Black Power Writing Prompt — Afrikan Black Coalition

2k26 Black Power Writing Prompt

OVERVIEW:

At the Chairs Retreat that took place August 10-12, 2018, the Afrikan Black Coalition Central Committee, comprised of all member-campus Presidents, unanimously decided to have a reading and response requirement for all Afrikan Black Coalition Conference attendees that year and in the future. The goal is to ensure all attendees of the conference have a foundational understanding of at least one aspect of Afrikan/Black politics. When we convene 800+ Afrikan/Black people annually, this foundational political education helps to ensure that we are productive in our engagement with all components of the conference, have a good time building community with one another.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Deadline: Friday - December 12, 2025 at 11:59 PM (PST)

Saving Document: Save your document as your first name, last name, underscore, and the initials of your school (only include your school’s initials if you currently attend a college)

Example:

Student Name: Ella Baker
School: Cal State Los Angeles
Document Saved As: ELLABAKER_CSULA

Submission: Upload and submit this document via the Black Power Writing Prompt Online Submission Form (*Must sign-in to a GMAIL account in order to access the submission form*)
IMPORTANT: Failure to follow these formatting directions can impact your ability to attend the conference. These important steps allow for the 800+ submissions to be reviewed and entered into our database without any complications. If you have questions, email us: politicaleducation@ablackcoalition.org
The submission format can be viewed here.
All submissions must be the original work of the submitter. Plagiarism is unacceptable.
Every submission will be read in its entirety, so please do not attempt to cheat the system and use someone else’s work.

**WRITING PROMPT (PARTS 1-3):**

Part 1: Required Length - 50-100 Words

This year’s conference theme is Reimagining Black Futures. What does this theme mean to you?

Part 2: Critical Topic Response - Answer All Questions for One Topic in Complete Sentences

DIRECTIONS: Read one of the articles below and answer the assigned questions in complete sentences.
- Note: Below, you will also find Additional Recommended Educational Materials which you do not have to read/watch to complete the Black Power Writing Prompt, but will provide you greater understanding of the featured topics.
Topic 1: POLICING & MILITARIZATION
- Article: Caines, E. (2025, August 28). “Crime”: The Trojan Horse for Colonial Control. Hood Communist. https://hoodcommunist.org/2025/08/28/crime-the-trojan-horse-for-colonial-control/
- Questions:
  - What is the main argument about how “crime” is used by the state?
  - How does the author link crime discourse to maintaining colonial/control power inside the U.S.
  - What does the article say about the relationship between “low crime” narratives and police violence
  - How does the rhetoric of “high crime” function in political/military terms, domestically and internationally?
  - In what way is “crime” tied to imperialism and colonialism in the article?
  - What examples does the author use to show how “crime” is weaponized abroad?
  - What critique does the article make of mainstream politics (both Democratic and Republican) in how they deal with crime?
  - What does the author propose needs to change if communities want to resist this framing of crime?
  - How does this article challenge or expand your ideas about justice, policing, and activism?
Topic 2: DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION & RADICAL CHANGE
- Article: Black, T. & Mowatt, R. (2025, April 16). Bootleg Rehab: Still Laundering Black Rage. Black Agenda Report. https://www.blackagendareport.com/bootleg-rehab-still-laundering-black-rage
- Questions:
  - What do the authors mean by saying DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) “launders Black rage”?
  - How does the “bootleg rehab” analogy expose problems with DEI?
  - What is the relationship between DEI initiatives and police violence, according to the article?
  - How do DEI programs serve only a few rather than the whole Black community, as described?
  - What critique does the article offer about the liberal advocacy of DEI?
  - How is “representation” critiqued in the piece?
  - What do the authors see as the danger of focusing on DEI or Anti-DEI, rather than more radical change?
  - How does the history of Black struggle (Civil Rights, Black Liberation) contrast with what DEI offers today?
  - As a Black college student, how might you use your education and organizing to go beyond DEI?
Topic 3: CONGO, PALESTINE, & GENOCIDE
- Article: Muhammad, N. I. (2024, August 3). Understanding the Connections Between the Congo and Palestine Genocides. Mondoweiss. https://mondoweiss.net/2024/08/understanding-the-connections-between-the-congo-and-palestine-genocides/
- Questions:
Topic 4: GENTRIFICATION
- Article: Mahoney, A. (2025, July 2). From Watts to D.C.: How 500 Black Neighborhoods Vanished in 45 Years. Black Agenda Report. https://blackagendareport.com/watts-dc-how-500-black-neighborhoods-vanished-45-years
- Questions:
Topic 5: TECH & ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM
- Article: Harris, B., Gerberg, J., & Gosk, S. (2025, May 15). Up Against Musk’s Colossus Supercomputer, a Memphis Neighborhood Fights for Clean Air. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/musk-xai-colossus-supercomputer-boxtown-memphis-tennessee-rcna206242
- Questions:
Topic 6: HAITI & ANTI-BLACK U.S. IMMIGRATION POLICY
- Article: Mack, W. (2025, March 19). Haitians at the Border: The Nativist State and Anti-Blackness. Harvard Kennedy School. https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/carr-ryan/our-work/carr-ryan-commentary/haitians-border-nativist-state-and-anti-blackness
- Questions:

Part 3: Institution/Program Development - 100-200 Word Requirement

Directions: By answering the questions below, describe an institution/program you would support ABC in developing to address a particular issue of your choosing. Some potential topics to consider are: Policing & Mass Incarceration, Economic Disparities, Educational Inequities, Environmental Racism, Voter Suppression, Housing Discrimination and Gentrification, Healthcare Racism/Access, Reparations, Lack of Access to Healthy Food, Immigration and Deportation. Complete this portion in paragraph format (not bullets).

Questions you can consider for your response. You do not have to answer these specific questions; they are only to kick-start your thinking:

What would the name of your institution/program be?
What issue would it address and why is this important to you?
What would the objectives be? (What do you want to accomplish?)
How would those objectives be accomplished?
What age range do you intend to serve?
Where would the institution/program be located?

Deadline: Friday - December 12, 2025 at 11:59 PM (PST)

BPWP SUBMISSION FORM

Questions, Comments, Concerns:

1st: Ask your Delegation Liaison

2nd: Ask your Black Student Union President(s)

3rd: Ask the ABC Political Education Director - politicaleducation@ablackcoalition.org

4th: Ask the ABC Conference Planning Committee - conference@ablackcoalition.org