Dear Year Up,
Black History Month is a reminder of the leadership and innovation the Black community has provided our society. The persistence, perseverance, and resistance of the community led to many of the equitable and inclusive laws that benefit all Americans. In 2020, we feel it is especially important to reflect on and learn from Black experiences in America. Many of our social, political, and economic structures have painful and complex relationships with race. Grasping that context is critical to understanding the systems which we describe as the Opportunity Divide. This past year we were offered an incredible opportunity to learn from Nikole Hannah-Jones’ “The 1619 Project”, published in the New York Times. This groundbreaking work provided us with new historical narratives on the impact Black people have had in building this country. To us, celebrating Black History Month is about acknowledging individuals who chose to put the community above themselves, which we believe will resonate with everyone who celebrates this month here at Year Up.
We mourn the loss of many influential Black figures this past year like Toni Morrison, whose legacy shaped American literature through prose, poetry, and compassionate patience. As she used to share with her students, we share with you one of her quotes offered to us by an alum at the Alumni Summit: “When you get these jobs that you have been so brilliantly trained for, just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.” This is connected to the idea of “lifting while you climb,” which is central to our pursuit of social and economic justice, and applies not just to our young people, but to all of us. With resilience and risk, the Black community has paved the way for collective liberation here in the U.S. and abroad, urging us all to move the work of racial equity and inclusion forward together. The Civil Rights Movement demonstrated how we all have a responsibility to be an agent of justice. We must work collectively to reach racial equity within our staff, as that is necessary to take on this work with our partners and with our communities.
Black historical leaders have taught us that everyone has a voice in the movement, a role to play, and an opportunity to empower someone else. As I reflect on the braveness and boldness of Black Americans like Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Angela Davis, Elijah Cummings, Nipsey Hussle, Martin Luther King Jr., their voices are distinct and different. Whether they were scholars, activists, educators, leaders, or intellectuals, they had one mission and objective: racial equity for the Black community. We are here today because these individuals with fortitude cultivated their unique voices through solidarity with Black communities, through actions like civil disobedience, community organizing, and artistic expression. As our young adults and staff members across the country find and cultivate their voices, we are confident these strong and powerful Black voices will continue to shape and uplift the community and its legacy in new and unique ways. There is strength in numbers, and it is an imperative to have more and different voices to build the equity we all want to see. When we strive for a singular message or voice, we limit the success and potential of our community. The diversity and uniqueness of the Black community is what makes Black History Month special.
We recognize that economic inequity is inextricably linked to racial injustice in our society. This is a painful truth to hold and reconcile, and one that is not possible to solve for alone. We are humbled to walk alongside all of you who are committed to challenging the systems and inequities that have contributed to and created the Opportunity Divide, and modeling that work wherever possible. Black History Month is a time to reflect, celebrate, and recognize those who are committed to eliminating racial injustice. As a community, we at Year Up are committed to economic justice, which means it’s an imperative that we support and uplift everyone and anyone who is on this journey with us through respect, integrity, justice, and compassion. Let’s take time this month to pay tribute to those who came before us, and look within ourselves on how we can transform the path forward for the generations to come.
Best,
Antoine & Gerald
