YOU! HOLD THE KEY TO CHANGE | Project 2025: What it Means for Black Communities

BY DR. ELLEN BROWN

It is time to get serious! There are real threats to our civil rights and equal opportunities. You may have heard mentions of Project 2025 and even discussions about its activities. But do you know its purpose? I encourage you to read this summary as its implementation under the presidency of Donald Trump looms over the country. 

Project 2025 is described this way: 

Project 2025 is a historic movement, brought together by over 100 respected organizations from across the conservative movement, to abolish the Deep State and return government to the people. 

Project 2025 describes its aims as assistance to the next conservative president. Learning more about what this represents in our individual lives is another reason to take it seriously and engage with the concept of “wokeness.” 

While wokeness is allegedly on the new U.S. leadership team’s chopping block, there is a reason to understand its redefined meaning for this administration. Despite turning our heads the other way, let us consider focusing our minds on what this re-interpretation is all about. Wokeness has traditionally meant the state or condition of being woke (aware) as in matters of racial and social justice. 

The powerful slang term used in the Black community defines a state of mind where knowledge and focus take precedence. You have heard of wokeness as it is associated with various sources — including the media, non-profit organizations, workplace conversations, and religious and social organizations. 

The question is: can you define it? Do you know the impact it has? Who “owns” it? What is in it for me? 

The main point here is this: Project 2025 is already in operation. It is the blueprint to be used by this administration and will be difficult to fight against according to sources. It has absolute immunity from the Supreme Court and protected rights and freedoms awarded to the President. 

Among its targets are Black and Brown communities specifically. By attacking the departments of Justice and Education, It seeks to dismantle civil rights and the educational system as we know it. It looks to undermine democracy, with a specific focus on citizens of color and targeted immigrants 

Project 2025 serves as a platform for Donald Trump and his second vice president to move forward with their ideas and plans to reshape America as they envision it. 

Every president has chosen this platform in varying ways to push forward. Wokeness is not a new concept, nor is it unique to political strategy. What is unclear is the reversal of its impact on his agenda — and our defined intention to highlight and encourage the positive qualities associated with its definition. 

The uncertainty about how it may change his plans remains to be seen. My advice? Keep your eyes and ears open and focused; this is going to change some things. 

For more information, see the Thurgood Marshall Institute’s “What Project 25 Means for Black Communities”: https://tminstituteldf.org/what-project-2025-means-for-black-communities/ 

This article aims to raise awareness of this initiative; feel free to share it with your friends, family, business contacts, congregations, and community members. I welcome your input, questions, and ideas for topics; feel free to send them to ebrown.nci@gmail.com