Black Power in Times of Challenge and Change
Historically, Black communities have turned struggle into progress by being prepared when opportunities arise. Even in the most difficult times, we have drawn on our strength, creativity, and unity to move forward. From slavery to the civil rights movement to today, we have used every resource – our knowledge, our culture, and our collective power – to create change and open doors for future generations.
Our progress is built on the strong foundation of Black institutions—churches, HBCUs, community organizations, and businesses—that have nurtured, educated, and empowered us. Black leadership has always been a driving force, keeping the fight for justice alive. Now, the voices of young people are bringing fresh energy, sparking new ideas, and taking bold action to continue the work.
At the heart of our success is our tradition of collective giving. Black people have always pooled resources, supported one another, and invested in our own communities. This commitment to lifting as we climb has helped us survive and thrive, even in the face of injustice.
We have seen throughout history the power of collective action. After the Civil War, newly freed Black Americans built thriving communities, such as Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which became a center of Black business success and economic independence before being violently destroyed in 1921. Despite these setbacks, Black entrepreneurs and leaders have continued building and rebuilding. Likewise, the strength of Black institutions has been crucial, with HBCUs in the West, such as Prairie View A&M and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, providing education, leadership, and opportunity for Black scholars and professionals outside of the South.
In Colorado, the Five Points neighborhood in Denver became a hub of Black business, culture, and activism throughout the early 20th century. Known as the “Harlem of the West,” it was home to Black-owned newspapers, banks, restaurants, and jazz clubs that hosted legends like Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday. This legacy of Black enterprise and cultural influence remains a powerful reminder of what is possible when we invest in our own communities.
Yet today, we find ourselves at a crossroads. The stressors of this moment—the policies, restrictions, and deliberate efforts to roll back hard-fought rights—threaten to undo generations of progress. Voting rights are under attack, economic disparities are growing, and efforts to erase our history are becoming bolder. But as always, we will meet this challenge with action, strategy, and resilience.
We saw this spirit in the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-56, where Black solidarity and economic power forced change by refusing to support an unjust system. We see it today in the growth of Black-led investment groups and funds that are reclaiming economic power in our communities. In Colorado, the Black Resilience in Colorado (BRIC) Fund is leading this charge by directing critical resources to Black-led nonprofits and movements that are advancing equity and justice. Through strategic giving and investment, BRIC strengthens the infrastructure of Black leadership, ensuring that organizations rooted in our community can thrive and lead in this moment.
The opportunity before us is not just to defend our progress but to push forward even further. Now is the time to wield all that we have—our history, our institutions, our leadership, and the bold energy of rising generations—to not only hold the line but also build the future we deserve BRIC by BRIC.
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