Michael Harriot
@michaelharriot.bsky.social
Journalist, writer, former member of the Six Heartbeats. Championship-level spades player. ContrabandCamp.com founder. Author of NY Times bestseller: Black AF History: The Unwhitewashed Story of America.
Even when people point out that there are more white people on welfare...
They might not realize how right they are.
They might not realize how right they are.
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Even when people point out that there are more white people on welfare...
They might not realize how right they are.
They might not realize how right they are.
It's the unattractive Oregoners and the 3-toothed MAGA Mississippians and the Minnesota congressman complaining about free lunch and complaining about the welfare state and championing capitalism.
America has ALWAYS BEEN a welfare state...
For white people.
America has ALWAYS BEEN a welfare state...
For white people.
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
It's the unattractive Oregoners and the 3-toothed MAGA Mississippians and the Minnesota congressman complaining about free lunch and complaining about the welfare state and championing capitalism.
America has ALWAYS BEEN a welfare state...
For white people.
America has ALWAYS BEEN a welfare state...
For white people.
Those WIC vouchers that you demonize, purchase the products that white farmers produce.
Who's getting the government assistance here?
It's the 5th-generation farmer in alabama are the "welfare queens."
It's the people living in their grandpappy's house bought with a GI bill
Who's getting the government assistance here?
It's the 5th-generation farmer in alabama are the "welfare queens."
It's the people living in their grandpappy's house bought with a GI bill
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Those WIC vouchers that you demonize, purchase the products that white farmers produce.
Who's getting the government assistance here?
It's the 5th-generation farmer in alabama are the "welfare queens."
It's the people living in their grandpappy's house bought with a GI bill
Who's getting the government assistance here?
It's the 5th-generation farmer in alabama are the "welfare queens."
It's the people living in their grandpappy's house bought with a GI bill
Welfare is why the average white household has 9x more wealth than the average white family.
When the govt started giving out mortgages and building whites-only suburbs after WW2, it worked.
Welfare did that
Conversely, there hasn't been a SECOND that Black homeownership reached 50%
When the govt started giving out mortgages and building whites-only suburbs after WW2, it worked.
Welfare did that
Conversely, there hasn't been a SECOND that Black homeownership reached 50%
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Welfare is why the average white household has 9x more wealth than the average white family.
When the govt started giving out mortgages and building whites-only suburbs after WW2, it worked.
Welfare did that
Conversely, there hasn't been a SECOND that Black homeownership reached 50%
When the govt started giving out mortgages and building whites-only suburbs after WW2, it worked.
Welfare did that
Conversely, there hasn't been a SECOND that Black homeownership reached 50%
According to the federal government, about 1-in-3 Americans are descended from Homesteaders. Black people didn't get that welfare...
In 1910, Black people owned 14 million acres. Today, it's 1.1 million
White farmers are still getting all the welfare.
In 1910, Black people owned 14 million acres. Today, it's 1.1 million
White farmers are still getting all the welfare.
USDA Data: Nearly All Pandemic Bailout Funds Went to White Farmers
Nearly all of the billions of dollars in federal farm bailouts to offset the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic went to white farmers, newly revealed Department of Agriculture data show.
www.ewg.org
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
According to the federal government, about 1-in-3 Americans are descended from Homesteaders. Black people didn't get that welfare...
In 1910, Black people owned 14 million acres. Today, it's 1.1 million
White farmers are still getting all the welfare.
In 1910, Black people owned 14 million acres. Today, it's 1.1 million
White farmers are still getting all the welfare.
Now the fact that the average billionaire pays a 4-6% lower tax rate than the average American could be considered welfare.
Or that corporations received $275 billion in subsidies between 2018-2022
Or fossil fuel companies getting $31 BILLION in subsidies/yr
But not me. I BELIEVE in welfare.
Or that corporations received $275 billion in subsidies between 2018-2022
Or fossil fuel companies getting $31 BILLION in subsidies/yr
But not me. I BELIEVE in welfare.
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Now the fact that the average billionaire pays a 4-6% lower tax rate than the average American could be considered welfare.
Or that corporations received $275 billion in subsidies between 2018-2022
Or fossil fuel companies getting $31 BILLION in subsidies/yr
But not me. I BELIEVE in welfare.
