Op-Ed - The Movement Needs Us All

By Aisha R. Arrington; President & CEO, Fort Wayne Urban League

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” – Barack Obama

History has taught us that it’s never been one person or one effort that moved the needle on social justice for all people. 40,000 black bus riders boycotted Montgomery’s bus system December 5, 1955. They walked, carpooled, or rode in taxis that were committed to charging only 10 cents a ride; the same price the bus charged, and they did not do it for one day or one week or even for one month. The Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted 381 days. Rosa may have sat with courage and determination but 40,000 stood with her to make bus segregation illegal in the United States.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott stands as a testament of what can be accomplished when we all work together for the greater good. Yet, there remains the question, “Would we, as a people, be able to pull off a Montgomery Bus Boycott today?” While that question may be difficult to answer there is no doubt the need for a collaborative effort to help get everyone to “equal” in this country. The 2023 State of Black America’s report, issued by the National Urban League, indicated that the equality index has only increased by 2.7% in the last 20 years. If we continue at this rate; it will take 300 years for black people to be equal to white people in this country. There is so much work to be done.

The Fort Wayne Urban League will be kicking off The Race Card Project 2.0 February 1st in partnership with journalist, Michele Norris, who created The Race Card Project in 2010. It’s a great opportunity to continue the sometimes delicate conversation about race and identity and the campaign will run the entire month of February during Black History Month. Last year, FWUL collected over 400 cards. It’s only through honest and authentic conversations that real change can be possible. Here are a few of the six-word race card essays collected last year:

“First to swim in integrated pool.”

“Vernon Jordan was almost assassinated here.”

“We are more alike than different.”

“Why does my hoodie scare you?”

Want to join the conversation?

Simply visit our website: fwul.org and share your story!

Talking about race and identity sets the stage for improving the outcomes concerning everything related to social justice. The six-word essay from the young student concerning his hoodie helped with the development of FWUL’s Mothers for the Movement – Every Child Home Alive initiative that kicked off this past summer because the group had to face the fact that our black and brown kids can be seen as a threat even when they have done nothing wrong. Developing protocols to keep our kids safe when pulled over by the police was accomplished by working together. The essay concerning the assassination attempt of Vernon Jordan, former President and CEO of the National Urban League, points to the importance of remembering history.

FWUL is proud to announce that we will be honoring history by dedicating our library to Chief Condra Ridley who has served our community for over 30 years and continues to share historical stories about triumph, perseverance, and the human experience through a lens of racial inequality. While we have a beautifully painted Rosa Parks bus, Theoplis Smith truly inspired us all, no one can tell the story of Rosa Parks better than Chief Condra Ridley who reminds us that, “When you understand people, understand their story, you understand who they are.” Maybe that’s just what we all need more of; understanding.

There is room for all of us. Whether it’s the NAACP, Black Panther Party, or even the Poor People’s campaign; we can all be different but still choose to stand together and more importantly; work together.

Whether it’s food insecurity, gun violence, education declines, housing issues, racism, or even wage gaps – it going to take all 269,994 of us, living here in Fort Wayne, to work together to resolve the issues our community faces. James Baldwin said it best, “If I am starving, you are in danger.” Too many people are starving, and we are all in trouble.

May the 40,000 who boycotted the Montgomery’s bus system, remind us that there is power in numbers especially when we all stand together and walk together arm in arm. That’s called a movement. That’s called real change.