As we celebrated the worldwide contributions of Black Americans and those of African descent in February, Race Forward and Americans for the Arts announced a new initiative, the Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy, taking place Friday, September 27, through Saturday, October 5, 2024. This initiative aims to broaden awareness of and engagement in democracy and racial equity through cultural experiences across the entire country.

Historically, from slavery to present day, efforts to create black economic advancement have been stunted continuously either through violence, such as the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, or through systemic barriers and policies responsible for creating and maintaining the racial wealth gap.