About Organizing Black
Organizing Black, formerly Black Leaders Organizing for Change (BLOC) was co-founded in 2016 by Michaela Brown, Ralikh Hayes, Tre Murphy, Hani Bello, Justin Johnson, and Rob Ferrell. They believe that the path to black liberation and a just, fair, equitable democracy can only exist if we begin the hard work of redefining the systems that give way to oppression and racism. The Organizing Black co-founders have a depth of experience ranging from local, state, national, and international grassroots campaigns. Collectively and in community, we are cultivating a social justice movement based on relationships and co-development of leadership at the intersections of social justice. This empowered community shares in processes, decisions, and leadership of the institutional fabric that govern the city. Organizing Black seeks to transform systems and institutions by collective, transparent, and authentic relationships based on mutuality, respect, and justice. We believe that through our centered presence and relationships; through our collective narrative of resilience and transformation, we will build a better society.
We are practitioners in a world that does not yet exist, therefore we are working for a world where Black lives are no longer systematically targeted for demise. Organizing Black envisions a world where all Black people are free to exist in this world as their full authentic selves. We envision a world where all Black people are economically, politically, and socially free. We envision a world where all Black people are free from chains and cages.
Organizing Black is a grassroots, member-led organization dedicated to fighting for the liberation of all Black people by building local power through transformational Black direct action organizing, political education, and participatory governance practices.
