What Happens When Black People UNITE: Past, Present, and Future.
History has already shown us what happens when Black people UNITE. It terrifies systems of oppression, disrupts economies, and shifts cultural narratives. And no matter how many times those in power have tried to divide, silence, or destroy us — the truth remains: when we move as one, we are unstoppable.
The Past: Every Victory We’ve Had, We Had Together
Look back through the pages of history and you’ll find that every major stride Black people have made happened when we came together with one purpose, one voice, and one vision.
When enslaved Africans whispered about escape routes through spirituals and risked their lives guiding each other through the Underground Railroad, they weren’t waiting for permission — they UNIFIED.
When Black Wall Street in Tulsa flourished in the early 1900s, boasting hundreds of Black-owned businesses, banks, hospitals, and schools — creating wealth in a time when we weren’t even legally seen as equal citizens — it was because Black people pooled their resources, knowledge, and power. And because of that unity, it was targeted, bombed, and burned to the ground.
When the Montgomery Bus Boycott was launched, it wasn’t the effort of one activist or a few organizers. It was the daily sacrifice of an entire Black community walking to work, refusing to ride buses, choosing collective struggle over individual convenience for over a year — until the system cracked under the weight of their unity.
This is what happens when we UNITE: we Win.
“The Negro unity movement is the greatest threat to the internal security of the United States.”
The former director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover who served as the Director of the FBI from its founding in 1935 until his death in 1972.
— J. Edgar Hoover
The Present: Recognizing Our Power, Protecting Our Movement
Today, that same energy is rising again. The cultural influence of Black America is unmatched. From music, fashion, and language to social justice movements and entrepreneurship — we set trends, drive economies, and command attention.
But with that power comes responsibility. And part of that responsibility is knowing who’s truly for us.
Yes, there are white allies who sincerely fight alongside us, who recognize their privilege and use it to help dismantle the system. But history has taught us to be cautious. At the first sign of entitlement, of speaking over us, or of attempting to control a movement they didn’t birth, we must part company — swiftly and unapologetically.
And while we guard against external interference, we must also be vigilant about those within. Not every person with our skin is aligned with our mission. There are skin-folk who are not kin-folk — those who sabotage progress with jealousy, self-interest, or fear disguised as caution. We will not be distracted or derailed by the whispers of the timid or the sabotage of the disloyal.
And let’s be clear: we have no time for critics — Black or white — who deal in theory while refusing to get their hands dirty. The sidelines are full of people with opinions, but movements are made by those who are willing to put in the work. The time for begging to be accepted by those who’ve consistently shown us hatred is over.
The Reality: White Power Has Always Risked Profit to Maintain Control
It’s a painful truth, but one we must confront: white-dominated systems have historically been willing to risk financial loss just to maintain power over Black lives.
From closing down thriving Black towns to refusing to hire or promote qualified Black professionals, from denying home loans to Black families to enforcing segregation laws that hurt local economies — time and time again, those in power chose control over profit.
And while they can afford to lose a little money to maintain their dominance, we cannot afford to remain economically powerless. Because in America, money is power. Ownership is power. Control over our own narratives, resources, and communities is power. And the only way to claim it is by uniting financially, and socially.
The Future: A Declaration of Independence
Today, we UNITE.
Not because it’s convenient. Not because anyone gave us permission. But because the future belongs to those bold enough to build it for themselves.
We’re done asking. Done waiting. Done explaining.
We’re creating platforms, businesses, networks, and communities where we own the table, the seats, and the conversation. Where our dollars circulate among us. Where our culture is protected by us. Where our future is secured by our own hands.
There will be naysayers. There will be infiltrators. There will be the ever-present crabs in a barrel. But they are irrelevant.
Because what happens when Black people UNITE?
We change the world. We always have. And we’re about to do it again.
Today, we stop surviving and start building. Today, we UNITE.
