It seems as if the current administration has half of the country feeling like the America they know and love has been taken hostage by radical extremists of the domestic kind. In just a few short weeks, the current administration has picked fights with our allies and issued several Executive Orders that were hastily written and in direct opposition to the United States Constitution, the Republicans in Congress have shown no signs of standing up to the bullying and erratic ways of the current president and the media are left scratching their heads about the lies coming out of the Oval Office. Now more than ever, if we have the means, we must donate to organizations that will fight against this Draconian regime and return our country to the path towards democracy.
Is this country perfect? Absolutely not. Has the arrow of justice always bent in the proper direction? I wish I could say it did. However, several organizations currently are and have been fighting for justice, equality and democratic principles for quite some time. It is imperative that we give what we can to these organizations so they can sustain themselves and fight this entire administration and the regressive ideals of the Republican Party in this moment.
I know many people are not feeling the trickle-down effects of a booming and robust economy. Most people do not have trust funds and millions left to us by our parents (like the current president had). However, for smaller organizations, every dollar really does help the organization with its mission. Donations, no matter the size, also help with salaries, office rentals, supplies and other items most large nonprofits take for granted. After the recent antics of the president, the ACLU raked in more than $70 million. This historic organization has done a world of good through the years, but they are not the only game in town. They are clearly the most well known among progressive circles and often the first organization many donate to after reading about the racist and exclusionary direction in which the president is trying to take this nation.
If you have the means, might I suggest donating to some smaller social justice organizations that are leading the charge: the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, assisting Black undocumented people (www. blackalliance.org); Project South, mobilizing grassroots organizations throughout the U.S. Southern region (www.projectsouth.org); Alliance of Families for Justice, assisting families of the incarcerated (www. afj-ny.org); and Center for Community Change, mobilizing low income people to build social movements (www.communitychange.org).
These are just a few of the smaller organizations doing the work. If you have even $5 to spare each month, consider giving to a small organization working toward equity and peace in our nation and abroad.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University, the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream” and the host of The Aftermath on Ozy.com. You can find her on Twitter @Dr_CMGreer.
