We acknowledge that much of the wealth accumulated in the philanthropic sector has been generated by the labor of enslaved Africans and their descendants who suffered the horror of the transatlantic trafficking of their people, chattel slavery, and Jim Crow. We recognize our debt to the labor and sacrifice of exploited workers past and present, and we must acknowledge the ever-present history that continues to impact our relationships with capital, resources, and each other today.
We also recognize the labor and sacrifice of Black philanthropists who fought for the abolition of slavery, provided mutual aid through the Jim Crow era, and continue to support Black Americans today.
Adapted from Dr. Terah ‘TJ’ Stewart