We can all agree whoever holds the money, holds the power. So I find it interesting that these advocacy non-profits can't be political and for-profit companies get tax breaks to donate to non-profits. So the middle class has kept an economy going without any true accountability, no true change.
Struggling with food and housing insecurity for all my life and for my now adult children almost seems like a never ending reality. The most infuriating conversations I have had are from folks that give me the worst "advice". The type that is to tell me to do something I couldn't possibly afford to do. That was when a middle class woman kept telling me just hire a lawyer. Or the time a friend gave me hope that these free agencies will help but none of these agencies tackle the probate court system. This is what it is like being poor. Like experiencing your cat die in an agonizing way and all I could think of is how much the tests and treatment will cost me. To be so poor I couldn't help my mom, my cat and I worry everyday about my own children. It is a form of living hell on earth.
“Things are bad and things aren't looking like they will get any better any time soon. Stop considering the same old elected official will do better the third, four, fifth time in office.”
So why do I say grants are evil. Lets reflect what begging looks like or what hand outs look like in a world of constant struggle and living on survival mode. What is the difference between someone on the streets begging for coins and a non-profit fundraising to stay open. The irony to stay open to help the person begging on the streets. This is the poor economy. My mind was blown when I found out Ward 7 and 8's economy is mostly non-profit. I want to challenge the things we have accepted okay.
When I was active in the non-profit world of advocacy I lived to regret when Martha's Table started showing up at the meetings. When I wanted them there I was hoping they would bring to the table the constituents they serve. But instead they show up talking about asking if they can get funds set aside to help make small businesses happen.
Other issues having an advocate from S.O.M.E. at these meetings but knowing someone I know being threaten of eviction from the same institution. Another friend I know is currently worried where she will go once construction starts in the current building she lives in also owned by S.O.M.E.. These non-profits are not here for who they serve, they are here for themselves. Their own survival is to continue to exploit the very system that is the bases of their creation. A never ending story.
Government employees I know feel uncomfortable to protest the very government that feeds and cloths them. Many people receiving SNAP/TANF benefits or in public housing are usually feeling it comes off ungrateful or fear off the wrath their benefits might be cut, if they protest. Others are just so caught up in struggle that there is no time and space to see that what they get isn't enough and they can't be convinced they deserve more. And that is the most frustrating issue I have in the world of crying out for racial equality. Because it is in my eyes a attack on the poor that just so happens to be majority black and brown. I have been around to many middle class black folks and policy makers that continue to miss the mark time and time again to truly get what I try to say time and time again. Their is so much out against the poor and the very laws and systems were created to keep it that way.
The next most powerful way that keeps this going is the self image our elected officials or these non-profits portray themselves as. They are saviors for the poor. They are doing their best and have all the good intentions. I will never forget being in a meeting for a new elected official that talked about being for the black single mothers but in that same meeting was like I get a ton of emails from landlords that are mad they can't raise the rent. Which also reminds me of an elected official that keeps getting elected and is suddenly mentioning freezing rent, possibly ( https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/04/27/anita-bonds-dc-council ). But she has been a failure of an elected official but her record isn't on blast ( https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/553561/anita-bonds-says-shes-never-heard-of-d-c-s-massive-housing-voucher-waitlist/ ). So no one is none the wiser about her lack of leadership for vulnerable populations. I wish folks would get through their thick brains. Things are bad and things aren't looking like they will get any better any time soon. Stop considering the same old elected official will do better the third, four, fifth time in office. Also if you mad at the mayor don't elect the candidates that would be align with them. I know to many people that are friends or well these folks are buddy buddy with them. Just because they knocked on your door doesn't mean you should vote for them. American elections is a popularity contest and not what it should be the fucking policies. Folks in office should have to fight like hell to stay if their voting history is bad. But they just get a guarantee re-election for name recognition and convincing lies they are more experienced and been doing a great job.
I can't also need to mention another politician that makes my spaces uncomfortable. When I see privileged advocates actively helping this politician get re-elected. But when it comes to my own struggles and others I know. She falls short but folks think she is better than most and for some reason deserves to stay?!?! Rapid rehousing is horrible (best way to displace poor people/families) and she wants to eliminate the height restrictions for the city. That is her way of creating more housing. I remember approaching her about raising SNAP benefits with my tallest teen or when cancel rent came to her house. She deflects and acts she is all about the people and uses the mom card way too much. She is pro-developer, over development and displacement of poor people. How she handles Human Services is an example of white stuck up privilege bullshit. The travesty of Park Morton is one example. I will say the same for Charles Allen as well, he will always be on my shit list since my mother's house in is his ward. His ward is the fastest growing and fastest at displacing. He hasn't done anything to keep poor people in their homes. I know so many folks that have moved. The public housing within his ward is also a disgrace. Shame on Phil Mendelson that lives blocks away from Potomac Gardens. Trayon White doesn't even let folks talk in his zoom meetings and he and his staff has shown belittling behavior to his constituents. Robert White and McDuffie play the same card. Hometown DC born and raised politicians that either don't do shit or actively harm the poor people in their city. The travesty of Brookland Manor is one example. My oldest doesn't even want to vote for his first time ever doing so.
Final thoughts
I grew up loving Star Trek and Star Wars. I was raised looking at Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager. I knew Patrick Stewart before X-man as Captain Picard. I am mentioning my love of Star Trek because when I talk about how some/all Americans seem to have this misguided outlook of what racial justice and equity looks like, I see everyone of them as folks that are a part of The Borg. You have to be a Star Trek geek to understand where I am coming from. There was a episode where the Captain got assimilated into The Borg. They always said "Resistance is futile." When I come across folks that believe certain harms to me are okay or that I should just accept. It is like everyone is conditioned and I am only trying my best everyday resisting. Because I know I deserve more and my kids and other poor parents on government assistance. We shouldn't be shamed. We should be demanding more and not being belittled for it. Stop pretending you care by only asking for funds for schools but never housing. The power is always with the money. Whoever holds the money get the power. Grants is another way the government and philanthropy keeps the poor poor. Also grants are hard to fill out. Another reason why folks from a poor family that went to a public school should feel betrayed by the school system. The school system wasn't ever meant for truly educating but for assimilation. Look up what the American Indigenous folks went through in American boarding schools. https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/03/traumatic-legacy-indian-boarding-schools/584293/
Something else to consider. Long before the pandemic The United States violated several human rights set by the United Nations. Those actual news articles are hard to find now but here in something house just housing as a human right before the pandemic. Health care and education are the other human rights the United States has failed. No one holds America accountable because the USA funds the UN. https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/03/1035441
Another example of how the rich get richer https://bit.ly/3PnScpC
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