“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defense, promote the General Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and our Posterity…”
Those familiar words from the Constitution’s Preamble – which many of us first encountered through Schoolhouse Rock! – represent America’s fundamental promises. Yet in 2025, these guarantees feel increasingly distant from our lived reality. The past 30 days alone have demonstrated how quickly established protections can unravel.
As we conclude Black History Month, the evidence is sobering. Federal job cuts, euphemistically termed “government downsizing,” are affecting all Americans; however, history has taught us a painful truth: When America catches a cold, Black communities catch the flu. Critical support systems like SNAP and Head Start face devastating cuts. Corporate America is rapidly dismantling DEI initiatives, while HBCUs now face threats to their federal funding under new “interpretations of civil rights laws.” This systematic erosion of institutional support has created a climate of uncertainty that weighs heavily on our communities.
The parallels to our not-so-distant past are impossible to ignore. Those hard-earned gains of the Civil Rights Era – achievements we believed were secure – are being methodically undermined. As both a mental health professional and business owner, I recognize the profound psychological and financial implications these changes carry. We’re watching the dismantling of support systems many considered permanent, forcing us to reconstruct networks of community assistance.
As the former president of the Miami Dade Chapter of the NAACP, I’ve witnessed how challenges often catalyze our greatest moments of unity. Our path forward requires strengthening bonds across the Black Diaspora – bringing together generations, uniting Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, and building meaningful coalitions with allies who understand that civil rights are human rights.
What we need now is action:
– Support and grow Black-owned businesses and financial institutions within our communities.
– Create accessible mental health resources and safe spaces for honest dialogue.
– Check in on our “strong ones” – those community pillars who often suffer in silence.
– Put Ujima and Ujamaa into practice,leveraging our collective strength and resources.
Our community’s resilience has carried us through centuries of challenges. Today’s obstacles, while daunting, can become the foundation for greater unity and purpose. We have within our community both the resources and the resolve to meet this moment. The strength of our ancestors flows through us, guiding our response to these new challenges.
The Preamble speaks of forming “a more perfect Union.” In 2025, that sacred task falls to us. Together, we must ensure that “We the People” truly means all people – not just in principle, but in lived experience. Our power lies in our unity, our resources in our community, and our hope in our collective action. Let’s move forward with purpose, determination, and the unwavering spirit that has always defined our people.
Ruban Roberts is the CEO of RER Consulting, Amplify Community Resources and the immediate past president of the Miami Dade branch of the NAACP
