Imagine Black Reflects on the 2024 Election Results
Imagine Black would like to take a moment to acknowledge where our community is and what many of us are feeling right now. For a lot of us, this is a tough moment. We’re grieving, feeling the weight of another four years with a president who embodies fascism, racism, capitalism, imperialism, homophobia, transphobia, and sexism. It’s a gut punch, that will make it harder on us and our communities.
But in the face of injustice, Imagine Black consistently embodies its commitment to collective action and empowering Black Oregonians to engage politically. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we pledge to stay unwavering in our pursuit of a world where people of African descent have the rights, resources, and recognition to thrive as a resilient and interconnected community.
Black communities have long been tasked with persevering while simultaneously navigating through failed systems and systemic issues. Our power is in our collective energy. We acknowledge and experience social injustices, oppression, and hardship while committing to creating positive change. We motivate constructive, informed action to transform unjust systems and imagine a better future. We build a political home.
This year, Imagine Black experienced bountiful success thanks to the collective energy of this community. We worked with the ACLU to win not one but two lawsuits against the Portland Police Association’s attempts to hinder police accountability and community awareness. While we’ve endorsed 12 candidates, several of them are currently frontrunners, particularly our Portland City Council candidates, including Candace Avalos (District 1), Sameer Kanal (District 2), Tiffany Koyama Lane and Angelita Morillo (District 3), and Mitch Green (District 4). Measures 115 and 119 received a resounding yes; two ballot measures Imagine Black endorsed. Additionally, 44 candidates have signed the No Police Money in Politics Pledge. Finally, we hosted our first inaugural gala, with our beloved members and supporters in attendance.
Every advancement Black people have experienced in this country has been won by people who have come together to advocate for shared goals, address social issues, and push for changes within their communities or at higher levels of government because building collective power is the only pathway to actualizing the promise of democracy. And there is much work left to do.
Let’s rise to the occasion together. We will galvanize to amplify our impact. We will prioritize political education, helping deepen our understanding of issues, theories, and organizing strategies. But first, we heal, we rest, we feel.
Today we grieve, tomorrow we fight like hell!
Let’s get to work!
Join us on the Black Possibilities App.
In solidarity,
Imagine Black and Imagine Black Futures
