FAQ Page Outline
Frequently Asked Questions
Page URL: destinydivine.com/blueprint-faqs
Tone: Honest, direct, patient, slightly firm when needed. No jargon. No defensiveness.
Categories:
- Getting Started – For the person who is curious but hesitant
- The Economic Boycott – Practical questions about spending, banking, and sacrifice
- Mutual Aid – What it is, how it’s different from charity
- Local Power – Government meetings, speaking, civics
- Platform Building – Websites, communities, leaving corporate social media
- The Demands – Reparations, protected status, feasibility
- Skepticism & Objections – For the person who thinks this won’t work
- Allies & Relationships – For non-Black people who want to support
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
Q: I’m just one person. Does any of this really matter if I do it alone?
A: Yes, one person is pointless. One million is not. Start with you.
Every movement starts with one person taking one step. That person is you. Once you take that step, tell someone else. Then they tell someone else. That’s how one person becomes one million.
Don’t worry about the million. Just worry about you.
Q: I’m tired. I’m busy. I have kids. I work two jobs. I don’t have time for this.
A: I hear you. You don’t have to do everything. You don’t have to be perfect.
Start with one small thing that takes 30 minutes or less:
- Open a credit union account online ($5)
- Find out when your next city council meeting is
- Ask one neighbor if they need help with something small
That’s it. That’s enough. Come back for more when you’re ready.
Q: What if I do something wrong?
A: There is no wrong. There is only starting.
Maybe you open the credit union account but forget to move your direct deposit. That’s fine. Do it next week. Maybe you attend a meeting but sit in the back and say nothing. That’s fine. You still showed up.
Progress over perfection.
Q: I don’t live in Flint. Is this blueprint only for Flint?
A: No. This blueprint is for every Black American, everywhere.
I used Flint as an example because that’s where my focus is. But the principles are the same in Detroit, Atlanta, Jackson, Baltimore, Birmingham, Chicago, Oakland, and every small town in between.
Adapt the sample speech to your city. Find your own city council schedule. Build your own mutual aid network. The blueprint is a template. You fill in your local details.
The Economic Boycott
Q: I have to shop at Walmart or Target because that’s all I can afford. What am I supposed to do?
A: Do what you can. Progress over perfection.
If you cannot boycott completely, then:
- Move your bank account (this is the highest-leverage action)
- Boycott one thing (e.g., stop buying Amazon)
- Reduce, don’t eliminate (e.g., buy half your groceries at Walmart, half at a local Black-owned market)
The goal is not purity. The goal is pressure. Every dollar you redirect is a dollar that stops funding our oppression.
Q: What if I can’t afford to close my big bank account because I have overdraft fees or negative balance?
A: This is real. The system traps you on purpose.
Here is what you can do:
- Open the new account first (with $5 at a credit union)
- Start moving your direct deposits to the new account
- Leave the old account open with the negative balance for now
- Once you have steady money coming into the new account, call the old bank and ask to set up a payment plan for the negative balance
- Some credit unions offer “second chance” accounts for people with negative banking history
You are not a bad person because you owe fees. The bank is the bad actor for charging them.
Q: Isn’t a credit union basically the same as a big bank?
A: No. Here are the differences:
| Big Bank (Chase, Wells Fargo, BOA) | Credit Union |
| For-profit. Owned by shareholders. | Non-profit. Owned by members (you). |
| Charges fees to poor and working-class people. | Few or no fees. |
| Minimum balance requirements. | No minimum balance (usually). |
| Invests in pipelines, prisons, fossil fuels. | Invests in local communities. |
| You are a customer. | You are an owner. |
A credit union is not a Black-owned bank. That’s the goal. But a credit union is a giant leap away from the predators.
Q: What about online banks like Chime, Cash App, or PayPal?
A: These are not banks. They are fintech companies that partner with banks. They have fewer protections and can close your account with no notice.
If you use them for convenience, that’s fine. But do not make them your primary bank. Open a real account at a credit union or Black-owned bank.
Q: How much money do I need to move to make a difference?
A: Even $5 makes a difference—not to the bank’s bottom line, but to you. It breaks the inertia. It proves you can do it.
After $5 comes $50. After $50 comes $500. After $500 comes $5,000.
The first $5 is the hardest. After that, it gets easier.
