You have the power. Here is the plan.
The Problem – We Power a System That Hates Us
America is going through a crisis. Black Americans particularly. We are under attack—but this is nothing new.
It’s the same old racism we’ve endured for hundreds of years. Our forefathers experienced it. Their forefathers.
Our oppressors have never changed. But neither have we. We continue to be the great people, innovators, creators, and originators we have always been. In spite of everything thrown at us, we keep rising.
Here is what they don’t want you to know: Black Americans have a reported combined wealth of $1.8 to $19 trillion in buying power.
That money fuels America’s capitalist system. Without us, it would collapse.
That same system uses our money to oppress us—through discriminatory banks, biased policing, voter suppression, redlining, gentrification, and mass incarceration.
Project 2025 and the architects of Jim Crow are trying to take us back to a dark time.
Our politicians are not coming to save us. They’ve been paid off or have gotten too comfortable living on the mountain.
We have to save ourselves. And we have the power to do so.
The Opportunity – An Empire Collapsing Is a Chance to Build
The thought of the collapse of the American empire does not sadden me. A system built on theft, pillage, brutality, and oppression could never be sustained forever.
Other great empires have collapsed too. Rome fell. Britain’s empire crumbled. And now, the American empire is thrashing like a fish out of water, gasping for its last dying breath.
When things fall apart, I see opportunities for Black people to build upon the ruins.
This is a great opportunity for entrepreneurs, for organizers, for anyone who has ever dreamed of building something of our own.
We don’t need to save this dying system. We need to let it collapse and be ready to build something new.
Something not fueled by racism, oppression, and extraction. Something built on the principles of our own African heritage: Ubuntu – I am because we are.
The Solution – Four Pillars of Our Liberation
The plan rests on four pillars. Each one is necessary. Together, they are unstoppable.
Pillar 1: Economic Boycott
Stop spending at corporations that oppress us. Move your money to Black-owned banks. Redirect our $1.9 trillion.
When the billionaire oligarchs who run this system feel the pain of our boycott, they will have a choice: bend to our demands or watch the system collapse faster. We have the power to starve the beast.
Pillar 2: Local Power
Attend city council, school board, and county commission meetings. Speak. Organize. Pass local laws like the Black Community Protection Act.
The federal government may be broken, but local government is where decisions are made about policing, housing, schools, and land. Show up. Learn the rules. Change them.
- Learn more about Local Power
- Read the sample speech for Flint City Council
- View the model Black Community Protection Act ordinance
Pillar 3: Platform Building
Build your own website, start your own online community, or join another Black-owned online community. Stop feeding your intellectual property to corporate social media.
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X are not your friends. They profit from your content while mining your data and silencing your voice. Take back your power. Own your presence.
- Learn more about Platform Building
- Join my Divine Readers Community
- Learn how to start your own website
Pillar 4: Mutual Aid
Take care of each other. Community gardens, lending circles, eviction defense, school supplies, car repairs, childcare co-ops.
The system is racist. It does not help us. It was never designed to. So we are building our own—not as a substitute, but as a liberation.
A world where no Black child goes hungry. No Black family is evicted. No Black elder dies alone. That world is possible. We just have to build it together.
- Learn more about Mutual Aid
- Download the Mutual Aid Starter PDF
- Learn how to start a community garden
The Demands – What We Are Fighting For
When our economic boycott gains enough power, we will present these demands. Nothing less is acceptable. Read the full list of 20 demands [here].
Democracy & Political Power (Demands 1-6)
End gerrymandering. Restore the Voting Rights Act. Paper ballots and audits. Overturn Citizens United. Ban stock trading by Congress. Lifetime lobbying ban. [Full page]
Economic Justice (Demands 7-11)
$25/hr. minimum wage. Free healthcare. Affordable housing and Community Land Trusts. Affordable groceries. End predatory extraction (payday loans, for-profit prisons, overdraft fees). [Full page]
Protection of Black Communities (Demands 12-15)
Black as a protected class. Local Black Community Protection Acts. Civilian review boards with real power. End qualified immunity. [Full page] [Download Demand #12 Deep Dive PDF]
Institutional Power (Demands 16-18)
Funding for Black-owned banks. Binding reparations with teeth. Land restitution. [Full page]
Accountability (Demands 19-20)
Paper ballots and audits. Structural anti-corruption (recall elections, independent ethics office). [Full page]
The Calendar – What to Do, Month by Month
You don’t need to figure this out alone. The Economic Boycott, Local Power & Mutual Aid Calendar gives you a clear action for every month—starting with moving your money in May.
Right now, today: Open an account at a Black-owned bank OR credit union. Move at least $100. [Download the Bank Fee Escape Checklist]
Here is what the first three months look like:
| Month | Economic Action | Local Power Action | Mutual Aid Action |
| June 2026 | Open Black-owned bank account (by June 15) + Juneteenth Fast (June 19-28) | Find out when city council meets | Identify one vacant lot in your neighborhood |
| July 2026 | Cancel Amazon Prime | Attend first meeting (just observe) | Start a community fridge with 3 neighbors |
| August 2026 | 30-day social media pause | Write a public comment, read it at meeting | Organize a school supply drive |
Note: Platform Building actions are also included in the full calendar. Each month has actions for all four pillars.
