YOU! HAVE THE POWER  | The new battle over Black political power

BY DR. ELLEN W. BROWN

YOU 

Black political power has never been a gift in this country—it has always been a fight. A fight to be counted. A fight to be heard. A fight to be seen as fully human in systems that were not built with us in mind. From the genesis of the 1960s, which shifted our focus from integration to self-determination and racial pride, to the new millennium, the force of Black power has consistently shown up. 

And here we are in 2026, watching that fight enter a new phase — one that demands our clarity, our courage, and our collective will. 

Across the nation, decisions are being made in courtrooms, state legislatures, school boards, and city councils that will shape the future of Black life for the next generation. Some of these decisions are quiet. Some are loud. But all of them are political. And all of them are about power. 

The Power to Vote — and the Effort to Weaken It 

In several states, courts have ruled that political maps were drawn in ways that weakened Black voting strength. In others, new maps are being pushed that could do exactly the same. 

These battles aren’t just about lines on a map; they’re about whether Black communities get to choose leaders who understand their needs, their history, and their vision for the future. 

When people try to shrink our districts, they’re trying to shrink our voice. And when they shrink our voice, they shrink our power. 

The Power to Learn — and the Fight Over Our History 

We are witnessing a wave of curriculum restrictions and book bans targeting Black history, Black authors, and honest conversations about race. Some states have removed diversity and equity programs from schools and public institutions. Others have limited what teachers can say about the very systems that shaped this country. 

This is not just an education issue. It is a calculated political strategy. 

So, Where Does Our Power Live Now? 

It lives exactly where it always has: In us. 

It lives in our ability to organize, to stay informed, and to show up locally — not just nationally. It lives in our ability to protect our history, our vote, and our voice. It lives in our ability to refuse silence when the stakes are this high. 

Political power is not just about elections. It’s about the everyday decisions that shape the conditions of our lives. It’s about knowing when our communities are being targeted — and responding with strategy, not despair. 

This moment requires us to be woke to the fact that our political power is being contested because it matters. Woke to the truth that progress is never permanent—it must be protected. 

Woke to the reality that our children are watching how we respond. 

You have power. The power to question. The power to challenge. The power to organize. The power to vote. The power to demand better. The power to refuse erasure. The power to shape the future—not just endure it. 

Black political power has never been about waiting for permission. It has always been about claiming what is ours, defending what we’ve built, and pushing forward with the kind of determination that has carried us through every chapter of this country’s history. 

This moment is no different. We have the power. The continuing question is: How will we choose to use it? 

Sharing strengthens our collective voice. Send your ideas, questions, stories to me at ebrown.nci@gmail.com.