



Historical Context and Deep-Rooted Resistance
African Americans whose families have been in America since the 1400s and experienced slavery until the 1860s carry a unique and profound understanding of what happens when democratic institutions fail and authoritarian power goes unchecked. This lived experience across generations creates distinct motivations for resisting authoritarianism that differ significantly from more recent immigrant communities.
Generational Memory of Systemic Oppression
For African American communities with deep ancestral roots in America, the fight against Project 2025 and strongman leadership is informed by centuries of experiencing what happens when one group holds unchecked power. Their ancestors lived through:
- Slavery as a legal institution supported by government structures
- Jim Crow laws that used legal frameworks to enforce racial hierarchy
- Systematic exclusion from democratic participation despite constitutional promises
- State-sanctioned violence when they challenged existing power structures
This historical memory creates an acute awareness that democratic institutions, when weakened, can quickly become tools of oppression rather than protection.
Recent Immigrant Communities
The resistance motivations differ significantly from those of recent immigrants because:
For Long-Standing African American Communities:
- They cannot “go back” – America is their only home, making the stakes existential
- They’ve seen this playbook before – recognizing patterns of authoritarian consolidation
- They understand that “rocking the boat” is necessary – their ancestors’ progress came through resistance, not compliance
- They know that initial promises of stability often precede greater oppression
For Recent Immigrant Communities:
- May prioritize economic stability and fear jeopardizing newfound opportunities
- Might have different reference points for what constitutes dangerous authoritarianism
- Could be more willing to “wait and see” rather than immediately resist
- May fear that activism could threaten their status in ways that don’t apply to established communities
Understanding Project 2025’s Specific Threats
Project 2025 represents a particular threat to Black communities because it “includes a long list of extreme policy recommendations touching on nearly every aspect of American life, from immigration and abortion rights, to free speech and racial justice” [1]. The plan “would severely harm Black communities across the country” through its “radical proposals to restructure the federal government and increase the president’s authority” [2].
For communities with generational experience of oppression, these proposals echo historical patterns where concentrated executive power was used to maintain racial hierarchies and suppress civil rights progress.
The Stakes of Democratic Backsliding
African American communities with deep American roots understand that when presidents position themselves “as kings or strongman leaders,” the communities that suffer first and most severely are those who have historically been marginalized. Their resistance isn’t just political preference—it’s survival instinct informed by historical experience.
This creates a unique perspective where challenging authority isn’t “rocking the boat”—it’s preventing the boat from capsizing entirely. Their ancestors learned that waiting for gradual change or hoping that authoritarian leaders will self-limit often leads to deeper oppression, not eventual liberation.
The fight against authoritarianism, for these communities, represents a continuation of a centuries-long struggle for true democratic participation and protection under law.
What needs to be done?
What can be done to relieve these fears and concerns – by government, by leadership, by institutions, by individuals? What Needs To Be Done To Relieve Fear
Fighting Fear Articles
1. Why Are People So Afraid That They Choose Tyranny Over Democracy
2. Why Blacks Will Resist the Loss of Democracy
3. What Needs To Be Done to Relieve Fear?
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