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During Black History Month, Reflecting on Community Development

It’s impossible to talk about community development and rebuilding neighborhoods without tackling issues of race, social justice and the deeply-rooted obstacles to equity in America. For LISC DC’s Adiyah Ali, Black History Month is a time to revisit what’s really required to transform communities—and to redouble our efforts to support change at the grassroots.

During the month of February, I often think about how far we have come as a nation, and how far we have left to go. I also think about whether I am doing enough in my day-to-day work to really make a difference in people's lives. For me, Black History Month means reflecting on how community work is an essential way to promote social justice for African-Americans. Historically, this has been the case, and it remains so today.

Community development and social justice are inextricably linked. I see this work as an intentional way to create space at the decision-making table for the most marginalized, most neglected, and most vulnerable members of a society. It means not only making plans for revitalization, but also examining and correcting patterns and policies that have led to the disinvestment and destruction of neighborhoods and to the displacement of residents.

For me, community development is an essential way to promote social justice for African-Americans.

Community development can’t happen without established trust between key stakeholders. But in so many communities, in so many ways, trust has been eroded: by rampant redistricting that has prevented Blacks from having access to quality, well-funded schools; by gerrymandering that locked them out of the political process; by the many cases of blatant discrimination whereby realtors used residential segregation ordinances, racial covenants and legal agreements to prevent Black families from buying houses; and by the sub-prime lending bubble that led to a disproportionate number of Blacks losing their homes.

I am fortunate to work for an organization that brings together and consults with a diverse group of folks in the community, long before ground is broken or an initiative is taken. We approach our mission in a holistic manner, recognizing that the challenges facing historically marginalized people are interconnected. But while we work to build bridges to opportunities and to create real, lasting solutions, we must also stay focused on empowering people at the local level to bring about change on the national level. Because federal policies have a profound impact on communities.

Baltimore's Lafayette Courts were a prime example of how public housing policies have a profound impact on communities. The development became a symbol of blight and inequity and was ultimately demolished. (Courtesy of the AFRO-American Newspapers)
Baltimore's Lafayette Courts were a prime example of how public housing policies have a profound impact on communities. The development became a symbol of blight and inequity and was ultimately demolished. (Courtesy of the AFRO-American Newspapers)

As I look back on the past year, I am struck by how many hurdles we still face. The gains of the Civil Rights movement are continually threatened: by underhanded schemes for deterring people of color from voting, a high percentage of Black men are incarcerated for nonviolent crimes and stripped of their right to vote, and people are still being judged by, attacked, and killed because of the color of their skin. It's clear that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream has yet to be fulfilled.

Dr. King was engaged in community development. He understood that the relationships between justice, jobs, and health must be addressed simultaneously. A neighborhood cannot be rebuilt without acknowledging the roots of its destruction.

Consider Baltimore, Maryland, for example. Last year, when the youth of Baltimore sparked an uprising heard across the world, many were quick to condemn their actions and focus on broken windows. But why didn’t these same people condemn the conditions that led to the riots – the violence, the disinvestment, the extreme poverty, the prevalent blight, the abandoned neighborhoods, the underfunded schools, the lack of jobs, and the cries for help? In delivering his “The Other America” speech at Stanford University, Dr. King said:

I think America must see that riots do not develop out of thin air. Certain conditions continue to exist in our society which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the plight of the Negro poor has worsened over the last few years. It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice, equality, and humanity. 

And so in a real sense our nation’s summers of riots are caused by our nation’s winters of delay. And as long as America postpones justice, we stand in the position of having these recurrences of violence and riots over and over again. Social justice and progress are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention.

As a Baltimore native, I know what being forgotten looks like. I know what being marginalized feels like. Marginalization is not always intentional. Sometimes it comes from a place of ignorance, in its most elementary form: a lack of knowledge or information.

“Social justice and progress are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention.”
— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

One thing I know for sure is that trust cannot be reestablished without authentic conversations about exposing the racism and discrimination that perpetuate unsustainable and unjust communities. We must take measures to move toward economic and social equity. And we must do whatever is needed to transform struggling neighborhoods into thriving ones.

I believe that as a nation, no matter how difficult or how long it takes, we can truly develop communities where equity, equality and justice prevail. So, this Black History Month, I’ve come to realize that whether I work with the grassroots, as I did in previous stints in social justice organizations, or sit behind a desk, as I do at LISC, I can still be actively engaged in the real work of community development.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Adiyah Ali, Program Officer, LISC Washington DC
Adiyah brings 15 years’ experience in community organizing, issue advocacy and policy development to her work as a program officer for LISC’s Washington DC office, where she focuses on communications and development. Adiyah is passionate about advancing social and economic justice for marginalized and disadvantaged populations and is dedicated to helping grassroots organizations get the resources they need to improve their communities.