Getting Ready for the Tough Year Ahead

“Our culture provides rivers for us to drink from when the earth is being scorched and running dry”

By Keith Rushing

Art by Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe at Rubell Museum DC.

We’re in for some tough tough times in 2024. There’s the attack on affirmative action that will lead to less of us applying and being accepted to elite colleges. And the gutting of equity and diversity programs seek to take us back to a time when you could count the number of Black and Brown folks in top professions on one hand. Too often, that’s still  the case.

Meanwhile, they're trying to erase the record of the vast contributions we have made in building this country and the trauma we've experienced throughout.

The ongoing march of white supremacy and structural racism keeps too many of us facing the trauma of incarceration. And many of our brothers and sisters are living on the streets

The dream of equity and justice  still feels so distant despite incredible successes.

These attacks are directly related to the success and power we’ve achieved through enormous struggle, and the unwillingness of others to live in harmony with people who don’t look like them. This fear and insecurity of America becoming more Black and Brown is driving much of it.

So what do we do about this y’all?

How do we as Black folks strengthen ourselves in the face of these challenges we face and endure through it? How do we still seek to prosper? I hope we can put our heads together as our parents, grandparents and ancestors did before us as we struggle collectively.

The culture our ancestors built offers us an infinite source of rejuvenation and sustenance. Our culture provides rivers for us to drink from when the earth is being scorched and running dry. This cultural heritage shows up in so many ways. 

In 2024, I hope that we turn to everything from our faith, to our rich dance and music traditions, for healing. And I hope we turn to each other.

We’ve only survived and prospered through community when we’ve held each other up and supported and loved each other through difficult times. Excessive Individualism will only bring more harm.

I hope we feel what we need to feel, and say what we need to say as we strive to keep moving forward as a people.