Mutual Aid
What is mutual aid? How is it different from charity?
| Charity | Mutual Aid |
| Top-down (someone gives to someone below them) | Horizontal (neighbors helping neighbors) |
| Creates dependency | Creates solidarity |
| Requires a nonprofit, grant, or wealthy donor | Requires nothing but people showing up |
| The giver and receiver are separate | Everyone gives and receives |
| Often comes with conditions or judgment | No conditions. No judgment. |
Mutual aid is not charity. It is community.
Q: I don’t have money to give. How can I participate in mutual aid?
A: Money is not the only thing of value. You have:
- Time – Watch someone’s kids for an hour
- Skills – Help someone fill out a form, fix a leaky faucet, change a tire
- Presence – Sit with someone who is lonely or grieving
- Food – Cook an extra portion and bring it to a neighbor
- Space – Let someone park in your driveway, store boxes in your basement
- Knowledge – Teach someone what you know
You have something to give. Everyone does.
Q: How do I start a mutual aid network in my neighborhood?
A: Start small. Start with people you trust.
- Identify 3-5 neighbors, friends, or family members
- Ask: “What are you struggling with? What do you have to give?”
- Make a simple list: who needs what, who can help with what
- Start with one small action (e.g., a group chat for childcare swaps)
- Grow slowly. Trust is built over time.
Don’t try to build a nonprofit. Just build a circle.
Q: Isn’t this just socialism?
A: Call it what you want. I call it survival.
Our great-grandparents had mutual aid because they had to. Churches had “mother’s boards” that helped families in crisis. Benevolent societies buried the dead when no one else would. Rotating savings clubs (Susu) helped families buy homes.
This is not a political ideology. This is what Black people have always done to survive.
Local Power
Q: I’ve never been to a city council meeting. What do I do?
A: Here is your script:
- Find the meeting schedule. Google: “[Your city] city council meeting schedule”
- Show up. Wear something comfortable. Sit in the back.
- Sign in if there is a sign-in sheet (some cities require this for public comment).
- Listen. Don’t worry about understanding everything. Just watch how it works.
- Leave when you’re ready. You don’t have to stay for the whole thing.
That’s it. You don’t have to speak. You don’t have to know anything. You just have to be present.
[Link to How to Attend a Meeting guide]
Q: What if I want to speak but I’m terrified?
A: That’s normal. Public speaking is scary. Here is what helps:
- Write down what you want to say (1 minute = about 150 words)
- Practice at home in front of a mirror or your phone camera
- Bring the paper with you and read it if you need to
- Speak slowly – nervousness makes people rush
- Remember: Most people at these meetings are also nervous. You are not alone.
You don’t have to be a great speaker. You just have to be a brave speaker.
[Link to sample speech]
Q: What if the city council ignores me?
A: They might. Especially the first time. And the second time. That’s fine.
You are not trying to win them over in one meeting. You are trying to:
- Learn how the system works
- Build relationships with other residents who care
- Become a regular presence they cannot ignore
Consistency is power. Show up again. And again. And again. Eventually, they will have to acknowledge you.
Q: I don’t know how my local government works. Where do I learn?
A: Start with these three questions:
- Who is my city council member? (Google: “[Your city] ward map”)
- Who is my school board member? (Google: “[Your school district] board members”)
- Who is my county commissioner? (Google: “[Your county] commission”)
Once you have names, look them up. Attend their meetings. Read the agenda beforehand if it’s posted online.
You don’t need a civics degree. You just need curiosity.
Platform Building
Q: I can’t build a website. I’m not techy.
A: You don’t have to build a website. You can:
- Join someone else’s platform (like my Divine Readers Community)
- Start a free Substack newsletter
- Create a Carrd one-page site (very easy, free)
- Start a WhatsApp or Signal group with 5-10 people
The goal is not to become a web developer. The goal is to own your presence somewhere that a billionaire cannot delete.
[Link to Platform Building page]
Q: What’s wrong with Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok?
A: They are not your friends. They:
- Own your content and can delete it anytime
- Mine your data and sell it
- Control what you see (algorithms)
- Profit from your labor (your posts, your photos, your videos)
Use them if you want. But do not build your house on someone else’s land.
Q: I already have a website. How do I get people to come?
A: You don’t need millions of visitors. You need a community.
