Black Resilience: Trauma to Triumph Since 1619

By Sonny Messiah Jiles | Word In Black Credit: Illustration by Demis Courquet-Lesaulnier via Wikimedia Commons/Adobe Stock (WIB) – As we acknowledge the 60th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington and the 1963 bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church, which killed four little Black girls in Birmingham, Alabama, I am reminded of the resilience of Black people. The recent speech made by Black businessman and philanthropist Robert Smith at the March on Washington and the first Black female Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s keynote comments at 16th Street Baptist speak “Truth to Power.” Smith, the billionaire CEO of Vista Equity Partners and the richest African American, reflected on his economic justice comments in his Linkedin post and wrote, “Black Americans continue to break significant barriers in our society but still endure systemic obstacles…Despite these hindrances, Black Americans persevere, remain steadfast and work to shape the future of this country. Yet, there remains a struggle for relevance, a sense of belonging and ownership of this nation.” During the March on Washington observance, Smith stressed to Black America that “We are enough,” encouraging us to take it upon ourselves to “build the economic infrastructure needed to bridge the #racialwealthgap. And...