Black Lives Matter Spurs Largest Global Racial Justice Movement

The Black Lives Matter movement has catalyzed global attention on police accountability, but broader efforts are needed to improve education, homeownership, business opportunities, and environmental conditions for Black communities to truly thrive. Prominent figures like Pettis Burch Norman, an HBCU legend and civil rights advocate who recently passed away, exemplify the legacy of Black leadership and progress, having broken barriers as the first Johnson C. Smith University football player in the NFL and promoting financial literacy. Historic institutions such as Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church continue to serve as pillars of community resilience and activism, with calls to revitalize its historic civil rights district to foster economic development and cultural tourism. Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, has spearheaded initiatives addressing systemic inequities, including healthcare disparities highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic and advancing racial justice through policy advocacy. Meanwhile, programs like the Institute for Responsible Citizenship's Ascension Internship are cultivating the next generation of Black leaders by providing networking, internships, and leadership development to students from top universities, reinforcing a future of Black excellence. Together, these efforts underscore an ongoing, multifaceted movement toward racial equity and empowerment beyond protest.