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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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Black History Month: Resisting the Status Quo

The theme for Black History Month 2023 is “Resistance”, a single word that encompasses so much. Through the centuries, a long line of brave and committed Black Americans have battled injustice, some on the public stage and others behind the scenes. But for every high-profile or large-scale act of resistance, countless others go unnoticed. At Crisis Assistance Ministry, every day, we see brave and committed Black Charlotteans struggling to resist the forces of an unjust society right here in Mecklenburg County.

February 14, 2023

The theme for Black History Month 2023 is “Resistance”, a single word that encompasses so much.

Through the centuries, a long line of brave and committed Black Americans have battled injustice, some on the public stage and others behind the scenes. Think of Colin Kaepernick taking a knee. Or the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, when more than 200,000 demonstrators joined forces at the National Mall.

Photo credit: Getty Images

But for every high-profile or large-scale act of resistance, countless others go unnoticed. At Crisis Assistance Ministry, every day, we see brave and committed Black Charlotteans struggling to resist the forces of an unjust society right here in Mecklenburg County. The existence of systemic racism and the legacy of segregation created by deliberate public policies are evident in the fact that more than 8 out of 10 people seeking assistance at Crisis Assistance identify as Black or African American, despite comprising only a third of the population in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

While personal responsibility and decision-making play a role in each person’s life circumstances, there are larger forces at work that shape and limit the options of many members of historically disadvantaged groups.

Consider the hardworking mother of three who recently turned to Crisis Assistance for help paying her rent after being out of work for three days with the flu. As a home health care worker with no paid sick leave, time off means a smaller paycheck. That reduction in income can quickly spiral into falling behind on bills, which in turn can result in increased late fees, disconnection of utilities, and even eviction. Home health care is one of the lowest-paid industries, as are childcare and housekeeping. Black Americans, specifically Black women, are overrepresented in this type of low-wage job, due to complicated and intertwined factors that go far beyond an individual’s life choices.

Photo credit: Getty Images

As a community and a nation, we are past due for a reckoning. No one individual is responsible for the inequitable system we have inherited, but each of us has a responsibility to address it. At Crisis Assistance Ministry, where we see firsthand how centuries of systemic racism affect our Black neighbors, we will continue to speak up and resist the misconception that poverty is a personal failing.

In the words of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), founder of Black History Month, “African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms, and police killings, since our arrival upon these shores. These efforts have been to advocate for a dignified self-determined life in a just democratic society in the United States and beyond the United States’ political jurisdiction.”

As the late great John Lewis advised, “Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”

Lewis recounts his experience in Selma to a group of students who had gathered on the House steps in April 2015. 
Photo credit: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images

Resources:

Want to learn more about the documented impact of systemic racism in Mecklenburg County?

  • Read The Charlotte Observer’s article: 154 Years of Harm
  • Download the report: “Systemic Racism in Mecklenburg County Government” by Kathleen Greer, Dr. Tom Cole, and John O’Connor (Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, 2021).
  • Explore the Community Conversation Guide created by QC Family Tree.

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: #PreserveDignity, Black History, Charlotte, CLT, Community, Economic Mobility, Mecklenburg County

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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Preventing homelessness.
Preserving dignity.
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  • Main Office:
    500-A Spratt St.
    Charlotte, NC 28206
  • Tax ID
    EIN 56-1416719

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Are you a Mecklenburg County homeowner with rising property taxes? Mecklenburg County HOMES grants are available to offset a portion for qualifying homeowners. MANY more people qualify than have applied and these $ really can help families stay in their homes. Take a look and see if you or someone you know might need to apply:  https://www.wfae.org/business/2023-11-30/lots-of-tax-relief-available-but-not-many-takers-among-mecklenburg-homeowners

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What a great day to celebrate 🎉 Loved Ones and help spread hope and warmth too! It was a 🐻 #beary good time with volunteer extraordinare @janehixson and friends. We even got a visit from founder Caroline Love Myers!

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🎉Today is Giving Tuesday, a global celebration of generosity and kindness. Join us in making a difference by donating items that directly help those in need. 

👕🧣🎒From clothing to household goods, your contributions will have a tangible impact on many lives. 

Let's make this Giving Tuesday a day of extraordinary kindness and giving. Share, participate, and be a part of this global movement of generosity!

Check out our Wish Lists!

https://crisisassistance.org/donate/donate-clothing-household-goods/ 
https://crisisassistance.org/donate/donate-via-amazon-wishlist/

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Crisis Assistance Ministry will be closed Thanksgiving weekend beginning Thursday, November 23. All areas will be closed to customers, donors, staff, and community members on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Typical business hours resume on Monday, November 27.
ONE MORE THING: We are so grateful for you and the role you play in creating a community that lifts up struggling neighbors. Here's to a holiday filled with as much hope, warmth, and light as you have provided others! 
https://crisisassistance.org/2023/11/22/thanksgiving-and-the-spirit-of-community/

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It turned out to be an IDEAL morning for hot beverages and pastries. @oakstreethealth  sponsored this visit from @jesskakesllc's Sweet Truck, providing hot coffee, hot chocolate, and assorted pastries (free of charge) to families seeking assistance here @CrisisAssistMin today.  #Volunteers from Oak Street and the @MecklenburgCounty Attorney's office helped out in sometimes pouring rain to be sure everyone was warm and well-nourished. SO #THANKFUL every day for the support of our business community as we work together to stabilize Charlotte-Mecklenburg families.

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We are ALWAYS #thankful for corporate #volunteers like this team from @ally! They helped stock the store with clothing, shoes, warm weather gear, and other household items offered at no cost to shoppers from Mecklenburg County homes. With the help of folks like this, an average of 80 families daily find the essentials they need to meet their basic needs and rebuild financial stability for the future. THANK YOU!

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Heading into this week of #thankfulness, what would it be like at your house without warmth, without light,  without the joy that comes from celebrating gratitude and hopefulness in a safe home?
What do we really mean when we ask you to Give Hope, Warmth, & Light to area families? 
It means lifting up neighbors like this mom of three, who is SO grateful to be in stable housing, to be rebuilding her family's stability, and to regain hope for a brighter future for her little ones. It means coming together as a community to share resources and encouragement with hardworking neighbors who need a little help to get through a financial crisis and move back toward self-sufficiency.
Learn more about their story, and how you can help this season, on our website or the bio link.

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Great day at Calvary Cares with @wearecalvaryclt!  By coming together as a community, we helped stabilize families and provide them with the support they need to be self-sufficient.

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Stop by Community Impact Day at @wearecalvaryclt on Kilborne Dr between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to get connected! We will be there with partners with clothing, information, and resources to stabilize families who are struggling to make ends meet and maintain housing.

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