The countdown to holiday gifting is underway for most of America! In my friends, I sense a growing desire to shop in a way that doesn’t support the Trump administration nor companies that mistreat employees. I’m going to point out national boycotts happening this Thanksgiving weekend. Then, I’ll highlight some suggestions on meaningful gifts because it’s more fun to share Do’s than Dont’s.
Starbucks: Workers nationwide are asking us not to cross the picket line buy shopping there. Starbucks Workers United, asks for more take-home pay, better hours, and the resolution to legal issues.
Target, Amazon, and Home Depot: These three corporations are targets of the “We Ain’t Buying It” boycott from November 27-December 1. A coalition of progressive organizations, including Indivisible, Black Voters Matter, and the No Kings Alliance, are calling for a cease of purchases from those stores for their cooperation with the Trump agenda. Their reasons…
Target: for caving to the Trump administration’s biased attacks on DEI
Home Depot: for allowing and colluding with ICE to kidnap our neighbors on their properties
Amazon: funding the Trump administration to secure their own corporate tax cuts
Visit https://weaintbuyingit.com/ for more information and resources.
Ok, so that helps us understand where we shouldn’t shop. But where SHOULD we spend our money?
Books from indie bookstores, direct from authors, or Bookshop.org
Books, especially those about activism and fighting authoritarianism, are great because of the information in their pages and the ability to pass them on after reading. Bookshop.org is a website that supports independent bookstores that is a great alternative to Amazon.
Buying autographed copies directly from authors like me can make the gift extra special when you ask for special inscriptions. I had a reader ask me to inscribe a copy of Advocacy Made Easy to “Warrior Mama,” so that she could share it with another strong mom-activist when she’s done learning from it. I am SO happy to do that!
Arts & crafts
Buying handmade local pieces of art means your gifts are one-of-a-kind. Art can be practical, too. Pottery mugs, wine glasses, scarves, and mittens are useful and pretty. I love buying gifts from my friends at Ash & Griffin Pottery. A unique gift I got at a local art fair for my bird-loving seamstress mom was a seam ripper tool decorated with birds. It became a valued keepsake after her passing that I still use today.
Experiences instead of objects
All kinds of art and science programs have lost funding this year. Consider giving your loved ones memberships to a science museum, gift certificates for an art museum admission, or tickets to an inspiring show like the musical Suffs. (Here’s my review of Suffs, which is touring now in the U.S.) Even though the Trump administration cut funding for DEI programs, you can target your gift money towards tickets to a Black repertory theater company performance.
Gifts from local and independent restaurants and stores
Even if none of these ideas speak to you, try to shop locally to keep your dollars in your community and support neighbors who own small businesses. Gift certificates from immigrant-owned restaurants are a great way to show love to people feeling threatened by ICE.
Shopping local doesn’t even mean you need to leave the house. For instance, I can order all kinds of interesting spices and decadent hot cocoa mix from Penzey’s Spice House, an anti-Trump business, here in St. Louis. You can even influence someone else’s decision to stay away from Starbucks by giving them a gift card to a local, independent coffee shop and expanding their coffee bean horizons! In St. Louis, I recommend RevoCup, which is owned by Ethiopian immigrants.
I hope this gives you inspiration to break old habits and think out of the (Amazon) box this holiday season. Happy shopping!
My first book, “From Changing Diapers to Changing the World: Why Moms Make Great Advocates and How to Get Started,” is a warm and witty guidebook helping moms to make a better world for all of us. It provides inspirational stories and “how-to” instructions for new and experienced activists to get more involved in advocacy.
My second book, “Advocacy Made Easy: How to Turn Civic Frustration Into Powerful Action,” is a practical handbook designed to demystify the advocacy process for everyone. It offers a convenient, step-by-step guide to making your voice heard in the halls of power—no political experience required.
Buy an autographed copy from my website at www.changyit.com/books.
Order online at bookshop.org or Barnes & Noble.
Order from any independent bookstore near you!
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