We are now in the third week of “My Tribute To The Black History Giants” series. We have honored the lawyers that argued the cases and the writers that told the stories. But history isn’t just made only by those at the podium; it also is made by those in the church basements, on the street corners, and at the kitchen tables.

This week, I am standing on the shoulders of The Quiet Disruptors. These were the grassroots organizers that understood a “dream” without a plan is just a wish.

The Giants of the “Groundwork”

These individuals often sacrificed their safety and their names to build the infrastructure of freedom. They didn’t seek the spotlight; they sought results.

Ella Baker: She was the backbone of the movement. She mentored the youth and helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Her philosophy was simple but revolutionary: “Strong people don’t need strong leaders.” She believed in empowering the community to lead itself.

Bayard Rustin: A master of logistics, he was the primary architect of the 1963 March on Washington. Because he was an openly gay man, he often was forced into the background by the politics of the time, yet without his brilliance, the march — and Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech — might never have its stage.

Fannie Lou Hamer: A sharecropper that became a titan. She was “sick and tired of being sick and tired” and used her powerful voice and indomitable spirit to fight for voting rights in Mississippi, even after facing brutal violence.

Why Their Shoulders Matter to Me

I stand on their shoulders whenever I glean leadership is service. The Quiet Disruptors taught me that you don’t need a title to make an impact. They showed us the most lasting change is “bottom-up,” not “top-down.”

They remind me the work I do behind the scenes — the mentoring, the late-night planning, the supporting of others — is just as vital as the work that gets noticed. They taught us that movements are built on the “small” acts of many, rather than the “big” acts of one.

A Reflection for You

The Quiet Disruptors remind us that every one of us has a role to play. You don’t need a microphone to be a giant; you just need a commitment to the person standing next to you.

How can you be a “quiet disruptor” this week? Is there a project, a person, or a cause in your local community that needs your hands, not just your “likes”?

May God help us and shower us all with both His blessings and the things that make life sweet.

Please stay connected with us  at chrisokeynnokwam.com so you won’t miss the next deep dive!