Redefining and Reexamining What Black Philanthropy Looks Like on Giving Tuesday

Today is #GivingTuesday — a global day of charitable giving — and contrary to what folks like to say about Blacks and philanthropy I’d like to offer the following as we redefine stereotypes of Blacks and our giving habits.

Blacks give back everyday in ways that are considered traditional and very public and in ways that are not so traditional and not always so public.

Below are ten real world examples of Black philanthropy that most of us participate in everyday.

1. Blacks who raise children who are not their own

A shout out goes to all of the grandparents, play parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins and friends who have taken on the responsibility to raising someone else’s child. Blacks who open up their homes to other folk’s children are giving back to the Black community by making sure that those children don’t end up lost in the foster care system dependent on the government for care or worse, homeless living on the streets.

2. Blacks who give when asked

Blacks donate to the cause of Blacks everyday. The numbers of Blacks who reach into their pockets or the center console of their car and pull out loose change when asked by another Black person on the street is more than the number of people who don’t. We do it at the gas station, in the car while stopped at a light, and even going into or coming out of the store. We give.

3. Blacks who hook a brotha or sista up

When I go to Starbucks and my barista, who just happens to be Black, upgrades my tall skinny vanilla latte to grande without charging me, that’s giving back to the community and hooking a sista up. Similarly, when the Black car mechanic charges you $150 less to fix your car, that’s hooking you up. We wheel and deal in our community everyday saving each other money on all kinds of items and services. When we hook each other up we’re giving back to our community.

4. Blacks who give of their time, knowledge, and expertise to other Blacks

I’m channeling Laurence Fishburne’s Boyz N the Hood character Furious Styles. This one goes out to all of my real community advocates. This is for the folks who could be doing something else with their time and their lives but are committed to helping their community. Fist bumps to the attorneys who could charge $5,000 retainers to the mothers crying that their baby ain’t never hurt anyone, but take on the case for half of that. Shout outs to the Black medical professionals who are in private practice in the hood trying to make sure that their people receive the quality healthcare they need at a price they can afford. Much love to all of the Blacks professionals who make it point to give back to their community.

5. Blacks who tithe

Since the first ones of us stepped off of the boat and were handed the Bible and Christianity, we’ve been tithing. There would be no Black church if it weren’t for Black’s commitment to giving back. We do it week in and week out. Our tithes have sustained the church of our choice through thick and then over the years. Our tithes have taken small congregations and turned them into mega churches. Giving back at church in the Black community is giving back to the Black community.

6. Blacks who buy from other Blacks and keep the money in the hood

I don’t care what it is you’re buying — if you’re Black and you buy from another Black you are giving back to the community. So let me give a personal shout out to all of my sistas and brothas who get their hair braided by the homegirl while sitting on the front porch. You, are giving back to the community. Props to those of us who understand the importance of hiring the Black gardener, plumber, contractor, or other professional when we need a job done. When you patronize a Black businesses or a Black person who is taking care of business using their home as their office, you are giving back to the community.

7. Blacks who stop the fight before another Black ends up in incarcerated

You may not look at this as giving back to the community, but it is. Anytime anyone of us do anything that keeps another one of us out of jail or prison, we’re giving back to the community in a way that isn’t always recognized, but I see you and I’m giving you your props. There are far too many Black people locked up now. Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends lost behind bars — most for life without the possibility of parole. When we lose a Black person to the criminal justice system, we all lose as a community. So for those of us who try and step in to keep someone out of handcuffs, props to you. For those who see the police and warn a brotha or sista, bravo! For those who get in the middle of that fight that’s about to go down, thank you. I see you and I appreciate you because you are giving back to the community.

8. Blacks who support Black owned media

When you pick up that Black owned newspaper or listen to that Black owned radio station if you’re lucky enough to have one in your city, you are giving back to the your community. Our newspapers and radio stations exist for us. We are their audience and their ad revenue depends on being able to deliver a Black audience. Kudos to those Blacks who still make it a point to read a Black newspaper every week or keep their radio tuned to a Black owned radio.

9. Blacks who keep other Blacks from being homeless

When you let your unemployed sister and her kids come stay with you, your man, and your three kids in your two-bedroom apartment after she got evicted — you just participated in philanthropy and gave back to your community. You kept another Black person from being homeless and you deserve to be recognized for that. We are always letting our friends and relatives live with us until they can get back on their feet and every time that we do, we are giving back to the Black community and keeping another Black person from being homeless. Thank you!

10. Blacks who get the job and then get another Black hired

So many of us have gotten hired on a job and made it a point to get a friend or a relative hired as well. That’s giving back and in a big way. You just made sure another Black person went from being unemployed to employed and that’s a big deal. You just made sure another person was able to afford to pay their rent or mortgage and take care of their family — that’s a big thing considering many non-profit organizations with mandates to help Blacks find jobs can’t even manage to get what you did accomplished.

So you see, Black people give back everyday of their lives in one form or another. Some of us give the big dollars, but others give in ways that are just as relevant and meaningful — some might say even more so.

Jasmyne Cannick is a nationally known writer and commentator on political, race and social issues. Follow her on Twitter @Jasmyne and on Facebook @JasmyneCannick.