They are Exploiting the Hell Out of Us

We Should All be on Strike, babe.

People often ask me why I share the way that I do.

Because I want folks to understand that those of us who struggle with basic survival in this society aren’t fuck ups.

🚫 You think we need to work harder
🚫 You think we’re bad with money
🚫 You think it’s because we’ve made bad choices

Lemme pull over here.

Poor people work harder than you will ever know and we do it for less money.

We aren’t bad with money, it’s the opposite. We can take the most nominal amount and pay bills, put food on the table, keep gas in the car and help someone else who is struggling just as hard as we are. We really do pass around the same $20.

Our issue with money is that we don’t have enough.

As for bad choices, I’m sure we have. However, it was probably because all of the choices in front of us were hot trash and we chose the ones that would cause us the least harm.

These aren’t failures of the individual, this is systemic.

And it’s on purpose. Poverty is big business. (Please read Poverty by America and order it from a Black Independent bookstore such as the dope Harriet’s Bookshop in Philadelphia.)

I can’t tell you the ridiculous amount of extra money I’ve paid in late fees, overdrafts and high interest rates simply because I didn’t have…money.

Make it make sense.

Below is an example of the trips that I’m offered when I deliver with Uber eats.

2.5 hours of work.
50 miles worth of gas.
Pay: $18.55 (including tip)

This should be illegal.

My point is, the next time you feel compelled to tell a poor person to “work harder” or you suggest a financial planning class, I invite you to not.

Hit up that cashapp or leave them the hell alone.

To those of you that relate, we can do this. I know it feels fucking impossible but please hold on. We can fix this - but first it has to burn.