“We are the movement!”
The words of Tennessee Representative Justin J Pearson could not be more appropriate. Last night’s NAACP Portland Freedom Fund Dinner was a celebration of Black Excellence and a reminder of the fierce urgency of now.
Black Portland, for the sake of our children, must unite. And above all else, I am committed to that objective.
We have tremendous Black leadership in the State right now. Take education for example. The Director of the Oregon Department of Education is a Black woman. The superintendent of Portland Public Schools, where 30% of Oregon’s Black students attend school, is a Black woman. The Chair of the PPS Board of Education is a Black man and the President of the Portland Association of Teachers is also a Black woman. This is an addition to an array of fantastic Black nonprofits. If we can’t find a way for Black students to achieve with this leadership, if we can’t marshal our resources for the sake of progress, not only has the system failed us, but be we as a community, will fail our children.
Representative Pearson reminded us with a powerful keynote, that we are the movement and we must act expeditiously, and with humanity, to alleviate the social conditions facing our youth, houseless individuals, and save our environment for future generations among other challenges.
To our white allies, a reminder you cannot afford to sit on the sidelines of comfortability. Open your checkbooks and make a donation to one of the local Black nonprofits doing the work. Educate your children to be anti-racist. Tear down the systems that only benefit yourselves, and join us in a brother and sisterhood of humanity.
This is our moment. We are the movement. And we were reminded last night that “You can’t expel a movement.” Thank you Representative Justin J Pearson for your message, your courage, and your leadership.
Hats off to the NAACP Portland Branch 1120 under the leadership of James Posey for organizing last night’s dinner. A big thank you to all of our Word is Bond PDX Board members, staff, and community ambassadors who joined us for the event.
Let’s fight the good fight. ✊🏾🤎👑
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