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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

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    Charlotte, NC 28206
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What's in your closet that could help out a neighbor in the warmer months? 
Spring has sprung here in the Queen City. That means the needs of families shopping, free of charge, at @CrisisAssistMin are changing too. 
You can help meet their needs with donations of new or gently used clothing, shoes, or household goods or by signing up as a volunteer to help receive, inspect, and prepare donations for shoppers.

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THANKS for all you do to give back in #CLT.

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Happy International Women's Day!
Today we take a look at how this year's theme of Embrace Equity affects the people (and mostly the women) served here at Crisis Assistance Ministry every day.

Observed worldwide on March 8 as a celebration of “the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women,” International Women’s Day is also a global call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

The theme for this year’s observance is “Embrace Equity.” Organizers at International Women’s Day (IWD) encourage everyone to “Imagine a gender-equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.” 

While great strides in gender equality have been achieved since women gained the right to vote in 1920, there is still much work ahead. Consider these indicators of the gender gap in the United States:
- Women full-time workers earn, on average, 82 cents for every dollar earned by men
- American women earn less than men in all industries, with the most significant pay gaps in management positions
- The construction industry has the smallest gender pay gap, but only 9% of construction workers are women
- Unpaid work like housekeeping and caring for children falls mainly to women 

Read More at the link in our bio

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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. Every day at @CrisisAssistMin, we see brave and committed Black Charlotteans struggling to resist the forces of an unjust society right here in Mecklenburg County.
Read "Black History Month: Resisting the Status Quo" at the link in our profile.

crisisassistmin

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It was a beautiful weekend to share (more than) @onewarmcoat with our neighbors! Our friends from One Warm Coat finished up their working retreat by distributing brand new coats to families right here in our parking lot. So many smiles, a few tears of relief, and a lot of runway spins were shared.

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We 💙 💙 💙 it when community members create their own "Army" to celebrate birthdays and other milestones in each others' lives. Thanks to these #volunteers from "Eric's Army," shoppers this week found essentials like clothing, shoes, and household goods free of charge. Together, we #preservedignity for #CLT families who are struggling financially.

crisisassistmin

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We're excited to have @QCfamilytree share their expertise as our staff digs into the impact of systemic racism here in Mecklenburg County and its impact on the people served here. Thanks Greg, Helms, & Shamaiye for taking time to help us begin these important conversations.

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