Activists chart course for Black America's progress after a year of turmoil Most activists say leaders need to prove they are accountable and usher in change that benefits the communities that supported them. Donna M. Owens, Special to USA TODAY Published 3:23 pm UTC Feb. 18, 2021 Most activists say leaders need to prove they are accountable and usher in change that benefits the communities that supported them. Donna M. Owens, Special to USA TODAY Published 3:23 pm UTC Feb. 18, 2021 The arc of Timuel Black Jr.’s life is long, covering most of the 20th century and all we've seen of the 21st. Along the way, the 102-year-old labor organizer, educator, author and freedom fighter has witnessed pivotal events in American and African American history.