On June 15, Black Families Flourishing (BFF) brought together researchers, scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and community members for a Juneteenth conversation exploring the past, present, and future of Black family flourishing.
As the nation reflects on Juneteenth and looks ahead to the United States’ 250th anniversary, the discussion highlighted the importance of understanding, supporting, and investing in Black families as a cornerstone of a stronger future for all Americans.
The conversation featured Dr. Clinton Boyd, Jr., Dr. Christina Cross, Dr. William (Sandy) A. Darity, Jr., and Dr. Deadric Williams, and was facilitated by BFF Principal Investigator and Project Lead Dr. Chrishana M. Lloyd.
Three key insights emerged from the discussion:
Black families have always been expansive and dynamic
Expanding our understanding of Black families requires recognizing that family responsibilities, such as caregiving, are expansive; that families include many people; and that families have always taken many forms. Family structures cannot be reduced to narrow or outdated definitions.
Research must reach the people doing the work
Those supporting Black families need access to timely, relevant, and accessible research and data that can inform practice, advocacy, and policy. Translating academic knowledge for broader audiences is essential to building collective understanding and action.
Building the future means investing in proven solutions
The future requires investing in what we know works. Promising policy approaches such as Baby Bonds and reparations efforts offer examples of strategies designed to address historical inequities and create conditions where Black families can flourish.
Throughout the event, panelists challenged participants to move beyond limited narratives about Black families and instead embrace research, policies, and systems that recognize family strengths and resilience while supporting well-being across generations.
If you were unable to join us live, you can watch the event recording here:
You can also access the resources relevant to the content shared in the event here:
