Demos

State of the People | A Nationwide Call to Action The State of the People is a nationwide call to action; a movement to rally, restore, & reimagine possibilities for Black communities

Tonight, join the #StateOfThePeople, where Dēmos President Taifa Smith Butler will speak about the affordability crisis at 8:30 ET 📣

Tune into a conversation that centers what Black America needs to know about our country’s democracy and economy: demos.nyc/4rBiV4Y

The Third Reconstruction: Looking Beyond the Emergencies of Today to the Beloved Community | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice. This synthesis of Dēmos' Third Reconstruction series helps us imagine and lay the foundation for the next chapter of American history.

At a time when fear dominates news cycles, Aron Goldman calls us to look beyond the crises of today to envision a new path toward our collective liberation.

His reflections on our Third Reconstruction series are now available on @npquarterly.bsky.social: demos.nyc/4az3AvI

The image shows a diverse group holding signs advocating for voting rights. The text "Black History is unfinished, unfolding, being written" overlays the scene.

Black history isn’t just something we look back on. It’s being made right now—in the streets, at the polls, in a fight for justice that has never stopped. #BlackHistoryMonth

Photograph shows half-length portrait of Rev. Jesse Jackson seated at a table.

This week, we mourn the passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson, a giant of the civil rights movement and a champion of multiracial democracy, workers’ rights, and the voiceless. His legacy reminds us of the importance of building intersectional power across race, creed, and class. His work continues. 🕊️

The Human Cost of Houseplants: Labor Conditions of Florida’s Plant Nursery Workers | Demos Exposing the hidden labor crisis behind America's booming houseplant industry and the case for a worker-driven accountability model that's already improved conditions in other industries.

The workers that grow your house plants power a booming industry—yet many face exploitation. Change begins with The Planting Justice Campaign. Learn how your consumer power can help workers win fair pay, safe working conditions, and dignity on the job: demos.nyc/4ttVVGt

Looking Beyond the Headline Unemployment Rate: Why the U-6 Underemployment Rate Matters | Demos As 2026 employment data rolls out and we try to make sense of the new year's economy, the U-6 rate offers a less-cited but revealing indicator of labor market health.

A strong economy isn’t just about people having jobs. To measure the strength of the economy, we need to know whether those who want more work can get it.

Read our latest piece to understand what underemployment reveals that the unemployment rate misses: demos.nyc/3ZQSdZB

On the anniversary of the 15th Amendment, we reflect on a Reconstruction Amendment that prohibited racial discrimination in voting. It stands as a reminder that democracy had to be rebuilt once, and it can be rebuilt again.

Fifty years ago, the Supreme Court ruled in Buckley v. Valeo that spending money on elections counts as free speech.

That decision eroded election integrity and put megadonors ahead of voters.

The system is broken, and we all feel the consequences.

The Third Reconstruction: Looking Beyond the Emergencies of Today to the Beloved Community | Demos In his reflections on Dēmos’ and NPQ’s Third Reconstruction series, Aron Goldman uplifts the call to look beyond the crises of today and envision a new path toward our collective liberation.

Survival demands urgency, but transformation demands vision.

In his reflections on Dēmos and @npquarterly.bsky.social's Third Reconstruction series, Aron Goldman reaffirms Dēmos president Taifa Smith Butler's call to reimagine norms, institutions, and forms of power.
demos.nyc/looking-beyo...

Six years ago, Trump signaled how he would treat marginalized communities when he signed the #MuslimBan during his first term. Where our country is now is the result of the same racism, xenophobia, and white nationalism he has signaled since the beginning.

Stock Market Highs Reveal Racial Economic Divides, Not Broad Prosperity | Demos A strong economy cannot be measured by stock market performance; it must be assessed by everyday people’s ability to meet their basic needs and achieve economic security.

For many families facing high costs for rent, childcare, and utilities, the stock market offers little relief and even less insight into their lived economic reality.

We unpack why stock market highs do not signal economic strength in our latest piece: demos.nyc/45CQRoH

Trump Said He’d Unleash the Economy in Year 1. Here’s How He Did. As a candidate, President Trump pledged to boost the stock market, bring back manufacturing jobs and improve other elements of the economy. A year after his return to office, his record is mixed.

While the stock market is “so far, so good,” it only reflects the financial well-being of the wealthiest (mostly white) families.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

On January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court decided Citizens United, opening the floodgates to unlimited money from billionaires in our elections.

15 years later, it's clear: We must change how campaigns are funded to reflect the will of the people—not big donors.

Molly, You in Danger, Girl | Demos A dangerous authoritarian shift is unfolding in real time. Dēmos President, Taifa Smith Butler, calls us to mobilize and act together to defend our democracy.

In October, we outlined our government’s backslide into tyranny. Today, at the year mark of the Trump Administration, it’s clear that things have only gotten worse.

We cannot normalize unchecked authority. We will continue to sound the alarm: demos.nyc/3Lsnwqm

Taifa Smith Butler, president of Demos, is seated in front of a graphical representation of diverse people, with a quote above stating, 'Fighting anti-Blackness is not only a moral imperative; it is a strategy for building a truly multiracial democracy.' The Demos logo is at the top.

This year began with violence that we cannot normalize, revealing a government that has turned American imperialism inward on its own communities.

