2022 Policy Slate for Building Better Black Futures

Not one of the issues shaping life in communities of colour can be fully disentangled from the others.

For U.S. Black History Month, we interviewed some of our Senior Fellows to take stock of the structural conditions that continue to impede the health and wellbeing of Black people and all communities of colour in South Africa and the U.S., and to discuss the solutions needed to transform them.

One truism stands out across Fellows’ work and analyses: Not one of the issues shaping life in communities of colour can be fully disentangled from the others. Rather, they are richly intertwined and interconnected, and have deep historical roots. As Audre Lorde once said, "There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives."

Embedded in Lorde’s words is hope that engaging on any one issue or any group of issues, for the express purpose of realising and advancing equity, moves the needle on the overall picture of health and wellbeing in communities of colour because they are all connected.

The policy issues explored below draw on this recognition of the interconnectedness and complexity of life in communities of colour and are rooted in our Fellows’ insights and deep care for people.

Each image below includes links to an article that explores the titular issue. The articles also link out to opportunities to learn more and engage in change efforts.

We invite you to join our Fellows in pushing this collective work forward.

Click on an image below to learn more about the issue and explore opportunities for change.