This year, my message is shaped by the theme of moving forward while looking back. In my past work, I explored the significance of Black art from a personal standpoint — my journey to gain a greater appreciation of my family’s features and how that growth reflects the larger society’s broader push toward progress. However, as I grow older and become more politically engaged, I better understand the incremental nature of collective justice and the individual costs that come with its ebb and flow. 

It’s hard not to feel discouraged by the news, but inaction is not an option. In this piece, I aim to convey what I believe are the essential pillars of social progress: the courage to confront oneself and recognize one’s role in Black history, the need to grapple with both internal and external barriers to meaningful change, and the resilience to keep moving forward.