Black history is not only about remembrance. It is about building power, economic power, political power, and the right to remain in place. This month, we celebrate Black history not just as culture, but as a long and ongoing struggle for justice that includes the fight for economic freedom. From housing access to fair wages to public investment, Black communities have consistently been on the frontlines of demanding systems that work for everyone. A fight that continues today.
We see it reflected in WashingtonCAN’s work this legislative session. In a short and competitive year shaped by real budget pressures and high political stakes, advancing people-centered policies requires sustained organizing and sustainable revenue solutions. Seattle has already shown what that can look like.
The Social Housing Tax, passed through Prop 1A, a payroll tax applied only to compensation above $1 million, generated the largest investment for housing in Seattle history. This is what economic justice looks like in practice when people come together to organize, a principle long understood by Black movements.
When we generate revenue from extreme wealth, we can stabilize budgets, protect public services, and invest in housing without placing new burdens on working families. That is why expanding progressive revenue at the state level — including proposals like the Millionaires' Tax — matters in this moment of fiscal and political pressure.
Economic justice is not abstract. It is about who gets to stay. Who gets to build wealth. Who gets to remain rooted in their community.