Op-Ed: Why Are Black Americans Always Expected to Be the Nation’s Saviors?
We’re all we’ve got.
Since the beginning of this country’s history, Black Americans have been on the front lines fighting against racism, injustice and inequality in every form. From slavery to segregation, from fighting for the right to vote to enduring microaggressions in the workplace, our struggle for freedom has never truly ended. And yet, in times of crisis, society still turns to us to save the day.
Black Americans have long led the charge for civil rights, often sacrificing our own safety and well-being for the betterment of this country. One of the most prominent examples is the Black Lives Matter movement, founded in 2013 and catapulted into international focus in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, and the unjust killings of Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, and countless others. The streets were flooded with pain, protest and power as we showed up again to demand justice.
But as a new wave of protests unfolds across the country in response to the current Trump administration’s policies, there’s a noticeable difference. Many of the same Black Americans who marched in 2020 are now stepping back. And who can blame them?
The rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives under Trump’s administration, coupled with widespread raids, anti-immigration crackdowns, and policy shifts targeting marginalized groups, has left communities reeling. Corporations like Target and Amazon have abandoned DEI commitments, and yet somehow, all eyes turn back to the Black community with the same unspoken question: What will you do now?
But the truth is—we already did our part. We showed up. We voted. We backed candidates who warned us of what was coming. We pushed for progress and fought for change. In this last election, we showed up for a Black woman who had the country’s best interests at heart. And now, as the consequences of inaction and ignorance play out, people are asking us to save the country once again.
Where is the accountability from everyone else?
The expectation for Black people—especially Black women—to be the moral compass and saviors of America is not only unfair, it’s exhausting. We’ve been warning the nation, fighting for the nation, and building this nation since its inception. But we are not machines. We are not invincible. We are not America’s safety net.
And while we may not be flooding the streets like we once were, that doesn’t mean we’re absent from the movement. We've learned that support can take many forms. An injustice is still an injustice, and Black Americans continue to fight behind the scenes. From organizing boycotts and petitions to using our voices online and building alternative systems of power, many are still doing the work. Just because we're not always on the frontlines doesn't mean we don’t care or that we don’t see what’s happening. We see it all.
We are still being targeted. We are still grieving. And we are still fighting for rights that should have been guaranteed long ago. If that means stepping back from protests to protect our peace and preserve our energy, then so be it. Rest is also resistance.
Black people are not saviors—we are survivors. And while we may choose different ways to fight today, our legacy of resistance remains. We are living proof of strength, of resilience, and of a history that refuses to be erased.
It’s time we stop being expected to save a country that has never fully saved us. This time, we’re showing up for ourselves.
