The Black Lens will always rest on the forever foundation laid by Sandy Williams. Her legacy is the centerpiece of this paper, and her vision remains the guide as we move forward. Sandy ran this invention as a sole proprietor from her own home, fearless in her endeavor to create a press that spoke to the community, named the social and political narratives that impacted Black people, and lifted the value of our stories.
Now, a team is learning what it takes to do what one woman once did single-handedly. We are working with intention under a new model, developing structure, and bringing new hands to the fold – growing the seed that Sandy had already begun to expand prior to her untimely passing. And in this process, we do not take her groundwork for granted. Every step we take is made with respect and gratitude in an effort to carry the vision forward.
This is, in every sense, an evolving effort that comes with its challenges. We are driving and fine tuning the engine at the same time, a lot of the time. But what resounds from Sandy’s sweat equity in The Black Lens is this truth: community power is critical, and cohesion is the lever.
And so, we continue to move – forward with care, forward with courage, and forward with the understanding that this paper is more than just ink on pages. It is a mirror, a megaphone, and a memory bank for our people. It is a space where our lives are documented, our voices amplified and our contributions are credited. It is being handled with care and overseen by Black people invested in the Spokane community and Black culture. With Sandy’s imprint, we inherit both responsibility and hope. As we carry The Black Lens ahead, we do so not by replacing what she built, but by extending it – keeping the light of her work burning while ensuring it shines even further.
Because The Black Lens is a work in progress, there is a constant learning curve. The operations of keeping the paper moving forward are multifaceted, with many moving pieces. We are deeply grateful for community members who understand this vision and who support it through donations, time, and talent as contributors.
Most importantly, the stories of the Black community are being told in The Black Lens, where our voices and perspectives are given agency. For those curious about the nonprofit model, please refer back to the September 2024 article written by Rick Williams, brother of Sandy Williams, which explains the transition and structure in greater detail: blacklensnews.com/stories/2024/sep/01/from-the-board-the-future-of-the-black-lens-depend/
We always welcome your submissions, your questions about our nonprofit and production process, and your ideas for how to support The Black Lens. This remains a collective learning process, and our board continues to invest their time and energy to ensure that everything we do reflects and embraces the needs of our community.