Winter Withdrawal: Turning Our Dollars Into a Movement, Not a Moment

There have been calls to boycott purchasing from big corporations for a short period of time, but let’s be honest: moments rarely change systems. If they do, they have to be drastic and extreme. Movements change systems and what we’re facing right now requires a movement.

Moor/Black people in this country hold $1.7 trillion in buying power, yet we have consistently been abused, oppressed, discriminated against, and fought racism. Moor/Black women overwhelmingly showed up during the election and made their choice clear yet 320,000 Black women have been displaced from the workforce. There’s only so much you can achieve when you don’t hold the majority of the vote.

What truly matters to corporations, Big Pharma, and the decision-makers of this country isn’t our dignity it’s our dollar$. To move on like it’s business as usual could be considered to be disrespectful to our ancestors’ fight.

How do we keep spending like our pride and dignity are not actively under attack?

The narrative must shift from “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.”—Malcolm X

to

“In this country, The Moor/Black woman is the person you should NEVER try because she will rise, resist, and win.”

And one way to send that message is with our pocketbooks. So it’s time we flex the power that actually gets their attention. Not for a moment. For a movement. This has to become a lifestyle change, not a temporary reaction.

We can’t expect real change from boycotting for a short period of time. That only pauses their profits; it doesn’t challenge their power. What we need is a Winter Withdrawal, a deliberate and strategic reallocation of our money. This winter, instead of boycotting for a moment and then letting these same corporations recover their profits in December, we intentionally withdraw our money from corporate America and redirect it to local businesses, Black-owned businesses, community organizations, and directly to the people in our communities who need support.

If we look at the true essence of what Christmas is supposed to stand for, it should not be about how much money we spend to create joy. There are other ways to center joy that teach core lessons of humanity the lessons that Jesus said to live by. We should be uplifting those values not fueling a society driven by capitalism instead of humanity.

And the change does not need to happen overnight. It can be gradual.

Start with one product you use daily. Try to find it at a Black-owned company or a local shop that aligns with your values. Once you find a product you like, put it on auto-order or auto-ship. If a community centered grocery store is far, organize a carpool or pick a weekly day to shop for neighbors who can’t get there themselves.

Build a community system around how we spend. There are community-driven, people-centered businesses that allow bulk ordering and shared purchasing.

I understand there are some products we can’t replace with community buying. But even those products don’t have to be bought as often. I stopped upgrading my phone as often when I learned about the harm it causes our people on The Continent.

We can take small steps. We can make mindful and intentional choices.

We need to focus on what unites us instead of the trivial things that divide us whether that is class, religion, or location. And when it comes down to it. Some think that if we talk a certain way or dress a certain way, we will be accepted. But those 320,000 Moor/Black women who were displaced from the workforce were likely the epitome of professionalism in their fields, families, and communities yet they were still reminded that in the words of a billionaire, you still a “N.”

We are no bigger than the least of us. Until we understand that and truly accept it, until we stop battling each other, we will never have the power we need to make long-lasting systemic changes in this country.

Look back at the boycotts of the Civil Rights Movement. Our people united behind a single cause. They walked for miles rather than give their money to a system that refused to treat them equally. Today, our protests and boycotts do not require that level of physical sacrifice yet excuses are endless when it comes to even a small inconvenience.

If you haven’t read Project 2025, please take the time to read it. Even a little at a time. Learn what they are actually planning for this country and ask yourself: Is that the kind of place you want to live in? If the answer is no, then we must unite for change. We have to put aside our petty differences and come together collectively for the whole.