The Civil Rights Movement is remembered for the efforts and accomplishments of a variety of Black individuals and groups to secure rights for Black Americans. This Black History Month, we want to uplift the economic vision that was a large part of the Civil Rights Movement. This vision demanded justice through an understanding of the ways the systems that make up the American economy impact working class and poor Black Americans.  

The Poor People’s Campaign is one of the better known examples of the fight for economic justice during the Civil Rights Movement. Led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the campaign was established to combat persistent economic inequality in the United States, despite the passage of major civil rights legislation. It demanded jobs, education, a fair minimum wage and housing for not only Black Americans, but for all working class and poor people. This campaign was important because it advocated for an “economic bill of rights” that asserted the right for everyone to have sufficient and efficient income, illustrating that a true equality cannot be achieved without economic and financial prosperity. 

While there have been some economic achievements for Black Americans since the Civil Rights Movement, significant systemic and institutional disparities for Black Americans still exist that affect their ability to achieve economic mobility and prosperity. Black Americans are still experiencing high poverty rates (16.8%), unemployment (7.1%), housing insecurity and low wages, all of which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Prosperity Now continues this fight against economic inequity by recognizing that true racial and economic justice begins with the transformation and dismantling of systems and structures that have historically excluded communities of color from building wealth.  

The Racial Economic Justice team engages in power-building strategies rooted in equity that seek to dismantle systemic and institutional challenges, some implicit and others explicit, that BIPOC-led nonprofits encounter. This includes working in partnership with nonprofit organizations to strengthen their infrastructures, provide human-centered services rooted in data, gain access to more resources and bring forth innovative solutions in advancing economic and wealth-building strategies for communities of color. In accordance with Prosperity Now’s vision, we believe that the transformation of systems and structures that have historically pushed communities of color to the margins begins with uplifting and centering marginalized communities.  

As we continue to celebrate the achievements of the past and present, like the Poor People’s Campaign or the Black Lives Matter Movement, we must grapple with the long-standing impact of harmful policies of the past, while also struggling against newer policies that create more economic barriers. In this way, we continue the charge that the Freedom Budget initiated. This Black History Month, we encourage you to learn more about and support BIPOC community partners while also considering ways to partner and support organizations working towards the vision of economic justice. 

Visit the Racial Economic Justice Team’s website to stay informed on critical issues affecting America's racial wealth divide, opportunities to advocate, upcoming webinars and more.