[Download the full 12-month calendar (PDF)] [View the calendar as a web page]
Mutual Aid – We Take Care of Our Own
The system is racist. It does not help us. It was never designed to. So we are building our own—not as a substitute, but as a liberation.
A world where no Black child goes hungry. No Black family is evicted. No Black elder dies alone. That world is possible. We just have to build it together.
Here is what mutual aid looks like in practice:
- Eviction and foreclosure defense – Rapid response teams, legal solidarity, temporary housing networks.
- Community gardens and vacant lots – Turn abandoned land into free food and community gathering spaces.
- Lending circles and rotating savings – No-interest loans from neighbors you trust.
- School supplies and college support – Drives, swaps, community scholarships, mentorship.
- Car repairs and transportation – Tool libraries, volunteer mechanics, ride-sharing circles.
- Childcare co-ops – Parents trading care instead of paying high costs.
- Community fridges and food sharing – Take what you need, leave what you can.
None of this requires a government grant. None of this requires a 501(c)(3). It requires us—organized, committed, and willing to show up for one another.
[Learn more about Mutual Aid] [Download the Mutual Aid Starter PDF]
Tools You Can Use – Print Them, Share Them, Post Them
All of these documents are free. Print them. Hand them out at church. Post them on community boards. Share them with your people.
- Bank Fee Escape Checklist (2 pages)
- The Demands (Full List) (4 pages)
- Economic Boycott, Local Power & Mutual Aid Calendar (8 pages)
- Black People as a Protected Class – Demand #12 Deep Dive (12+ pages)
- Sample Speech for City Council (Flint, MI) (1 page)
- How to Attend a City Council Meeting (2 pages)
- Civics Study Guide – Cheat Sheet (2 pages)
- Mutual Aid Starter – A One-Page Checklist (1 page)
- How to Start a Community Garden on a Vacant Lot (2 pages)
- How to Start a Lending Circle (2 pages)
- One-Page Printable Flyer – The Blueprint at a Glance (1 page)
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
I have created a private community on my website called The Divine Readers Community. It looks and functions like social media—but it’s ours. No algorithms. No data mining. No corporate overlords.
You can join my community, ask questions, share your wins and struggles, and connect with others who are building alongside us.
Or you can use this as inspiration to build your own community on your own website. That’s even better.
[Request to Join the Blueprint Community] coming soon…
Note: My community is private. I approve each member. When you request to join, tell me why you’re here and what you hope to contribute.
Feeling Overwhelmed? Start Here.
I hear you. This is a lot. You don’t have to do everything. You don’t have to be perfect. Just do these three things:
- Move your money. Open an account at a Black-owned bank or credit union. Move at least $100. [Download the Bank Fee Escape Checklist]
- Attend one meeting. Find out when your next city council or school board meeting is. Just show up. Just listen. [Read the How to Attend a Meeting guide]
- Help one neighbor. Ask three people in your circle: “Is there anything you’re struggling with right now? Can I help?” Then do one small thing for someone else this week. [Learn more about Mutual Aid]
That’s it. Start there. Come back for more when you’re ready.
The Blueprint Council – Help Build Upon This Foundation
I am one person. I don’t have all the answers. I need people with expertise, experience, and energy to help refine and expand this blueprint.
The Blueprint Council is a virtual working group that will meet regularly to:
- Improve the demands
- Expand the calendar
- Draft new tools and resources
- Plan next phases of the boycott
- Build out the mutual aid network
If you have skills in any of these areas, we need you:
- Law and legal strategy
- Finance and accounting
- Community organizing
- Mutual aid organizing
- Urban farming and gardening
- Education and curriculum
- Tech and web development
- Healthcare
- Media and communications
[Learn more about the Blueprint Council] [Apply to join]
Common Questions
Isn’t one person boycotting pointless?
Yes, one person is pointless. One million is not. Start with you.
What if I can’t afford to boycott because I have to shop at Walmart?
Do what you can. Even moving your bank account helps. Progress over perfection.
Isn’t this just Black nationalism?
This is Black survival. There’s a difference.
What about non-Black allies?
This blueprint is for Black Americans. Allies can support by boycotting alongside us and pressuring their own institutions.
How is mutual aid different from charity?
Charity is top-down (someone gives to someone below them). Mutual aid is horizontal (neighbors helping neighbors, no hierarchy, everyone both gives and receives).
A Final Word
We are done waiting. We are done begging. We are building our own power, and we are making our demands known.
No one is coming to save us. But we have the power to save ourselves. That power is already inside of you.
Let’s get to work.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for educational and informational purposes only. We are not financial advisors, attorneys, or certified professionals. Consult with a qualified professional before making any financial, legal, or banking decisions. By using this information, you assume all risks and agree that neither the author nor the publisher is liable for any losses or damages.
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