Dream Deferred series to bring together Black women from a variety of sectors to sound the alarm about Black women’s vulnerability to these attacks in the war on woke and discuss how we should see the long-term efforts to undermine Black women’s place in society as part of a larger assault on civil rights and democracy. Since that conversation the continued attack on Black women in universities, politics and businesses has continued unabated. The storm that has been created by the demonization of DEI, rollback of affirmative action, state-sanctioned violence and backlash against racial justice has found Black women at the center. This urgent panel will bring together eminent Black women scholars, activists and thinkers who will draw from the long tradition of Black women’s resistance to not only make sense of these intersectional attacks but outline the necessary steps to defend Black women and our communities. -------

You can live stream this! See below for info about this critical and timely program. Kimberle Crenshaw

📢 Today, we unite to honor National Black Voter Registration Day! This is a powerful reminder of the strength of our voices and the impact of our votes. When we register, engage, and mobilize as one, we can shape our nation's future. 🗳️✨ Black voters, especially Black women, are a formidable force driving change and demanding accountability. Let's continue to empower each other and ensure that every eligible voter is registered and ready to make their voice heard. As we rally today, let’s focus on the urgent issues facing our communities, particularly the health of Black mothers and infants. This is a matter of life and death, and voting is one way to advocate for meaningful change. Here’s how you can make a difference this National Black Voter Registration Day: 1. **Register to Vote**: Haven't registered yet? Now's the time! Visit https://lnkd.in/eM-2iCKj to make your voice count. 2. **Educate and Mobilize**: Share this message and discuss the importance of voting, especially on maternal and infant health. 3. **Attend Community Events**: Participate in local voter registration events to spread awareness. 4. **Advocate for Change**: Support organizations that prioritize the health of Black families. Let’s harness our collective power to create a future where our voices are heard and our needs are met! 💪🏾🖤 #BlackBirthOnTheBallot #NationalBlackVoterRegistrationDay

Black history is the history of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) and, as we recognize Black history and the great leaders of our time, both known and unknown, we must keep in mind that the fight to defend voting rights is still ongoing. We must not only celebrate Black history, but also fight to prevent another chapter of discrimination and Jim Crow politics from being written. An group aiming to do something is Black Voters Matter! BLACK VOTERS MATTER IS AN ORGANIZATION WHO IS MAKING SURE BLACK VOTERS VOICE IS HEARD! TO LEARN MORE OR GET INVOLVED VISIT THE LINK BELOW! https://lnkd.in/ekwnBZs

There is power in numbers !

Listen to Her Words. Antiracism is not a hobby; it’s a lifestyle—a commitment. Black women have saved us from ourselves countless times, even when, as a whole, we have NOT deserved it. This time, though, it needs to be on us. To every “white” man and woman: I am counting on you to educate yourselves. I’m here to help—message me, and I’ll meet you where you are. I’ll do what it takes. I’ll educate your employees. I’ll educate your managers. I’ll educate your C sweet. It’s time we stop placing the burden of dismantling racism on Black people. We created this problem, and we must be the ones to end it. This is a “white” issue rooted in a history that lacks empathy and accountability. If you’re upset about the consequences we’re facing under a racist, bigoted, and authoritarian figure, then do something. Connect with me, follow, and join in the work of learning. Together, we can change this—starting NOW.

To my fellow Black women, today brings a familiar weight. The day after an election, we’re often expected to be the steady voices in the room, bringing calm to the chaos and carrying burdens that are not ours alone. These expectations are not coincidental; they’re shaped by race and by the resilience others project onto us. We’re asked to hold things together, even in moments when we’re struggling ourselves. But we know this truth: often, we’re left to bear this weight alone. In a world that leans on our strength without always seeing our humanity, the community we have in one another is vital. So today, as we process the outcome of this election, let’s reclaim some of that strength for ourselves. We don’t owe anyone our calm or our energy. We deserve space to rest, to feel, and to heal. Together, we remind each other that our worth isn’t defined by how much we can endure. Today, let’s choose to protect our well-being and support one another in this shared experience. We are enough, just as we are—and we deserve peace.

Black feminists- how y’all feeling? 😵💫 Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from his re-election bid and initial reactions to his backing Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee had the internet and our brains spinning today! With a new candidate comes new demands, and as Black feminists, those demands are shaped by what matters to us: Black women, girls, and gender-expansive people. If you’re ready to squad up, we’re here to welcome you into Black feminisms! Here's how to tap in: 💡Check out our Vote Like A Black Feminist campaign to get ready for the road ahead 💡Become a member or donate to BFF because we know that Black feminisms - not candidates - gets us free. 💡Help us shape the first 100 days! Take this 5-minute survey; your answers will inform BFF’s Black Feminist Agenda and shape priorities across the movement in the next season. This electoral season and beyond, it is always about us.

As I reflect on the racism and discrimination that influential figures like Dianne Abbott have faced, I find myself feeling disgusted, though not shocked. It doesn't get any less infuriating to witness the deep-rooted biases and systemic barriers that Black women continue to encounter. Just because it comes from a party that has faces like ours it doesn't make it ok. It is gaslighting at another level. The reality is, these experiences of racism and discrimination are not new. They have been ingrained in our societies for far too long. However, we must acknowledge and address them head-on because it is 2024 and we are still having the same damn conversations. In the UK, studies by the Runnymede Trust reveal the disproportionate levels of racial discrimination faced by Black women in various aspects of their lives. These findings serve as a wake-up call, reminding us of the urgent need to dismantle the structures that perpetuate such inequality. Today, let's channel our disgust and frustration into action. Let's amplify the voices of Black women, listen to their experiences, and uplift their stories. We must create safe and inclusive spaces where their talents, contributions, and perspectives are not only recognised but celebrated and appreciated. We need to be standing against racism and anti-Blackness and work towards a more just and equitable society.

100% THIS. Especially for my American friends, family, colleagues. But also for my Canadian (and British) ones too. The media-amplified vitriol (in overt and quiet, coded ways) is likely to get much worse in all the ways Elika D describes. And it will likely embolden those voices across the border and across the pond. If you're not sure what to listen for, or how to show up, resources like VISIONS, Inc, books and journals like "Me and White Supremacy" by Layla Saad, are a great place to start. Try not to burden people with lived experiences of racism and misogyny with educating you, fortunately there are lots of great existing tools and guides; you can ask me, and of course, Google :)