Introduction: This Era of Black Activism

This era of Black activism has called forth movements that have developed widespread impacts, as well as broad and diverse support. They continue to reveal both active and passive complicity with racist and misogynist agendas in politics, policing, environmental protection, education and business. And they have held up a mirror to the Black community to address the sexual abuse and rape of Black girls and women by Black men. We believe this is a moment when scholars would do well to focus on how these Black-led movements, building upon but also building beyond the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s, are working to transform the lives of Blacks in America as well as US society as a whole. It is a moment to reflect upon and engage in research on the goals, the means, the leaders, the supporters, and the outcomes so far during this period of activism.This era of Black activism has taken many forms: protests, online spaces, changes to law and public policy, and corporate responses. This volume seeks to bring together research and reflections on many of them, to show the reach of racism across social, political, economic, public and personal spaces, so that readers may begin to appreciate that Black activism, especially in this era, is never about only one issue or one strategy. We believe it has been the sustained, creative and adaptive work of activists who have continually found ways to bring forth a more perfect democracy, and a more beloved community.