Our Voices by the Indivisible POC Caucus

Tify Burks & Kenya Lee

It’s not a secret that the majority of people in the Indivisible Movement are white women. However, as Black women staffers within the organization, we are unapologetically carving space out for ourselves and other people of color that are a part of this movement. As Black women, we have seen the movement transform from an anti-trump resistance to actually addressing the structural inequities that led to Trump becoming president in the first place. We know it’s important to share our truth and experiences within the movement to foster unity, integrity, and accountability to continue making the movement more progressive.

This blog serves as a space of creating a beloved community for people of color that is rooted in racial justice and equity for the Indivisible movement. At Indivisible, the POC Caucus is a space that is cultivated and nurtured by organizers of color. The Caucus came into existence (a year ago) after an apparent need for intersectional organizing within the movement. Our goal is to engage in transformative, holistic change which centers those who are most impacted. This blog will uplift the stories of a strong and vibrant group of people who are constantly fighting against erasure, despite often being the most vulnerable.

Too often, POC are an afterthought in many major issues that plague the world. The experiences of POC are unique, and they change the way we think about organizing. Our language, messaging, organizing tactics, and outreach are all different. Identity significantly shapes how we experience the world, yet we often find ourselves ignored for the sake of pushing issues in a way that doesn’t focus on us.

In America, the white, middle class overwhelmingly influences and shapes nearly every facet of society, and organizing hasn’t been an exception. As we were thrust into the Trump era, a handful of progressive groups sprouted up overnight in response to his election. Not surprisingly, the foundations of most of these organizations were white and middle class. As a result, the way in which these organizations functioned began to reflect the dominant culture. Tactics and strategies were formed based on the limited viewpoints and life experiences of this largely homogeneous base. While these groups had good intentions, their actions often alienated those they were looking to help — and that’s just it. We don’t want anyone to advocate for us, we want to be seen and heard. How can societal inequities be dismantled if those who are most impacted aren’t leading? The truth is, we’ll always have a fractured, incomplete movement if we are not at the forefront strategizing, telling our stories, building community, and leading the path to radical change.

We believe that POC group leaders as well as members should be centered, uplifted, and supported. We believe that the issues that POC group leaders and members care about should be prioritized on a local and national level. We believe that #BlackLivesMatter today and every day and should continue to be the topic of local and national conversations even when this current moment dies down.

We plan to update this blog on a monthly basis and want to invite you to take the journey with us. Let us know if you would like to contribute to this blog by emailing us at pocorganizers@Indivisible.org