Black Men Build

Happy Birthday to the socialist, Grenadian revolutionary Maurice Bishop, born on this day in 1944.

As leader of the political party the New JEWEL Movement (NJM), Bishop endured a violent struggle on the path to revolution that included his father being murdered by the Prime Minister’s private militia.

Despite the bloody opposition, he rose the ranks politically until the NJM was able to stage a popular revolution in 1979 that overthrew the corrupt, Western-backed Eric Gairy. The People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) was installed, Bishop was inserted as Prime Minister, and he immediately began enacting social change that included significant advances in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and housing, all while empowering his - mostly Black - ordinary citizens.

Bishop’s adult literacy programs were so successful illiteracy dropped from 35% to 5% in just 4 years. Unemployment dropped from 50% to 14% over that same time span. Unsurprisingly, this success made him a target for Western aggression just like every other progressive Black leader who has tried uplifting their people.

Bishop spoke about why the small island of Grenada was such a particular threat to the United States. He revealed in a speech that a US State Department report labeled the Grenadian Revolution as ‘even worse’ than Cuba or Nicaragua’s due to the people and leadership of Grenada speaking English and being predominantly Black, potentially presenting a ‘dangerous appeal’ to Black folk in the US.

A faction in the PRG led to Bishop being arrested in Sept 1983 and executed a month later along with his cabinet minsters and aides. Just days later on October 25th Ronald Reagan launched Operation Urgent Fury to invade Grenada and restore order after the takeover of “leftist gangsters.”

Bishop’s legacy is another crucial reminder of the interconnectedness of the diaspora - you might not think our struggles are related but our opps’ violent reaction to international movements show they clearly are. Act and move accordingly!

There’s a reason we named our magazine WARTIME.

Get active, join an organization, find community.

Tap in with your local hub or DM us to find out how to build a hub in your city!

We’ve been celebrating Malcolm all year with our latest WARTIME release - have you picked up your copy? Better yet, have you read it in full?

This edition marks 5 years of Black Men Build and in order to meet this moment we recognize the importance of deepening our study, strengthening our discipline, and sharpening our organizing. There’s an urgency that can’t be ignored and demands a transformation, similar to one of the several Malcolm himself underwent.

Join us in this moment, in rebuilding the circle, and in learning from Malcolm’s legacy that transforming is not optional - it’s mandatory.

👉🏾 Tap in with your local hub for your physical copy of WARTIME 7 or hit the link in bio to download your free digital version!

Today, on what would be his 101st birthday, we honor Omowale el‑hajj Malik El Shabazz: the anti‑capitalist, Pan‑Afrikanist, revolutionary nationalist Muslim better known to the world as Malcolm X.

When el‑hajj Malik received the name ‘Omowale’ from the Muslim Students’ Society at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, he described it as the greatest honor he ever earned. “The child who returned home” taught that we must return to Afrika culturally and politically, which means separating our spirituality from amerikkkanism and the objectives of our oppressors. And we must make an action program centered around five core pillars: Restoration, Reorientation, Education, Economic Security, and Self-Defense.

Our latest edition, WARTIME 7, is dedicated to his enduring blueprint. 🖊️📸

Drop Malcolm’s most essential quotes in the comments. Let his words guide the conversation today. 🤲🏿📖👇🏿

We are proud to continue this work alongside the . Support their effort to build a cultural destination at his birthplace.

As Salaam Alaikum. Free the Land. ✊🏿

The honoring of mothers and women in our lives extends far beyond one day and Black Men Build strives to make this a consistent part of our revolutionary practice.

In the Malcolm X Study Guide assembled by our political education team, we highlighted the life and legacy of Betty Shabazz, wife of Malcolm and mother of their 6 daughters. As we study Malcolm’s transformation it’s crucial to extend this study to his transformative partner as well.

Additionally, anti-patriarchal works such as Russell Maroon Shoatz’ “Respect our Mothers, Stop Hating Women” have been embedded into the core of our political curriculum. Swipe through slides 6-9 for some choice excerpts.

We also want to highlight the important work being done by - a Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers, and activists working to support our incarcerated population. You can still donate to their campaign by heading to the link in their bio!

Happy blessed, powerful Mother’s Day to every mother out there 🖤💐

To the mothers who have made sacrifice a part of their daily practice. From the ones doing it alone to the ones doing it together. The “non traditional” ones. The ones who mother children not born from their bodies.

We see you. We honor you. We love you.

To every mother who has ever fought for a better world for her children. To the Black mothers who marched and continue to protest. The immigrant mothers who put everything on the line. The mothers who showed up and taught their children the power of love. The mothers who fortify our communities with strength and wisdom.

Today we also hold space for those of us celebrating without her. The mother who passed and left a silence no one else can fill. To every mother we’ve lost: you are still being loved. Still being talked about. Still shaping who we are. You are not, and will never be, forgotten 🤲🏾🖤

We love you. Happy Mother’s Day.
💐🌸🌷

📢 NOW HIRING 📢

Black Men Build is looking for a dynamic organizer to co-lead community engagement, recruitment, and mobilization efforts in Atlanta, GA.

As a core leader in our organizing work, you’ll help anchor physical spaces, run campaigns, build political education, and design programs that support and uplift Black men.

This position requires a strong commitment to organization, relationship building, skill building, and community building.

If you’re ready to grow and build power with us, apply today.

Application Deadline: May 15th

➡️ To apply and learn more about the role, visit the link in bio ✊🏾