Public funds like those provided by the NEA have been essential in fulfilling CCCADI’s mission to highlight the vibrant contributions of the African Diaspora to our nation and the world, and to fight for cultural equity and inclusion.

Last week, President Trump’s budget plan recommended eliminating the NEA completely. Such a measure would mainly cripple mid-size and small organizations like ours. The cuts are likely to have an outsized impact on artists and cultural organizations of color, which already struggle to stay afloat in an art world that favors European aesthetics and art forms.