This Black Futures Month, we’re honoring the legacy and lessons of those who laid blueprints for liberation that are as relevant as ever. For generations, Black organizers have responded to systemic harm with vision and strategy—building what our communities need to sustain themselves and shift power. Through the harshest, most violent conditions, their efforts resulted in tangible, lasting change. Today, as we navigate rising authoritarianism and an erosion of our civil liberties, this legacy is a grounding—a playbook for how power is built, defended, and sustained under pressure.

This Black Futures Month, we are honored to spotlight movement wisdom from those organizing today, and decades ago. While the leaders highlighted here reflect just a sliver of the vast lineage of Black organizers, we lift them up to honor the deep collective knowledge that continues to guide and grow movements for love and justice.

Johnnie Lacy (1937–2010)

Lesson: Build systems around those most impacted—and let them lead.

In the 1970s, when disabled folks—especially Black disabled folks—were confined to nursing homes or state institutions, Johnnie Lacy organized for community-based alternatives. At The Center for Independent Living in Berkeley, she helped build programs for accessible housing, transportation, and attendant care created by disabled folks and challenged a disability system built around white experiences. By expanding services that moved decision-making into the hands of disabled folks, Johnnie helped build a model of disability services shaped by what disabled folks say they need—one that continues to guide independent living programs today.

Monica Roberts (1962–2020)

Lesson: Community-rooted storytelling affirms life and forces accountability.

In the early 2000s, as Black trans women were being killed and erased from the public record—misnamed, misgendered, and ignored by police and media—Monica Roberts, a Black trans reporter, stepped in to document what the media was ignoring. She founded TransGriot to document killings, dismantle police narratives, challenge misgendering, and demand accountability from journalists and public officials. By centering Black trans voices and honoring the wholeness of their lives, Monica shifted how stories were told and set a new standard for community-centered journalism that continues to shape reporting today.

Read the full article about lessons in building power for Black Futures Month at Borealis Philanthropy.