Honoring Our Legacy, Reaffirming Our Commitments

Public Statement

For Immediate Release
Fri Mar 21 2025
Contact: [email protected]

In the tradition of freedom fighters, truth tellers, and wisdom keepers before us, including the visionaries of the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) and the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW), we reaffirm our commitment to centering Black personhood in all we do. As an organization dedicated to the advancement and empowerment of Black professionals and communities, we stand firm in our mission to not only educate and fellowship with our community through conferencing and events, but to do our part to dismantle systems that deny Black people their humanity, voice, and freedom while advocating to build new systems that affirm our right to freedom and dignity.

With a guiding framework rooted in intersectionality, equity, and collective liberation, we have outlined a set of commitments that will shape our organizational efforts, partnerships, and initiatives moving forward. These commitments ensure that our organizational voice is aligned with the liberation of Black people* globally and is not diluted by performative activism.

We recognize that by taking this stance, we are making a choice that few organizations in our field have committed to. Black professionals are already underrepresented in our industry, and openly declaring that we center Blackness at all times is not without risk.

This commitment means we may lose funding from sources that do not see the need of boldly and courageously centering Black personhood. We may be shut out of institutional partnerships. We may be labeled as “divisive” or “radical.” We know that the systems we challenge are designed to protect the status quo, and that taking a clear, unapologetic stance on Black personhood often results in the loss of access, resources, and opportunity.

And yet, we will not waver.

Our mission is not to fit within systems that were never built for us, it is to transform them. We vow to not silence ourselves for comfort, water down our mission for acceptability, or seek permission from those outside of our community to affirm our people.

Our Commitments

Through a rigorous process, we have identified key areas of education, advocacy and action that align with our mission and values. We understand that while all areas are distinct, they intersect. We will actively engage in and amplify issues that directly impact members of our Black Behavior Analytic community and our community worldwide, particularly in the following areas:

• ABA & Community Care – Promoting culturally relevant, ethical, and high-quality behavior analytic services for Black communities. Recognizing the impact of health disparities and social determinants of health, we will continue to advocate for advancement in this area. 
• Abolition & Criminal Justice Reform – Addressing mass incarceration, police brutality, and the prison-industrial complex.
• Domestic and Sexual Violence and Gender-Based Justice – Centering Black women, femmes, and LGBTQIA+ survivors disproportionately affected by violence and neglect. 
• Displacement & Gentrification-Addressing systems and practices that violently remove or displace members of the Black and indigenous community.
• Education Access & Equity – Advocating for Black students to receive culturally affirming, inclusive, and accessible education.
• International Liberation – Recognizing the shared struggles of colonial violence, displacement, and systemic oppression. This includes Congo, Sudan, Tigray, Kenya, Palestine, and any community undergoing acts of violence.
• Natural Disasters & Environmental Justice – Recognizing the disproportionate impact of climate change, pollution, and natural disasters on Black and Indigenous communities.
• Reparations- Supporting the active and intentional restoration and promotion of economic, social, and political equity for Black communities.  
• Socioeconomic Justice & Unhoused Advocacy – Addressing the systemic causes of economic instability and homelessness in Black communities, advocating for housing as a human right and equitable access to resources.
• Women’s Rights & Reproductive Justice – Addressing the racial disparities in maternal health, reproductive autonomy, and healthcare access.
• Worker Justice & Economic Liberation – Advocating for fair wages, protections against worker exploitation, and the closing of racial wealth gaps.
• Youth Justice- Addressing the ongoing rise of violence and threats of violence to Black youth. This includes the threat of violence to Black Trans youth.

These causes are evaluated through a framework that ensures they:

1. Directly impact Black communities.
2. Align with liberation-centered values.
3. Create opportunities for coalition-building and solidarity.

We move in alignment with our elders and ancestors, understanding that Black liberation is world liberation.

As we move forward, we will:

• Develop educational resources and training to equip our members with knowledge on these issues.
• Host community discussions and partner with organizations that share our values.
• Release official organizational statements and calls to action when necessary.
• Advocate for policies and systemic change that advance Black liberation.

We invite our community and partners to engage with us in collective action and help advance these priorities.

For collaborations, or more information, please contact: [email protected]

*Enclosure

Operational Definition of Black Liberation:

Black liberation is the observable engagement in behaviors that promote autonomy, equity, cultural empowerment, and resistance to systemic oppression. It includes actions that foster individual and collective well-being, economic independence, and social advocacy.

Behavioral Components:

    1.    Advocacy & Activism – Participating in or organizing movements, discussions, or policies that challenge racial injustice and promote equity (e.g., advocacy days, community organizing).

    2.    Economic Empowerment – Engaging in behaviors that promote financial independence and wealth-building within Black communities (e.g., supporting Black-owned businesses, financial literacy education, cooperative economics).

    3.    Cultural Empowerment – Actively preserving, celebrating, and promoting Black culture and history through our media, education, and community engagement (e.g., attending events, teaching our Black history).

    4.    Education & Knowledge-Sharing – Seeking and disseminating knowledge about systemic racism, self-determination, and strategies for social change (e.g., reading, hosting workshops, mentoring).

    5.    Mental & Physical Liberation – Engaging in self-care practices that counteract the impact of racial trauma and oppression (e.g., prioritizing joy and rest, holistic health practices).

    6.    Interpersonal & Community Support – Engaging in acts that uplift and empower community (e.g., mutual aid, coalition-building)