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AS THE NATION and Massachusetts prepare to celebrate 250 years of independence, the Supreme Court handed down a ruling that forces us to reckon again with the distance between America’s promise and its practice. As a Black person, last week’s Supreme Court ruling gutting key provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act was difficult and disturbing for me. The ruling did not merely decide a legal question. It set Black Americans back decades.

Recent decisions by the court are not abstract legal pronouncements. Their consequences will be felt directly here in the Commonwealth, particularly by Black residents and communities of color, who have historically depended on federal policy to access opportunity and full civic participation.

Massachusetts has built its global reputation as an inclusive state on higher education, health care, and a knowledge-driven economy. But that distinction also makes the state uniquely sensitive to federal shifts, especially those that affect educational access and voting rights.

We are already seeing early warning signs.

In the wake of the Supreme Court decision three years ago that effectively dismantled affirmative action in higher education, institutions across Massachusetts have reported declines in Black and Latino student representation. In a state that serves as a global hub for higher education, this is not simply a question of college admissions. It is a question of who will comprise the future workforce, who will lead key industries, and whether the Commonwealth can sustain a talent pipeline that reflects the diversity of the nation it serves.

The implications extend beyond campuses.

Massachusetts competitiveness in sectors such as life sciences, technology, and health care depends on cultivating inclusive pathways into education and leadership. If those pathways narrow, the long-term economic consequences will follow.

Equally pressing are the potential impacts on voting rights.

While Massachusetts has historically maintained strong voting access, changes at the federal level can weaken the broader framework that protects participation. For Black voters, foreign-born citizens, and residents of culturally diverse communities, even subtle shifts in policy or tone can create hesitation, raising concerns about safety, access, and whether their voices will be protected and, more importantly, heard.

Civic participation is shaped as much by trust as it is by policy. That’s why leadership at the state level must be proactive, visible, and unequivocal.

First, our attorney general can strengthen enforcement of state civil rights and election protection laws. This includes working with the secretary of state to expand voter protection hotlines, increase oversight of polling locations in historically underserved communities such as Gateway Cities, and make clear, through both policy and public communication, that any form of voter intimidation will be met with swift legal action.

Second, the governor, working in partnership with both the attorney general and the secretary of state, can invest in public confidence and access. That means funding multilingual voter education campaigns, ensuring early voting and mail-in voting options remain accessible and well-publicized, and partnering with trusted community organizations within the Black, immigrant, and underserved communities. Visibility matters. People need to see and feel that the system is not only working for them but is working to protect them.

Third, the Legislature can act to further codify and expand protections. This could include strengthening automatic voter registration, embracing same-day registration, enhancing protections for mail-in voting, and ensuring that polling locations are equitably distributed and adequately resourced in communities that have historically faced barriers to participation.

These are not partisan measures. They are foundational to a functioning democracy. There is also a broader truth that must be acknowledged. A growing number of Americans are expressing frustration with the direction our country is being taken in, saying, “This is not what we voted for.” But public policy is a result of collective choices. When policies are supported that are framed as affecting “others,” history shows that the impact rarely remains contained.

At the same time, there is a throughline that cannot be ignored — the resilience of Black Americans.

Black communities in Massachusetts, and across the country, have consistently demonstrated an extraordinary capacity to endure and advance despite systemic barriers. But resilience should not be the expectation. It should not be the fallback in the absence of equitable policy.

If Massachusetts is to truly lead as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, it must do more than celebrate its history. It must act with intention to ensure that opportunity is expanded and not restricted, and that every resident, regardless of race, socioeconomic background, or country of origin, can participate fully in the civic and economic life of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts has always been a leader in the country’s social, civic, and economic sectors.

When we protect access for some, we strengthen the system for all.

Colette A.M. Phillips is president and CEO of Colette Phillips Communications, Inc., a communications and inclusion-focused consulting firm, founder of Get Konnected!, and the author of “The Includers: The 7 Traits of Culturally Savvy Anti-Racist Leaders.” She is a member of the CommonWealth Beacon editorial advisory board.