Start small:
- Tell 5 people you trust about your site
- Ask them to share it with 5 people
- Post consistently (once a week is enough)
- Link to your site from your social media profiles
Slow growth is still growth. A small, committed community is more powerful than a large, passive audience.
The Demands
Q: Reparations? That’s never going to happen.
A: Maybe. Maybe not.
But here is what we know: Japanese Americans received reparations. Jewish Holocaust survivors received reparations. Native Americans have received land and settlement payments. Southern white plantation owners received reparations after the Civil War.
The question is not whether reparations are possible. The question is whether we have the power to demand them.
The economic boycott is how we build that power.
[Link to Demand #17 – Reparations]
Q: Black people as a protected class? Isn’t that already illegal?
A: Discrimination is already illegal. But the laws are weak. They require individual victims to hire lawyers and prove intent. They do not create an affirmative duty on the government to protect Black communities.
Demand #12 asks for something stronger: the same urgency and protection we give to endangered species applied to Black human beings.
[Link to Demand #12 Deep Dive PDF]
Q: These demands seem impossible. Why should I bother?
A: Every demand on this list was once called impossible.
- The abolition of slavery was impossible.
- The right to vote was impossible.
- The Civil Rights Act was impossible.
Impossible is just what they call it before you win.
We may not win everything on this list. But we will win more than if we asked for nothing.
Skepticism & Objections
Q: This sounds like Black nationalism or separatism.
A: This is Black survival. There is a difference.
Nationalism says: “We are better than you, so we should separate.”
Survival says: “You are trying to kill us, so we need space to breathe.”
We are not asking to leave America. We are asking for America to stop harming us. And until it does, we are building our own institutions to protect ourselves.
That is not racism. That is self-defense.
Q: What about white people? Can they join?
A: This blueprint is for Black Americans. It is written by a Black person, for Black people, centered on Black survival.
White allies can:
- Boycott alongside us (don’t shop at Target, Walmart, Amazon)
- Pressure their own institutions (churches, workplaces, local governments)
- Fund Black-led organizations
- Show up to support at city council meetings (in the audience, not taking space)
But this is not for white people to lead. This is for us to lead. Allies follow.
Q: This won’t work. We tried boycotts before.
A: We tried boycotts before. And some of them worked.
- The Montgomery bus boycott (1955-1956) – won desegregation of buses
- The Birmingham boycott (1956-1962) – won desegregation of downtown stores
- The grape boycott (1965-1970) – won union contracts for farmworkers
Boycotts work when they are sustained, organized, and have clear demands.
That is what this blueprint is for.
Q: I’m afraid of retaliation. What if my employer finds out?
A: Your employer does not need to know where you bank or what meetings you attend.
If you are worried:
- Do not post about the boycott on social media from an account with your real name
- Use a pseudonym for organizing
- Attend meetings but do not speak (just observe)
- Focus on mutual aid (helping neighbors is not political)
Your safety comes first. Do what you can. Nothing more.
Allies & Relationships
Q: I’m not Black. How can I support this blueprint?
A: Thank you for asking. Here is how:
- Boycott alongside us. Do not spend money at Target, Walmart, Amazon, or other companies that rolled back DEI.
- Move your own money. Open an account at a credit union or Black-owned bank.
- Pressure your own institutions. Your church, your workplace, your local government.
- Fund Black-led organizations. Donate to Black-owned banks, mutual aid networks, and community land trusts.
- Show up to support. Attend city council meetings and sit in the audience. Do not speak over us. Do not take space. Just be present.
Do not ask Black people to educate you. Do your own research. Then show up.
Q: I’m Black but I live in a mostly white area. What can I do?
A: You can still do all three steps:
- Move your money – online accounts work anywhere
- Attend a meeting – your city council is still there, even if you are the only Black person in the room
- Help a neighbor – mutual aid does not require a Black neighborhood
You are not less Black because you live in a white area. Your presence at those meetings matters even more.
Still Have Questions?
If your question wasn’t answered here, reach out.
- Join the Divine Readers Community and ask in the group
- Email me directly
- Follow on social media
We are building this together. Your questions help us build better.
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.
Page Footer
- Main Hub
- Start Here
- Join the Community
- All PDFs
- Mutual Aid
- FAQ
- Disclaimer
- © 2026 Destiny Divine