In her latest piece, Dēmos president Taifa Smith Butler calls us to be bold in fighting for our future: demos.nyc/4qrJk4D

Image titled 'Stock Market Highs Reveal Racial Economic Divides, not Broad Prosperity', featuring an individual in thoughtful expression with a background including a stock chart, a blue piggy bank, and the scales of justice. Logo of Demos at the bottom.

Promotional image featuring a thoughtful individual with a shopping cart against a graphical background of fluctuating market lines. Text overlay emphasizes that a strong economy is measured by people's ability to meet basic needs. Logo of Demos at the bottom.

The Trump Administration cites stock market highs as proof of economic strength.

In our latest piece, we unpack why that narrative ignores too many people’s reality: demos.nyc/45CQRoH

We remain determined to press on and to build a multiracial democracy where all can thrive without fear. These latest actions impact our safety and well-being, but our collective action can create the world we know is possible.

Decisions are being made right now by this Administration, decisions about who gets to belong, to be free, to reach their full potential in America. Dēmos still believes the future is ours to write, fight for, and protect. There is no sideline to this struggle for our democracy.

These are not the actions of a democratic, representative, or accountable government. This is American imperialism turned inward—the same forces that invade sovereign nations now occupy our cities and kill those who dare to protect their communities.

This new year has been chaotic, alarming, and unsettling so far. From the invasion of Venezuela to ICE terrorizing our communities, culminating in yesterday's deadly shooting of Renee Nicole Good—a wife, mother, and neighbor who stood up to protect others. We cannot normalize this. 🧵

$Alt text:Interactive bar and line graph from The New York Times, displaying U.S. jobs report data over a three-year period. The graph highlights fluctuating employment figures from 2023 to 2025, culminating in a notable increase in the unemployment rate to 4.6 percent, the highest level in four years.

The hidden story news outlets aren’t reporting today—Black unemployment rose to 8.3%, the highest level since August 2021, and more than double the rate for white workers.

Last month, we outlined what the Black unemployment rate reveals about our economy: demos.nyc/3YxyRbi

The Shutdown Hid the Data, Not the Inequality: What We Know About Economic Instability | Demos Despite living in one of the world’s wealthiest nations, millions of Americans remain financially vulnerable, with stark racial disparities in who has enough emergency savings to weather a crisis.

In 2024, just over half of all people in the country reported having three months of emergency savings, with disproportionately lower rates among Black and Hispanic households.

New data exposes which communities bear the greatest risk when the economy falters. demos.nyc/4pexNEt

As Michiganders consider ballot measure, report flags big costs of proof of citizenship rules • Michigan Advance As states, Michigan among them, weigh additional restrictions to prevent noncitizens from casting a ballot, a report from a trio of organizations focused on racial justice and democracy warns that ena...

As Michigan and other states begin deliberating proof of citizenship laws, our joint report with @campaignlegal.org and @statevoices.bsky.social outlines the heavy price tags these laws carry:
demos.nyc/3MY9rkw

Paving the Path for a Third Reconstruction | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice. Can movement advocates imagine liberation in a time of mounting authoritarianism? Not only can we, but we must. To do so requires imagination, planning, and action.

Dēmos President @taifasbutler.bsky.social concludes our @npquarterly.bsky.social's Third Reconstruction series with a vision of how the progressive movement can leverage what we know from history to manifest what we need for our future.

Read more: demos.nyc/48EOzpN

Paving the Path for a Third Reconstruction | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice. Can movement advocates imagine liberation in a time of mounting authoritarianism? Not only can we, but we must. To do so requires imagination, planning, and action.

Paving the Path for a Third Reconstruction: "There can be no inclusive multiracial democracy without a commitment to rewrite our society’s racist rules." nonprofitquarterly.org/paving-the-p... @taifasbutler.bsky.social @demosorg.bsky.social

History shows that every rise in oppression is met with collective action that opens the door to new possibilities.

Join Dēmos and Nonprofit Quarterly on Dec 17 for a one-hour webinar to envision a more just future. Register here: demos.nyc/4orkbVF

Four Ways Philanthropy Can Support the Movement for a Third Reconstruction | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice. Foundations can play an important role in helping movements not only survive but thrive. But doing so requires a shift in mindset—and accountability to the public good.

Four Ways Philanthropy Can Support the Movement for a Third Reconstruction: nonprofitquarterly.org/four-ways-ph... @demosorg.bsky.social @caseygrants.bsky.social @rwjf.org #Philanthropy

Four Ways Philanthropy Can Support the Movement for a Third Reconstruction | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice. Foundations can play an important role in helping movements not only survive but thrive. But doing so requires a shift in mindset—and accountability to the public good.

What is philanthropy’s role in building a Third Reconstruction?

Foundation leaders Richard Besser and Carmen Rojas offer an honest assessment of their sector's past and what’s required for a just future.

Read more @npquarterly.bsky.social: nonprofitquarterly.org/four-ways-ph...

🚨The unemployment rate for Black women is now 7.5%.

These damning numbers confirm that under Trump, Black women face a crisis of disproportionately high unemployment.

He must end his racist & reckless economic policies that are harming our economy.

And the Fed must act to address this crisis.

What the Black Unemployment Rate Tells Us (When We Can See It) | Demos While the government shutdown left us without recent economic data, the rising Black unemployment rate reveals essential truths about the state of our economy.

The report also shows some job growth alongside an overall unemployment rate of 4.4%—the highest we've seen since October 2021.

For Black workers, these numbers signal a deeper truth about our economy: structural inequities continue to shape economic opportunity: www.demos.org/blog/what-bl...