Reflections on Black History: We have real power

For this Black History Month, the Banner reached out to members of our community and asked them to share their thoughts and feelings about our Black history and culture. We think you will find their responses as inspirational as we did. — Ronald Mitchell, Publisher and Editor, Bay State Banner

We have real power

by Glynn Lloyd 

As we celebrate Black history in 2025, let’s answer today’s moment. Let’s be bold and transformative in reimagining our present and future for our loved ones and for our communities.

What real power do we have at this moment? At a minimum, we have the power of thought, the power of our wallets and the power of our collective action.

Let’s start with the power of thought. Over the years, I’ve worked with City Fresh Foods, The Urban Farming Institute and, most recently, a collective of folks who started the Movement Family Farm on 15 acres in New Hampshire. On that farm, we produce food for ourselves and provide fruits and vegetables to our neighbors through relationships with Heal the Hood, which directly distributes this organic harvest to our community. All these platforms, including longstanding relationships with The Commonwealth Kitchen and Red Tomato, allow us to reconsider — to think deeply — about where our food comes from, who grows it and how it gets to us. When we explore these questions, we see tools currently exist for us to help our community to eat healthier and sustainably.

In terms of money and ownership, I believe the system we have been forced into can be kinder and gentler — that is, if we push it there. There is no reason for us to accept that CEOs make 300 times more than the median worker. There is no reason for us to accept that large corporations can continue to drive extraction and consumerism to the detriment of our planet and to the benefit of their shareholders. Looking at global models like Mondragon and platforms like Ujima, City Fresh Foods and the Cooperative Fund of New England, we see attempts to support broader ownership models in our local communities. When we have more local, broader and diverse ownership, these entities will be more naturally inclined to support their local communities, both socially and environmentally.   

How these entities source their growth and sustain capital is critically important. We all should think creatively about how to move more capital into these platforms. Currently, I do this full time at Nectar Community Investments, but I am not alone. There are many of us now in what I call “alternative finance institutions,” pushing the envelope on how we should think about capital and its ultimate purpose as a tool for more of us to reach our full potential. 

We also must remind ourselves of the power we exercise every time we make a purchase. I had to break the news to my young daughter that we will not be entering Target to buy her desired LOL Surprise dolls. We will join the 40-day Target fast to send a message that when we act collectively, we will be heard at the bottom line. 

Just a few weeks back, my dad — who is in his eighth decade on earth — pondered out loud why more people aren’t protesting in the streets in response to the current administration’s actions during their first days of office. This isn’t something I would expect my dad to say, and that highlighted for me the uniqueness of the moment. This isn’t a time to overact; at the same time, it is not a time to remain ignorant of the danger around us. It is a time to remain fully committed to love instead of hate and fear, and to be in relationships with those who share this commitment.

Glynn Lloyd is the executive director of Nectar Community Investments, leading efforts to expand access to capital and resources for historically disinvested communities. A seasoned entrepreneur and impact-driven leader, Glynn has dedicated his career to fostering economic equity and closing the racial wealth gap.