Community Education

Community Education

Social Justice in Charlotte

The Charlotte Post Foundation launched Black Lives Matter Charlotte in 2015 to create a space where Black people and allies could come together to confront and discuss the issues that disproportionately and negatively affect Black communities in Charlotte.

We understand that this work begins with us. At the same time, we believe in the strength of collective action—a coalition that includes allies committed to advancing our shared interests. We encourage all who gather with us to become informed, engage in thoughtful dialogue, help shape decisions, and take meaningful action. Real change requires individual accountability, strong communities, and systemic transformation.

The rise in national attention to crimes against Black people isn’t necessarily due to increased frequency or severity—they are simply being publicized more often. Still, the violence we face is just one piece of a much larger picture. We must also confront deeply rooted inequities in healthcare access, the chronic undereducation of our children, and the economic barriers that keep us from upward mobility. These issues are not isolated—they are interconnected, and their common root is race. It is because of race that our communities face persistent disparities in healthcare, education, economic opportunity, and justice.

We believe in the power of the collective. And while we recognize that this movement must be led by us, we welcome the partnership of allies committed to our shared future. Many of us have become disconnected—physically, philosophically, financially, or emotionally—from our communities. Through this work, we hope to bring us back together, for the good of ourselves and our neighborhoods.

We’ve heard the critiques: that our efforts are too focused on dialogue and not enough on action. We share those frustrations. Protests, rallies, and marches are powerful tools, but they are just the beginning. Real, lasting change requires sustained action.

To that end, we ask everyone who joins us to reflect on these essential questions:

  • What must I do for myself?

  • What can I do to impact the community?

  • What must we do to change the system?