A Survival Guide For Poor People
We Deserve To Live Too
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I recently found a series of posts called A Handbook for the Recently Resisting by @fakeadultmom on Instagram. And while it had useful information, the majority of it didn’t apply to me.
“Stock up on cash, medication and food”
What if I already struggle to survive and don’t have money for stockpiles?
“Establish plausible cause for travel”
What if I can’t travel because I don’t have transportation or a passport?
“Make sure you have safe haven contacts in other countries”
Ma’am, I don’t even have an emergency contact in my own city.
“Consider places such as Australia and New Zealand”
But how do they feel about Black people tho?
“If you see these signs then it’s time to escape”
I’ve been trying to escape to Mexico for three years. I saw the signs but I’m poor.
Do you know what I really wanna see?
Generously resourced folks taking major, impactful steps by saying “I want to sponsor passports, I want to pay for relocation fees, I want to buy plane tickets.”
But that’s unlikely to happen in “home of the hateful” ‘merica. As a collective, the people who could fund reparative actions with their (largely stolen) wealth give no damns about people like me.
Instead, I want to write a real life guide for us on how to survive this dumpster fire.
No but like for real, can a sista get a grant for $50,000 to create resources for our collective liberation? I’m here for a purpose. But it’s hard as fuck to create when I’m stressed about how to pay rent.
What did you say? That’s unrealistic? lol ok.
“The Open Road Fund gives $50,000 wealth-building gifts to Black folks in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota in order to create tangible pathways to liberation, prosperity, and healing on our own terms.”
More of this.
Please be clear, this isn’t reparations - it’s one tiny step towards repair.
As for me, I is tired.
I’m curating custom Black Business guides (order one for your city!)
Updating past guides (a bunch of businesses closed due to lack of support, sigh)
Writing “No Savings, No Safety Net: A Crisis Guide For Us”
Working on “Redistribute and Resist: Use Your Money to Fund the Fight”
Speaking of Patreon, today I created a PDF with the Recently Resisting posts by @fakeadultmom. This is her content. I just packaged it up for those of us who need a streamlined way to consume content. (It’s available to paid tiers.)
As always, I welcome Community Care to help with overwhelming expenses.
I’m trying my damndest to survive but this is painful. It hurts to continue holding onto hope that may never come. If you have the means to contribute to my own “Open Road Fund” I’d be grateful for the support.
Venmo: @divinerobin
CashApp: $divinerobin
PayPal: practicecommunitycare@gmail.com
Or send a cuppa care via Buy Me a Coffee.
2025 Goal: To only write about poverty and not continue to live it.
(‘cause this shit sucks)
I have been having the same thoughts about a lot of these survival/resistance guides and look forward to your more realistic one.
The wonderful Kamala Harris wanted to give all small businesses 50k. I mourn the loss of who she is as a person, not just the nightmare we are living in but the amazing-ness that would have been unique to her and how we would have lived with her as our champion.