What More Do You Want Black People to Say?

As a Black woman, I am overwhelmed by the number of emails from CEO’s and companies wanting to open up dialogue and conversation in light of the George Floyd tragedy. While I respect the attempt to open up dialogue in light of the racism that continues to be embolden in our faces, I’m not sure what else is there to be said that hasn’t been said for over 400 years of Black oppression in America?

We continue to open up dialogue, have these uncomfortable conversations, and nothing changes. Every year when an innocent Black person is brutalized and/or killed by the police we have these same conversations and then the next year another Black person gets killed the same way. So, I ask why are You having these conversations? What good will they do? What will You do after the conversation?

Let’s discuss economics. As a Black woman who is trying to build a 501c3 non-profit organization to help disenfranchised populations, I get told “no” at every turn. I have been utilizing my own resources for seven years. And, you know why? According to Ewing Marion Kaufman “The barriers to funding equality persist for Black women.

Black women are a marginalized and neglected population. It’s unfortunate, but statistics show that organizations, and other programs, specifically led by Black women, are often rejected and not funded. This is a true symptom of an unhealthy democracy, racial and economic inequality.

What I continue to see from funders across the board are organizations that are not owned and led by people of color, fully funded, to work in communities of color. Interesting. The common response from funders to organizations in my category is, “Declined”, “Rejected” with no response as to why OR that “We need to see a fully developed successful program, first. Come back to us in five years.” However, if everyone (e.g. banks, funder/s, venture capitalists, foundations, etc.) continues to decline and reject organizations that are owned and led by Black women, how likely is it, that they would even begin to have a fully successful developed program, one with a track record as reference — if they can’t get passed the “family and friends” funding round?

For all the CEO’s and companies who send out blast emails expressing Black solidarity, we need less talk and more action. We need racial justice. We need economic justice. But, Black people have been saying this for years. You already know this. There isn’t a person in America that doesn’t understand and know the plight of being Black in America. There isn’t a person on earth that doesn’t understand and know the plight of being Black in America. There isn’t a person in the universe that doesn’t understand and know the plight of being Black in America. And, now I ask, why do we have to continue to tell you? You know this already. It’s like beating a dead horse. What more do you want Black people to say?

Again, I respect your attempt to open up and participate in conversations but, if there are no tangibles or legitimate actions after these long winded and drawn out conversations, then why are we talking? Because then it’s just a performative ally-ship.