November 27th 2023.
On November 24th, employees of the Alaska Black Caucus discovered racist slurs spray painted on the side of their building in downtown Anchorage. Reminiscent of her past experiences in the South, the news was particularly difficult for Brenda Tyler, one of the employees. This was not the first time the organization had been the victim of a similar attack, as they have reported similar incidents to the Anchorage Police Department in the past.
Rev. Patricia Wilson-Cone spoke out against the attack, calling it “not a positive light and a positive message” and denouncing it with “zero tolerance”. The Alaska Black Caucus is the premier non-partisan organization asserting the Constitutional Rights of African Americans in Alaska. In 2021, they purchased the Equity Center using money received from the American Rescue Plan Act and private donations.
According to the website, the Equity Center will serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Alaskans through a commercial kitchen, gathering space, below-market-rate office spaces, co-working, partner leased space, and associated programming. Celeste Hodge Growden, the President of the Alaska Black Caucus, has a vision for the center that is a “permanent home for us where we can freely breathe”. She hopes it will be a space for engagement and trust-building between community leaders and gatekeepers, and that it will be backed up with advocacy and action.
It is clear that the Alaska Black Caucus is dedicated to creating a better and more equitable society for all. The hateful attack on their building was a reminder that the fight for justice and equity is far from over. In the wake of this attack, it is more important than ever to stand together against hate and injustice in all its forms.
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