OPINION: What’s In Your Hand

By Cheryl Morrow

The Power of Collective Action: The Blackout Boycott

Adam Clayton Powell Jr.’s “What’s in your hand?” speech finds a modern echo in today’s economic protests, such as the Blackout Boycott—a movement encouraging Black Americans to withhold their spending from major retail outlets. This act of economic resistance is not merely a protest against corporate apathy but a demonstration of the immense financial power Black America holds.

The Black dollar circulates within the U.S. economy at a staggering rate, yet the contributions of Black consumers are often met with disregard and exclusion—especially regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies that fail to bring about real change.

The Blackout Boycott underscores the necessity of self-determination through economic independence. Just as Powell urged individuals to recognize their own agency, this movement encourages Black Americans to reclaim their financial influence by redirecting their spending toward Black-owned businesses and institutions that genuinely support their advancement. It is a collective declaration that the Black community is not a passive participant in the economy but a formidable force capable of reshaping its own destiny.

To exist freely in a world where oppression still looms requires an unrelenting commitment to self-determination. It demands that Black communities reclaim ownership over their labor, ideas, and wealth. This includes fostering economic independence through Black-owned businesses, demanding proper credit and compensation for intellectual contributions, and rejecting narratives that seek to diminish Black excellence.

The question “What’s in your hand?” is not just philosophical—it is practical. It calls for a reexamination of power, a realization that the tools for liberation and success have always been within reach. Black Americans have continually created, innovated, and persevered despite systems designed to suppress their brilliance. The task now is to wield that power with purpose—to demand recognition and shape the future on their own terms. The world may not yet be free of barriers, but self-determination ensures that oppression will never have the final word.