Succession Plans Are a Must for Black Organization’s Survival

By Aswad Walker | Houston Defender | Word In BlackThis& post& was originally published on& Defender NetworkCredit: Taylor Grote/Unsplash(WIB) – If one of the greatest, most influential Black organizations of the past 100 years can fade into oblivion, how can others avoid that same fate?That’s what happened to the Universal Negro Improvement Association, arguably the largest and most impactful Black organization in history. It once boasted a membership in the millions in the 1920s, with chapters on nearly every continent. And though the organization still exists in name, it is a shell of its former self.But at least it’s a shell. There are countless other Black organizations and businesses that had huge impacts on Black people and Black life, yet they are now gone, existing only in the history books and the memories of elders.Yet, some organizations have stood the test of time, existing over 100 years. What is their secret? What’s the difference? What do they have to teach today’s Black organizations and businesses that seek long-term staying power?Succession planning.Importance“You build up your company through blood, sweat, and tears. It’s a success. One day, however, you will need, or choose, to turn over the reins to someone else. Whether...