Black Lives Matter Los Angeles launched a campaign called “Black Xmas” urging black Americans to do “no spending with white corporations” from 11/24/2017 – 01/01/2018, and tied the initiative to President Donald Trump.
“Donald Trump embodies White capitalism. If you are anti-Trump, you should hold back your resources from him and the like,” the Black Xmas website’s about page reads.
The campaign asks would-be participants to “#DIVEST from White corporations,” “#INVEST in Black community,” and “If you must buy, #BUYBLACK.”
The Black Lives Matter Los Angeles Twitter account announced the campaign on Sunday.
“We’re dreaming of a #BlackXmas…where folks withhold dollars from White capitalism and use resources to #BuildBlackCommunity. Instead of spending, DONATE to a Black organization as a holiday gift for your loved ones or #BuyBlack. Go to http://BlackXmas.org for more,” the tweet reads.
Black Lives Matter organizer and professor at California State University, Los Angeles (CSU-LA) Melina Abdullah, defended “buying black” in a 2016 op-ed for The Los Angeles Sentinel.
“This season, more than all others, Black Lives Matter is asking people to wake up, to be conscious of our own economic power, and to protest – not just in the streets – but in the malls,” Adbullah wrote. “Black Lives Matter is dreaming of and building for a #BlackXMas, where we divest from White corporations and invest in building Black community. Rather than lining the pockets of Trump and other White-supremacist capitalists, donate to Black-led organizations that are building new, liberatory structures in our communities.”
Last December, Black Lives Matter launched a similar “buy black” campaign.
A recent Harvard-Harris Poll, conducted by researchers from Harvard University, found that a majority of American voters have an unfavorable opinion of Black Lives Matter activists and their protests.
Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter @jeromeehudson
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