The State of the Black Community

By: Hollis Lewis II JD, Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates

In the midst of frigid temperatures, the attempt to freeze federal funding, and ICE raids, January 2025 may have been the coldest winter since Sister Souljah’s classic novel and for Black Americans, the next 3 years could get even colder. At both the state and federal levels, leaders took bold and decisive action in signing Executive Orders ending DEI programs and, as they say, killing “wokeness.” What does this mean for Black Americans and Black West Virginians?

Facing assaults on our collective freedoms is nothing new to Black people in America. Black people have always been the mirror that forced America to face its ethical and moral inadequacies. However, unlike any time since the pre-civil rights era, Black people in particular, and America is facing a direct assault on our collective progress. While America is far from perfect, equality and equity were moving from concepts to tangible actions. No longer were we satisfied with being mentioned in history books, but we demanded truth in history…Holistic History. We were no longer satisfied with being hired at a corporation; we insisted that organizations give fair merit-based assessments for advancement. We demanded that we wear our hair as it grows naturally. We demanded that our culture be viewed as an intricate part of American culture and not simply an inconsequential footnote.

While the proverbial bigoted dog whistles are cloaked in phrases such as wokeness or DEI, Black people in particular and marginalized people in general, are simply demanding equitable treatment. For the first time in history, we moved past wanting a seat at the table; we wanted ownership of the table and were more than willing to buy our way in. This was meant with fear that the old way of conducting business was over, control would be lost, and hostility once aimed at underrepresented persons would be reciprocated. With that, not only were DEI programs ended, but the vehicle out of poverty for many, public education is being attacked, attempts to drastically curb federal employment have been deployed, and sanitization of our collective history has begun. Therefore, the question is what can we do?

We must look at our past to map out a strategic plan for our future. In the midst of Jim Crow, Black people used our power and our genius to plan out and execute calculated boycotts and other movements (Alabama bus boycotts, the Green Book, Brown v. Board of Education, etc.). We must support those that are establishing foundational institutions. We must unite our collective genius under the banner of purpose driven projects that benefit and empower us individually and collectively. We must leverage the advantages of technology. We must form equally beneficial alliances; we can no longer afford to do all the heavy lifting while others passively march onward due to the benefits of our labor. We must emphasize the point, West Virginia can ill afford to exclude any portion of its population nor insulate itself from the outside world. West Virginia must make every effort to get the best out of its people and become attractive to our neighbors who have diverse and innovative ideas.

Lastly, it’s always the darkest before the light. We must continue to not only march toward the light, we must create it. While this burden is heavy and it seems discouraging, we must continue to not only be America’s mirror but usurp the baton to truly make America great for all.

Hollis Lewis II JD, Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates