Thread by @VillanuevaEdgar

Thread: friends, for 4 yrs I've been preaching the gospel of #decolonization, #wealth redistribution & healing in the space of #philanthropy & beyond. Has it been effective? Yeah - we (@DecolonizWealth) redistributed and influenced > $500M to BIPOC communities last yr.

@DecolonizWealth Now, I'm seeing our work begin to influence the distribution of resources/money globally - in the humanitarian aid space. This is exciting, but also a HEAVY lift. The colonial dynamics at play in this space are deep and pervasive.

While I celebrated the movement, the progress - due in large part to social movements and the pandemic, which have resulted in (often one-time) increased investment in our communities - I've seen and experienced a lot in #philanthropy recently that deeply concerns me.

1. #Philanthropy in large part responded in 2021, but as I said, with one-time gifts to alleviate their guilt, and quickly wants to move on to the next "issue of the moment" (i.e. climate) in a way that lacks a racial justice/intersectional lens.

Let's be clear - ANY grantmaking strategy (climate, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, education, health, etc..) that lacks an integrated racial equity lens is watering down potential impact.

I've been in meetings with fdn staff and trustees where white folks have banged on the table and said that they were tired of talking about race, feeling guilty, and being told what to do with their money..there is a boldness in the pushback that I have never witnessed before...

2. I'm witnessing a policing of BIPOC orgs who have received those one-time gifts by the sector - including media - who are weaponizing evaluation, and creating false narratives that BIPOC-leaders are not worthy, don't have capacity, are not being transparent, etc.

This level of policing has never been imposed on white-led orgs who have been well funded for decades.... the hard truth is that some BIPOC orgs finally got some resources last year, and some folks are mad about it.

They don't really care about "data or impact"..they are afraid of what's possible when BIPOC leaders finally have what they need to do their transformative work.

3. Research is happening in this sector to discount our claims of being underfunded. There are folks literally working to change the meaning of "equity" and "justice" to make the case that #philanthropy has sufficiently given & that BIPOC folks should sit down and be grateful.

Well, we are NOT going to be quiet. We're going continue to push #philanthropy and other sectors to redistribute their wealth+power. The time for reparations is now. AND remember, it's not just about us (BIPOC folks) - it's about YOU and our collective liberation + healing.