In Richmond, Virginia, the city I call home, there resides both the echoes of the Confederacy and the spirit of Jackson Ward's Black Wall Street. As a native son, I am living evidence of our city's intricate past and the promise of our future. My birth name, Robert Lee Dortch, Jr., speaks to this duality—a juxtaposition of pride, as I am my father's namesake. Yet the name so uncomfortably closely resembles that of an infamous Confederate general that I considered changing it on multiple occasions. Like Richmond and America's ongoing adventure toward racial justice, my journey is about this duality. The shifts in activism and advocacy methods over time also symbolize our evolution. Throughout history, Black activism has oscillated between strategic patience and assertive demand for rights, mirroring the broader tension within the Black community over how best to achieve racial, social, and economic equity through protest in the streets, economic advancement in the boardroom and legal action in the courtrooms seeking entry, access, and equal opportunity. As our nation experiences this increasing tension between these polarities, the call for social justice is witnessing a transformative epoch.

To chart our path forward, those in philanthropic non-profit leadership must marry the spirit of innovation, advocacy, governance, and equity with a dedication to systemic change and transformative governance.

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The Duality of the Black Experience Continues

Historically, our advocacy has been characterized by a spectrum of approaches. In the late 19th and early 20th century, Booker T. Washington emphasized self-progress and vocational training and presented a model of rising gradually. In stark contrast, W.E.B DuBois vociferously championed the talented 10th and immediate civil rights. This ideological divergence is reminiscent of the dual paths of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s (SCLC) call for non-violent peaceful demonstrations in contrast to the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee's (SNCC) cry for Black Power and more direct-action strategies.

Amidst the nationwide unrest following George Floyd's death, I questioned how to best use my voice, presence, and position in this quest. I found myself inside the system, sitting at the table where my ancestors had often prayed, protested, and pushed for us to have access and opportunities for a rightful seat but were repeatedly denied. I've often questioned, condemned, and critiqued my efforts. Am I part of the solution? Or am I complicit by working within the systems and, therefore, a part of the problem?

When I wrestle with these critiques and questions, I turn to my internal north star:

1. My faith is a guide for how I engage. I believe we are called to love each other, which includes self-love and love for my neighbor.
2. As a citizen, I agree we have the right to make actionable the preamble of the Declaration of Independence: "…we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life liberty and pursuit of happiness." Therefore, I believe that everyone has the right to breathe, to be free, and to experience happiness.
3. I turn to my grandfather, Henry Towns, who serves as a beacon of wisdom for me. He was working as a factory worker in 1963's still-segregated Richmond. He imparted a fundamental truth: Our history, as Black Americans, is punctuated with unjust tragedies and triumphs of resilience. He believed recognizing problems is the first step of fundamental transformation, which lies in forging solutions. Solutions are the pinnacle of change.

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The Diverse Paths of Black Leadership

Richmond and communities nationwide continue to face issues ranging from the disproportionate challenges Black families face in housing, health care, poverty, the wealth gap, and the education achievement gap to voter suppression, all needing real solutions. I've tried to seek answers in a myriad of ways. I organized local photography exhibits to highlight issues, utilized my role at the Ujima Legacy Fund, a giving circle to aid children's education, and chaired the board of Philanthropy Southeast, a philanthropic service organization in the American South, in the implementation of an equity framework. My work in innovation and place-based philanthropy has helped steward the deployment of resources and impacted local public schools, helping nearly 150,000 students to address their academic, social-emotional, and basic needs, especially children of color. I'm partnering with allies to advise the "Amandla" Black wealth initiative at the Community Foundation, aimed to advance wealth equity. While working in these various capacities, it became evident that my path to helping bring about equity and justice looks different from the traditional protest and activism that we often think about historically from Black leaders working to support communities of color.

Today, we're still evolving and transitioning, occupying pivotal roles within systems—philanthropic, corporate, governance, and non-profits. Incorporating innovative strategies at the governance, executive leadership, and system level isn't just a question of representation—it's about reshaping the systemic frameworks perpetuating these disparities. The essence of governance is stewardship. We must foster environments where innovative strategies and solutions emerge, creating tangible impact. Nationally, Up Together is a leader in advocating for guaranteed income and promoting social and economic mobility to disrupt poverty at the system's level. Policy Link, a research institute founded by a trailblazer in this work, Angela Glover Blackwell, continues to be at the forefront of facilitating system-level change. Locally, Collective 365 is a philanthropic effort committed to investing in Black and Brown communities in the Mid-Atlantic region. These are efforts we can watch and continue to learn from in our systems change thinking and work.

Many African American leaders in the Richmond Region are still the first at leading boards, foundations, non-profits, corporations, and universities. Amid the current backlash, these leaders must continue exceeding expectations, eliminating boundaries, and challenging stereotypes of Black leadership while encouraging others to join this effort and building cross-sector alliances that bring about systemic change. This work requires collective action that extends beyond guilt-inspired giving or brand activism, which can be more harmful than helpful.  

As advocates of racial equity, especially here in Richmond, the mission is twofold: There must be ongoing efforts to voice concerns and demands for social justice through activism outside of the systems; however, advocacy doesn't only take place in the streets; it's equally crucial for advocacy to drive change from within the system, in boardrooms and budgeting decisions. As one executive once shared with me, it's not just about "beating the odds, it's about changing the odds," and advocating systems change is the path I've chosen. This dual approach—marrying the energy of activism and advocacy with strategic governance, innovative leadership, and catalytic philanthropic engagement—is imperative for our continued journey toward racial, social, and economic justice. For me, philanthropy, innovation, and governance are a robust part of my advocacy repertoire. I keep this question at the forefront of my work: How do we channel philanthropic intentions into impactful actions, ensuring every investment makes an equitable difference?

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Facing Our Future Together

James Baldwin once said, "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." As I reflect upon our progress and challenges, I'm reminded of Baldwin's words. We've made commendable strides in raising awareness, but the task is channeling this newfound cognizance into actionable, systemic changes. Today, as I introspect post-pandemic, post the unjust death of George Floyd, the monumental task remains: to channel this awareness into substantial systemic reforms. 

Through collaborative efforts and a shared vision for the future, Richmond can learn from those who've come before us, like America's first female banker, philanthropist Maggie L. Walker, editor/publisher John Mitchell Jr., civil rights attorney Oliver Hill, and countless others who epitomize both passionate activism and strategic systems change. Their indomitable spirit continues to serve as a compass and reminder of what's possible.

In the days to come, my vision remains steadfast: continuing to operationalize the love of humanity, learning from historical and contemporary best practices, and leveraging diverse and innovative platforms, whether as an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, or a board chair, while continuing to establish system focused collaborations with allies, breaking down barriers that separate us and ensuring our united voice for justice isn't merely audible but results in tangible, lasting change is my undeterred mission and dream for us to be a better us.

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