Stepping Up to the Plate in the Face of Adversity

Amidst a constant stream of news surrounding racial disparities in the nation, it can be hard to escape a feeling of hopelessness. Black people seem to be constantly berated, ignored, murdered, and excluded in a never ending cycle of racism and ignorance. However in the midst of nationwide racial tensity, relief can be found with a magnifying glass. These four stories provide a notion of light in the bleak tunnel that is the current black experience in America. From Houston to Lansing, moments of pride and strength can be found by looking at people who are working to uplift black communities within their own avenues.

Black lives are being challenged across the nation, and POC have stepped up to the plate to ensure that black lives are protected, as well as fight for the support POC communities need in America. Highlighted below are the stories of POC activists in Michigan, musicians supporting black communities, collective calls for justice, and a philanthropy group fighting to keep black businesses alive.

Activists protect Sarah Anthony

Sarah Anthony is a Democratic member of the Michigan House of Representatives who works at Michigan’s capitol building. Last week, a protest formed at the capitol building in response to Michigan’s stay at home orders amidst COVID-19. The protests quickly escalated to a violent mob, and asinine acts of intimidation using firearms, racial jeers, and a storming of the capitol building with armed men created an unsafe environment for all of the state leaders who worked there.

Protesters gathered with weapons at the Michigan capitol building. Photo source Getty Images

Despite the circumstances, the elected officials put aside their own safety to go to work and continue to serve the people of Michigan. One of these officials is Sarah Anthony. Anthony faces a serious threat by just walking into her place of work. Enter our first example of good faith: a volunteer group who escorted Anthony to work on Wednesday.

The week before, Anthony had to walk through a violent crowd who committed racist gestures at the capitol steps. This week, a group of armed activists made sure that Anthony wouldn’t be walking alone. Two black women and four black and hispanic men protected Anthony as she walked the now dangerous path into her office. The activists all had the legal permits to carry their weapons, and they essentially matched the protesters’ energy with their own artillery.

Anthony has previously said that she is “not a huge gun person” but was honored and relieved to receive support from the activists who came to her physical defense amidst a time of fear.

Images of the act have quickly spread across the web, and the activists have been praised for their actions. The protection group was organized by a firefighter who was a constituent of Anthony’s. One of the participants, Michael Lynn Jr. said, “Being a black and brown female democrat in the capitol now is a dangerous job.” Furthermore, he did not want to see a black woman who had been elevated to political office feel threatened “because of the white supremacists in the yard.”

While it is terrifying that this act is even necessary, it is a relief to see communities rising up to protect what is right. Their actions send a clear message: people of color are not going to fall victim to intimidation and fear. Hatred will not stand in the way of a path to a new and better future. As long as there are good people in the world, the empowerment of unity will stand firm.

A remix feeds a hurting community

Image Courtesy of @TheeStallion on Instagram

Big B and that B stand for bands. Megan Thee Stallion and Beyonce teamed up for a remix of the popular song Savage. While the song provides a lighthearted relief to the stress of a pandemic controlled world, the song is doing more good than what meets the eye. All artist proceeds of the song are being donated to the non-profit organization Bread of Life.

The organization aims to end homelessness and improve the quality of life for those in need. The organization works to sustain, equip, and transform those in poverty and the low to moderate income communities with compassion and dignity.

In response to COVID-19, Bread of Life is working to help the communities in Houston that have been hit hardest by the pandemic. Numbers show that the black community has been disproportionately hit, and that African-Americans make up a large amount of essential workers.

Enter Megan and Beyonce. The two artists both hail from Houston and are now doing their part to support the communities that raised them. Beyonce’s BeyGood program has been working with multiple organizations in the Houston area to make sure that the city is sustained and taken care of amidst this crisis.

The Savage remix has the possibility of making an upwards of 10 million dollars in funds for the organization, and the artists have made other efforts to support their community that have brought in millions.

While two individuals can’t solve all of a community's issues, seeing people in a position of privilege leveraging their talents to uplift the populace that helped launch their careers shows a closed loop process that can make the world a better place. If you are in a position to help others, you should do it regardless of personal gain. The self-dubbed Houston Hotties have done their duty to their community, and we all benefit by jamming to the classy bougie hit.

A nation laces up their sneakers to fight against injustice

On February 23, an unarmed black man named Ahmaud Arbery was shot and killed while going for a run in his Brunswick, Georgia neighborhood. The racist and predatory attack left a nation speechless, but resulted in media coverage that is usually lackluster in situations of racial violence. People of all races, political beliefs, and social class took to social media to express outrage over the cruel murder of the 25 year old.

America is not a stranger to murder on the basis of race, but history shows that this country has no issue sweeping its racial issues under the rug. In an act of solidarity, the community at large reached out to make sure that this case was not ignored and on May 7, 2020, the murderers of Arbery were arrested.

Facing an external threat of a pandemic, protesting in the traditional way was deemed unsafe, so communities came together in a new way. #IRunwithAhmaud began to circulate on social media as people pledged to run 2.23 miles in the victim’s honor. While this energy wasn’t seen for the thousands of racially motivated murder cases with victims such as Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, and Sandra Bland, the reaction to this case gives new fire to the future of the Black Lives Matter Movement.

If this energy is kept up for all of the victims of racial crimes, the public opinion may become strong enough to enforce real change in the legislative and legal system. There is still years of work to be done to fix racial injustice, but a new collective voice gives hope in a relentless battle.

Black organizations work to save black business

According to CBS News, an estimated 90% of minority business owners were shut out of the payment protection program that was launched to sustain businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, small black and Latino businesses had over a 90% higher chance of being denied by mainstream banks for the PPP program compared to other minorities.

Source: The Young Black & Giving Back Institute

Upon hearing this, communities banded together to fight for the protection of black owned small businesses. In one example, the Sankofa Fund for Civic Engagement in Chattanooga Tennessee launched a grant program to make sure that black owned businesses were protected with or without government help. The group will give out $1,000 grants to 20 businesses in Hamilton County with 10 or fewer employees. In trying times, this small group stepped up to fight for their community, and they are just one of hundreds of small groups around the nation that are working to protect black businesses in America.

The Sankova group is just a small philanthropy group, but their example serves as a powerful example for the rest of the nation. People of color are historically left out from government aid, and this disparity of race will undoubtedly continue. Small businesses are the backbone of this country, and we should not sit back and watch them crumble in a time of need. We owe gratitude to the people of color who have banded together across the nation to financially support black businesses, and Sankova’s example should serve as an act of inspiration and a call to action for all of us.