RISE AS ONE: A Call to Collective Empowerment.
Let’s be clear—this movement is not rooted in hate, revenge, or retribution. It is not about tearing others down; it is about lifting ourselves up. It is about restoration, not retaliation. Our focus is the upliftment of our people, the cultivation of unity, the power of shared networks, and the relentless pursuit of collective empowerment.
We aim to awaken the truths of our rich and expansive history—truths too often buried, distorted, or erased. With that knowledge, we do not seek to dwell in grievance, but to weaponize truth as a tool for elevation. We study our past not to remain in it, but to move forward—together.
This is a Process, Not a Moment
True transformation is not simple. It is not a hashtag or a trend. It is a mindset, cultivated by action. Until we are willing to confront uncomfortable truths, to stand in them boldly, and to move in alignment with them, we will remain fragmented.
Empowerment begins with education, but it does not end there. Awareness must lead to belief, belief to confidence, and confidence to execution. To RISE AS ONE is not merely a slogan—it is a strategy.
Economic Power Is Political Power
Let’s be honest: no one willingly gives up power. Power is either built or taken—taken not by force, but by intention. One of the most powerful, yet underutilized, tools at our disposal is our economic power. We have the freedom to choose where we spend, who we support, and what values our dollars uphold.
Currently, the Black dollar circulates within our communities for less than 6 hours—once—before it exits. By contrast, in other communities, such as the Jewish and Asian communities, currency circulates up to 12 to 14 times before leaving. That economic cohesion fuels business ownership, political influence, and generational wealth. Without it, we remain at the margins—consuming but not controlling.
The High Cost of Disunity
Our lack of cohesion—our failure to speak with one voice and build with one purpose—has been our kryptonite. It has left us vulnerable to division by race, religion, language, and geography.
Too many of us are still arguing about where the ship docked, rather than acknowledging where the journey began. Whether in Kingston, Lagos, Port-au-Prince, Atlanta, or Toronto, the world sees us as one—until we fracture ourselves through cultural tribalism.
Even those who distance themselves from Blackness (“me no Black”) are not immune when they are racially targeted. Systems of oppression do not check passports or accents. In the eyes of discrimination, we are one. So we must begin to organize as one, build as one, and rise as one.
Unity is Strategy, Not Sentiment
Our political power will always fall short if it is not anchored in unity. To build a future where our voices matter and our children thrive, we must begin by choosing each other. That means consciously supporting Black-owned businesses, investing in Black-led institutions, amplifying Black voices, and educating ourselves and our youth with unfiltered truth.
This is not about exclusion—it is about intention. Because until we understand that collective liberation requires collective action, we will continue to fight battles alone that we could win together.
The time is now. To know who we are. To reclaim what is ours. To believe in our power. And to RISE AS ONE.