CONCLUSION TO THE REPORT

Conclusion to the Report

Global and local crises and anti-Black attacks in various facets of society by their nature compel reaction and crisis response. However, the brilliant assessments of this report inform and inspire Black communities to maintain the larger visions of themselves that emerge from seeing themselves through their own cultural lenses; drawing on their own legacies and intellectual heritage; and embracing political agendas that address the unique needs, concerns, and goals of Black communities, which include and go far beyond the issues highlighted in mainstream media outlets. Getting caught in a cycle of crisis response not only derails more holistic development agendas for African/Black people but also can compel us to adopt deficit narratives that are harmful to our health outcomes and undermine victorious consciousness. The more grounded approaches in this report come with a host of largely complementary practical and conceptual solutions and a few areas of healthy friction, which only spark deeper thought and create opportunities for important dialogue so that we might, in the words of Dr. Mark Christian, “sing our own songs” as a powerful chorus. The NCBS Annual Report is an eye-opening momentous occasion. This project is a multifaceted, layered composition of voices both inside and outside of the Academic world. The submissions reflect the wide-ranging concerns and examinations of the Black experience writ large. The essays and scholarly articles range from law enforcement officers to African Centered- Psychologists, to globally known defense lawyers to a wide range of Africana Studies experts. The nature of the works speaks to the cascading realities that people of African ancestry are facing as the new millennium rushes forward. This work contains entries from graduate students to seasoned experts who have made the discipline flourish and become the entity that it is today. The editors created categories that will satisfy the curiosity of any person who is seeking a variety of perspectives on the Black condition in the current moment. While the editorial board could not accept the momentous volume of submissions that were submitted, we are thankful that the idea of the annual report has been extremely well received by the general public and look forward to next year's submissions for review.