Forward Together: The Black Policy Playbook for an Equitable America – The 2026 Addendum

Forward Together: The Black Policy Playbook for an Equitable America was created in 2025 to provide evidence-based policy recommendations for advancing equity and opportunity for Black Americans. Developed by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, the Playbook brought together research, policy expertise, and the perspectives of organizations committed to strengthening Black communities across the United States. Its purpose was—and remains—to provide a resource for policymakers to collaborate with researchers, advocates, and community organizations in developing solutions that promote equity and justice.

Since the Playbook’s release in 2025, the policy landscape has changed substantially. Some of the policies and investments that offered opportunities to reduce longstanding disparities have been weakened, reversed, or placed at risk, while new laws, executive actions, court decisions, and state policies have created new challenges. In addition, emerging issues—including the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, changes in the digital economy, new threats to voting access, the growing consequences of immigration enforcement, and the continuing effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—have made clear that the work of advancing equity must continually evolve. The disparities documented in the original Playbook have not disappeared; in many cases, they have been intensified by these changes.

This addendum is the product of that recognition. We are grateful to the leading civil rights and policy organizations that contributed their expertise to this update and helped identify where the original agenda must be strengthened, revised, or expanded. Together, these organizations have examined what has changed since the Playbook’s publication and what those changes mean for Black communities today. Their contributions demonstrate both the urgency of this moment and the continued importance of collective action.

DOWNLOAD & READ THE ADDENDUM HERE