Throughout history, our nation has experienced times of racial progress, followed by periods of backlash. It happened following the Emancipation Proclamation. It happened following the Civil Rights Movement and it’s happening today. 

Whether the reversal of the Voting Rights Act, backsliding on corporate commitments following the murder of George Floyd, the Supreme Court’s decision declaring affirmative action unconstitutional or the recent litigation filed against Black led funds and organizations, the recent aggression towards Black people has been unrelenting. And it has triggered much confusion, paranoia and fear among Black leaders and those who support our cause. 

At Black Innovation Alliance, we are committed to fighting back. 

Introducing the Clap Back, a 90-day campaign designed to galvanize, mobilize and inspire, for the ultimate purpose of building true collective power, capable of driving lasting social change.

The phrase “Clap Back” comes from Hip Hop culture, and is used to describe the initial comeback associated with an emcee battle. To “clap back”, according to Oxford Dictionary, is to “respond quickly to critical remarks or unfair treatment”. The “powers that be” view Black people as a soft target. A means of easy exploitation and extraction. Because of all the ways we’ve been divided and left vulnerable, and the persistent stigma associated with Blackness, they feel we won’t fight and that our allies will turn tail and run. 

Through this campaign, Black Innovation Alliance stands in solidarity with those who choose to persist, to stand on the right side of history and advance the cause for racial justice that our forefathers initiated generations ago. 

At base, our campaign asserts five things: 

1. We do not live in a color-blind, race neutral society. Our nation was forged in the light of slavery. Until a generation ago, racism was written into law. The racist intention set in motion back then, continues to carry forward today. 
2. The legacy of slavery, Jim Crow and segregation lives on. While legal discrimination is frowned upon, systemic racism persists. And racial disparities diminish the quality of life for Black people across the board.  
3. While we’ve come a long way, we’ve a long way to go. Yes, there are indicators of progress. Our educational levels outpace many other demographics. We’ve an emerging middle class and even a few Black billionaires. But Black people on average continue to lag on just about every indicator, oftentimes despite outsized effort. 
4. Racial equity is necessary to advance. Equity is not equality. Instead, equity acknowledges that history and society have unfairly disadvantaged Blacks. Therefore equity-focused efforts are committed to deploying the required (not equal) resources to close gaps. 
5. We won’t stop until equal opportunity is achieved. Black people and our allies have fought this fight for a long time. It has never been a popular fight but it has always been a necessary one. And America, and all who benefit from American democracy and prosperity are better for it. Believe it. 

Over the next 90 days, we will take you on a truth voyage, exploring the ugly roots of our current predicament and exposing the age-old tactics that power brokers, hate mongers and wealth hoarders have used over and again, to distract from the aim…a fair and just democracy. We’ll provide resources and tools to those in the fight for racial equity and create opportunities and spaces for dreaming, sharing, building and planning. 

When they marched, they clapped back. 
When they resisted, they clapped back.
When they escaped, they clapped back. 
When they rebelled, they clapped back. 

Our generation won’t be stomped into acquiescence. We won’t back down from unfair treatment. 

We will find our friends. We will speak the truth. And we will do it in service to generations of freedom fighters who, by standing in their power, gave us the blueprint to stand in ours.  

Will you join us?