I don’t believe in hope anymore. Unfortunately, hope isn’t enough. I believe things won’t change for Black people unless we work to make them change for ourselves. Change comes from knowing our own (God, education, history and so on). Creating for ourselves, distributing to ourselves and buying from ourselves is the only way to protect and provide for ourselves.
This contribution, along with others exploring the new civil rights movement, appears in ESSENCE’s special #BlackLivesMatter issue. This historic collector’s edition is available on stands January 9.
FOR MORE FROM OUR BLACK LIVES MATTER ISSUE:
The Editor’s Letter: The Path Forward
Where Do We Go From Here?: Essay by Angela Davis
Where Do We Go From Here?: Essay by Patrisse Cullors
Where Do We Go From Here?: Essay by Isabel Wilkerson
Where Do We Go From Here?: Essay by Chirlane McCray
Where Do We Go From Here?: Essay by Sunny Hostin