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As we observe the third Juneteenth national holiday, we celebrate the progress made, while acknowledging the ongoing work required to truly build a just, inclusive, and equitable society for all.
Post-slavery policies, such as segregation, redlining, and discriminatory lending practices have perpetuated economic inequality throughout the United States. The legacy of slavery has deeply impacted justice, equity, and economic opportunities for many Black communities and created systemic barriers that still persist today. Yet despite these challenges, Black communities continue to show resilience and strength.
Investing in BIPOC community-led organizations is an important lever in addressing the ongoing challenges Black communities face in the US.
Comic Relief US grantee partners like Brother Sister Sol, GrowDat, and Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium work at the grassroots level to address the immediate needs of the communities they serve, while building a foundation for future generations.
“We believe that people from the communities that they serve do the job better. They're your family, they're your friends, they're your peers. And if you've dedicated your life to wanting to uplift your community, you're going to do that with your heart, your soul,” says Soukie Dia, Comic Relief US Grants Programs and Communications Manager.
As of 2022, more than 40% of Comic Relief US grantees are BIPOC or locally-led. These organizations look to build more resilient communities by addressing racial and gender inequities and strengthening children’s and young people’s capacity to recover from the effects of intergenerational poverty.
Dia continues, “We invest in organizations that are led by BIPOC leaders because Black, Indigenous, and people of color are the most marginalized globally and domestically, and they're the ones that are the most forgotten about in philanthropy.”
These trailblazing organizations tackle the persistent inequality and issues that effect the Black community, amplifying and uplifting the voices of marginalized people, and advance equity to create lasting change. Supporting BIPOC-led organizations goes beyond Juneteenth, however honoring the values of freedom and justice this holiday represents, reinforces our vision of a just world free from poverty.
To learn more about Juneteenth visit The National Museum of African American History and Culture.
