Introduction
This critical review addresses a report titled, The Case for Funding Black-Led Social Change, written by Susan Taylor Batten and Nat Chioke Williams. Batten and Williams (2020) analyze the role of philanthropy in the push for racial equality. The authors particularly focus on eliminating racism and white supremacy. The authors provide invaluable insights on why sufficient funding for black-led social change is essential. The emphasis on the importance of strengthened black institution cannot be ignored as it is the basis of the whole report. The authors acknowledge the inadequacy of financial support towards black-led social change and rally for an increase to the contributions. This review will focus on the work done by the two authors while including additional sources that offer similar and different perspectives on the topic.
Historical Context and the Politics of Racial Inequality
A major strength of Batten and Williams’ (2020) report is the brief and concise representation of the black case on racism. This description offers sufficient knowledge and a solid background for the rest of the report. This information also provokes a reader to sympathize with the black community. The authors intertwine the destiny of black people and poor white people by describing how white supremacy oppresses the two groups. This section is an eye-opener and rallies for support from both races, ensuring that no race is pitted against another. The use of statistical facts by the authors when describing the specific areas of health, wealth and poverty, education, and criminal justice of black oppression is also another boost. Such data makes the report more credible to those willing to contribute to black-led social change.
Black-Led Social Change
The emphasis on black-led social change is brilliantly explained by the authors to ensure the expulsion of notions that paint black people as selfish and self-seeking. The authors emphasize that multi-racial teams are important in fighting racism and go ahead to detail that they are liable to watering down intended initiatives (Batten & Williams, 2020). Individual races within a multi-racial approach have varying needs and are subjected to racism differently. Eliminating the vice in its entirety cannot be effective if initiatives focus on a zero-sum approach or end up excluding some races. Batten and Williams (2020) suggest that a more holistic approach would involve differentially analyzing the needs of each race and coming up with customized strategies.
Philanthropy
The report is very specific on the point of philanthropy and the particulars of focus on funding different initiatives. Batten and Williams (2020) suggest civic engagement, community organization, policy advocacy, research, communication, and leadership as important areas. The necessity of each of the areas suggested is explained in sufficient detail to aid understanding, persuade the reader, and act as a guide. Throughout the report, the authors make links to the main aim of the report, philanthropy, and this is not lost on the reader. The report is written in understandable grammar that perfectly fits the objectives. It is not too basic as to water down its message or too complicated as to seem inconsiderate or verbose.
Several other reports and articles provide additional insight and input into the topic of racial disparities in America and black-led social change. Romano & Ragland (2018) analyze the use of humiliation as a tool of manipulation by white supremacists. Intimidation is addressed as a systemic problem that inspires fear and hatred towards the system. The authors provide an alternative view from the one held by Batten and Williams (2020) on the role of police in racism.
Black philanthropy towards social change that is likely to lead to the elimination of racism and conferment of equality to all is insufficient. Salome (2018) is of the view that black people are responsible for their liberation and cannot wait for other people to save them. The article follows the progressive increase in black philanthropy that is insufficient. Salome (2018) agrees with Batten and Williams (2020) on the need to increase contributions towards black-led social change for institutions. Salome (2018) does not provide a detailed breakdown of the areas that should spend the most in ensuring social change is achieved.
The role of black people in ensuring that social change is achieved has this far only focused on philanthropy and financial contributions. United Way of Greater Cincinnati (2018) explores additional areas where black people can contribute to ensuring social change and an end to racism. The report provides additional recommendations such as making connections with each other and non-black people, ensuring presence during planning. United Way of Greater Cincinnati (2021) advocates for the recognition of traditional philanthropy as irrelevant and changes that ensure black people are empowered. The report suggests community leadership as a way of challenging traditional philanthropy. The shortcoming of traditional philanthropy in being unable to generate sufficient resources for the black fight is highlighted.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the report under review is as persuasive as it is educative. It spurs interest in the affairs of black people amongst black people and amongst other races as it highlights that the fight against racism is not against a certain tribe. Racism is a structural problem that affects all races differently and the elites use it to manipulate and misuse people. The report is well written and provides adequate details in its explanation of concepts related to funding and black-led social change. Additional articles analyzed in the critical review add meat to the content of the article reviewed by providing alternative views and supplementing existing opinions with additional details. The urgency of racism against black people is brought out and the report acts as a clarion call to all, especially black people, to contribute to ending racism.
References
Batten, S. T., & Williams, N. C. (2020). The case for funding black-led social change. The Black Social Change Funders Network.
Romano, A., & Ragland, D. (2018). Truth-telling from the margins: exploring black-led responses to police violence and systemic humiliation. In: Rothbart D. (eds) Systemic Humiliation in America (pp. 145–172). Palgrave Macmillan.
Salome, K. (2018). State of black philanthropy. Network Journal, 25(2), 40. Web.
United Way of Greater Cincinnati (2018). Black-led social change Cincinnati. UWGC.
United Way of Greater Cincinnati. (2021). Building black empowerment works: a case study on challenging traditional philanthropy through community leadership. UWGC.