“Stronger Together: Inside the Movements Changing Our Neighborhoods” Unity Didn’t Disappear — It Went to Work
- Brother Levon X
- Dec 31, 2025
- 5 min read
Family, one of the biggest myths being pushed today is that Black unity ended after the 1995 Million Man March. That’s only true if you’ve been watching from a distance. If you’ve been in the streets, in the schools, in the neighborhoods, in the churches, mosques, rec centers, and community rooms, you know the truth. Unity didn’t disappear. It went to work.
Since 1995, our people have continued to organize, mobilize, and build. The Million Woman March in 1997 showed the strength and leadership of Black women standing together for family, health, and justice. The Millions More Movement in 2005 reminded the country that accountability, economic self-sufficiency, and community responsibility didn’t end with one historic gathering.
When Hurricane Katrina exposed the cracks in the system, it was Black churches, mosques, fraternities, sororities, and grassroots organizations that stepped up to help displaced families survive and rebuild.
In the years that followed, movements like Black Lives Matter despite the negative publicity grew from the ground up, not as a moment, but as a network of local chapters, organizers, and everyday people demanding dignity, safety, and justice in their own cities. In 2015, Justice or Else marked the 20-year anniversary of the Million Man March and brought the focus back to mass incarceration, health, economic independence, and political awareness. At the same time, we saw a renewed push for supporting Black-owned businesses, cooperative economics, community land ownership, and independent Black media reclaiming our narrative.
But unity doesn’t just show up in national headlines, and that’s by design. The mainstream media will never consistently push a positive narrative about Black unity, because positivity opens the mind, builds confidence, and changes the condition of a people. Division, fear, and negativity are easier to sell and easier to use as tools of control. That’s why chaos is amplified while community building is ignored. Just because you don’t see it on your screen doesn’t mean it isn’t happening in real life.
The real work is happening in places like Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and countless other cities where brothers and sisters are doing the daily labor. Organizations like Cease Fire Don't Smoke The Brothers & Sisters inc,
Baltimore Brothers Inc., We Our Us Movement, Black Men Unifying Black Men, and Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle are mediating conflicts, mentoring youth, helping brothers come home from incarceration, and building real solutions at the neighborhood level. Groups focused on food sovereignty, youth leadership, and cultural development are reclaiming land, teaching self-reliance, and creating pathways forward for the next generation.
This testimony from Brother Frank of First Fruit reflects the real work happening on the ground. First Fruit collaborates closely with other city-funded organizations to support and uplift our youth. This is just one example of what unity in action looks like—organizations coming together, not for recognition, but to genuinely help repair and strengthen the community.
“The Fruit Code represents the by-laws and principles of First Fruit. Because we have proven ourselves as a unified and dependable organization, the DCHA continues to rely on us, which is why we are often called upon to assist with chaperoning residents to the many events they make available. Today was especially meaningful. I had the opportunity to see some of the young brothers we work closely with simply enjoying themselves as guests of DCHA and the Washington Commanders. Knowing what many of these young men have endured throughout their upbringing, it meant a great deal just to see them relaxed, smiling, and having a good time.”
These moments matter. They show our young people that they are seen, valued, and worthy of joy—and they remind us that there are those working collectively to change conditions for the better.
When it comes to gang and gun violence prevention, Black unity is alive there too. Groups like BUILD Chicago, United We Stand Up, Advocates for Peace and Urban Unity, Peace for D.C., and Urban Peace initiatives across the country are bringing rival groups to the table, interrupting cycles of violence, healing trauma, and showing our young people that there is another way. This is not talk. This is boots on the ground. This is showing up day after day when the cameras are gone and the applause is quiet.
And this is where we have to be honest with ourselves, family. If you don’t see unity, it may be because you’re not in the places where the work is happening. You can’t measure progress from your couch. You can’t judge movements you’ve never volunteered with, meetings you’ve never attended, or neighborhoods you’ve never served. Community work requires presence. It requires sacrifice. It requires listening, humility, and getting your hands dirty.
Be the change that you want to see. Our community doesn’t need more critics or spectators. It needs soldiers who are willing to get involved. There is more power in one person doing the work than ten people complaining from the sidelines. If you see something missing, something you wish existed, take the steps to help create it. If that vision was placed in your spirit, that’s not a failure of the community — that’s a personal calling.
Grassroots Giving: Proof the Community Invests in Itself
There’s a fact that often gets overlooked: our community gives—consistently and generously. Nearly two-thirds of Black households support community-based organizations and causes. Altogether, that adds up to billions of dollars every year. On average, Black families give a larger share of their income than white households—not because they have more, but because they believe in taking care of their own.
This level of giving shows something important: grassroots work is trusted, and people put their money where they see real impact.
Doing More With Less
Many Black-led nonprofits operate on very tight budgets. Most function with less than $500,000 a year, and a significant number survive on what many would consider impossible—around $30,000 annually. Yet despite these limitations, these organizations continue to show up.
Why? Because they are often led by people who live in the communities they serve. When Black leadership is present on nonprofit boards, organizations are more likely to create programs that directly address the real needs of Black families. That leadership also helps organizations stay resilient, even when resources are limited.
Rising Demand, Real Responsibility
During times of crisis, the importance of these organizations becomes even clearer. Between 2020 and 2021, BIPOC-led organizations saw a sharp increase in the demand for their services—far more than their white-led counterparts. When systems are strained and people are in need, grassroots groups are often the first ones communities turn to. They don’t just respond—they remain.
Where Grassroots Organizations Make the Biggest Impact
Civic and Community Engagement: Grassroots organizations help people understand their power. They mobilize residents, hold leaders accountable, and push for policies that address poverty, inequality, and systemic injustice.
Health and Wellness: When leadership comes from lived experience, health programs become more effective. Black-led organizations understand cultural barriers, trust issues, and access gaps, allowing them to design solutions that actually work.
Community Infrastructure: These organizations are hyper-local. They know the block, the families, the history, and the challenges. Many were founded by people who experienced the very issues they now work to solve. That closeness is what makes their programs relevant, trusted, and impactful.
The Bottom Line
Grassroots organizations don’t just talk about change—they live it. The data confirms what the community already knows: when people invest in their own, real transformation happens. Unity, commitment, and local leadership are not weaknesses—they are strengths.
This is proof that grassroots work isn’t symbolic. It’s essential.
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