A Question...

Ok. I need to ask a question.

Who here has never done mutual aid?

Like not forwarded requests.

But thrown themself into fundraising like their own lives depended on it.

I've fundraised for folks, most Indigenous women like I was choking and needed air. Not like they were but like *I* needed the air.

I made it my mission to get as much of what they requested as I could.

These were women I knew. I knew and loved them. But I was also keenly aware of being a Black, low level colonized settler living on stolen Indigenous lands. So whatever they needed now became what I needed.

No one was rushing to give them the money they requested. That's settlers for yuh.

But I knew that my friends, trusting and believing in me, would give *me* the money for them if I insisted.

While I was fundraising for them I was not in good shape. Horrible shape.

I was sick. Peri had me hemorrhaging blood clots as large as the palm of my hand for 7, 8 days out of every month.

My mental health was in the toilet because my partners were tormenting me. I was often suicidal and deeply depressed.

My family was collapsing around me and I was crying every day, despondent.

Physically I was lethargic. I missed appointments because I had brain fog so bad I couldn't remember even the most basic things.

I didn't have a social life because I was being shunned online and in meatspace.

But one thing was always clear every time I committed to fundraising.

I knew I needed those women to have that money like I needed air.

sigh...
I'm asking for this level of commitment. It's me, a descendant, survivor of the Black Holocaust, holder of many marginalized identities and recipient of numerous shunnings who needs you to crave these funds like air.

You need to struggle for air because 17 year old and I need a bright future.

That's mutual aid. That's accompliceship.