[This article is part of a package covering Louisville’s reaction to Charlottesville. Check out the other pieces, including Ricky Jones’ column “Black People Should Arm Themselves Now!” and Erica Rucker’s “America… where are you going?”]

Some things I’m thinking about that should change (in that Southern, black grandmama voice):

1. White people, if you don’t have any descendants, will your property to a black or brown family. Preferably one that lives in generational poverty.

2. White people, if you’re inheriting property you intend to sell upon acceptance, give it to a black or brown family. You’re bound to make that money in some other white privileged way.

3. If you are a developer or realty owner of multi-family housing, build a sustainable complex in a black or brown blighted neighborhood and let black and brown people live in it for free.

4. White people, if you can afford to downsize, give up the home you own to a black or brown family. Preferably a family from generational poverty.

5. White people, if any of the people you intend to leave your property to are racists assholes, change the will, and will your property to a black or brown family. Preferably a family from generational poverty.

6. White people, re-budget your monthly so you can donate to black funds for land purchasing.

7. White people, especially white women (because this is yaw specialty — Nosey Jenny and Meddling Kathy), get a racist fired. Yaw know what the fuck they be saying. You are complicit when you ignore them. Get your boss fired cause they racist too.

8. Backing up No. 7, this should be easy but all those sheetless Klan, Nazi’s and Other lil’ dick-white men will all be returning to work. Get they ass fired. Call the police even: they look suspicious.

9. OK, backing up No. 8, if any white person at your work, or as you enter in spaces and you overhear a white person praising the actions from yesterday, first, get a pic. Get their name and more info. Hell, find out where they work — Get Them Fired. But certainly address them, and, if you need to, you got hands: use them.

10. Commit to two things: Fighting white supremacy where and how you can (this doesn’t mean taking up knitting, unless you’re making scarves for black and brown kids in need), and funding black and brown people and their work.

#RunUsOurLand #Reparations #YouGonLearnToday #RunUsOurMoney •


Chanelle Helm is cofounder and core organizer of Black Lives Matter Louisville.

PayPal: chanellehelm@gmail.com

Venmo: chanellehelm

Cashapp: CBHelm

To contribute to:

BLM Louisville: bit.ly/BLMLou

Louisville Community Bail Fund: bit.ly/LCBFund

BLM Louisville Education and Training: bit.ly/2uIzxuW

Emergent Strategy Louisville event: http://bit.ly/2vys4Bx

Black Mental Health Care/Healing Team: PayPal: standuplouisville@gmail.com note: Healing Team

BLM Louisville Housing Team: PayPal:tanduplouisville@gmail.com note Housing Team

Rhythm Science Sound: teaching music-making to immigrant and refugee children: http://bit.ly/2vVJKrQ

PayPal: rhythmsciencesound@gmail.com

Diversity at The Table: black-queer-femme-organized discussion space for black LGBTQ+ topics:

PayPal: tdwils05@louisville.edu

Venmo: talawilson

Cashapp: talawilson

Books and Breakfast Louisville: Cash app: chadgolden87