Or that corporations received $275 billion in subsidies between 2018-2022
Or fossil fuel companies getting $31 BILLION in subsidies/yr
But not me. I BELIEVE in welfare.
But white farmers were still making those subsidized dairy products.
So in the 1970s the y created WIC so you could give that shit to babies. In the 80s, Ronald Regan found a way to get rid of all of that surplus buried underground:
Behold, government cheese
So in the 1970s the y created WIC so you could give that shit to babies. In the 80s, Ronald Regan found a way to get rid of all of that surplus buried underground:
Behold, government cheese
The Secret Life of Government Cheese - Offrange
Deep in Missouri caves, millions of pounds of cheese reveal how federal dairy policies shaped our diets, food aid, and ideas of government waste.
ambrook.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
But white farmers were still making those subsidized dairy products.
So in the 1970s the y created WIC so you could give that shit to babies. In the 80s, Ronald Regan found a way to get rid of all of that surplus buried underground:
Behold, government cheese
So in the 1970s the y created WIC so you could give that shit to babies. In the 80s, Ronald Regan found a way to get rid of all of that surplus buried underground:
Behold, government cheese
But we were still buying up all this cheese and other BS. So in the 1940s, the USDA came up with a brilliant marketing plan:
1. They taught kids the "basic food groups" – stuff white farmers produced (to be fair, I might die without butter)
2. Congress passed a law REQUIRING schools to serve milk
1. They taught kids the "basic food groups" – stuff white farmers produced (to be fair, I might die without butter)
2. Congress passed a law REQUIRING schools to serve milk
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
But we were still buying up all this cheese and other BS. So in the 1940s, the USDA came up with a brilliant marketing plan:
1. They taught kids the "basic food groups" – stuff white farmers produced (to be fair, I might die without butter)
2. Congress passed a law REQUIRING schools to serve milk
1. They taught kids the "basic food groups" – stuff white farmers produced (to be fair, I might die without butter)
2. Congress passed a law REQUIRING schools to serve milk
Technically, Krystals started the boom in 1932 but they served sandwiches and sodas and even chicken. But before the price of beef fell, hamburgers were a novelty. And NO ONE put cheese on them.
But thanks to government subsidies, we got the Big Mac
But thanks to government subsidies, we got the Big Mac
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Technically, Krystals started the boom in 1932 but they served sandwiches and sodas and even chicken. But before the price of beef fell, hamburgers were a novelty. And NO ONE put cheese on them.
But thanks to government subsidies, we got the Big Mac
But thanks to government subsidies, we got the Big Mac
They had so much beef, sugar & dairy products, the government built refrigerated underground bunkers to store the cheese. They were regulating the price of beef and milk which created an entirely new industry:
Fast food.
Fast food.
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
They had so much beef, sugar & dairy products, the government built refrigerated underground bunkers to store the cheese. They were regulating the price of beef and milk which created an entirely new industry:
Fast food.
Fast food.
This was also the beginning of farm subsidies. The USDA gave farmers money to mechanize farms & bought everything they produced. They bought so much dairy products, the government set milk prices. So even farmers who DON'T sell to the govt. technically get government assistance.
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
This was also the beginning of farm subsidies. The USDA gave farmers money to mechanize farms & bought everything they produced. They bought so much dairy products, the government set milk prices. So even farmers who DON'T sell to the govt. technically get government assistance.
But it wasn't just homebuyers. Many of the all-white suburbs were built on land cleared by New Deal workers and used utilities paid for by New Deal projects that essentially employed any white worker who needed a paycheck. It created a new economic category they called "the middle class."
Welfare
Welfare
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
But it wasn't just homebuyers. Many of the all-white suburbs were built on land cleared by New Deal workers and used utilities paid for by New Deal projects that essentially employed any white worker who needed a paycheck. It created a new economic category they called "the middle class."
Welfare
Welfare
But how was a bank or a mortgage lender supposed to know if negroes were around?
The used color-coded maps of approved neighborhoods. While housing segregation existed before "Redlining," the US GOVERNMENT certified the racist idea that Black people existing devalued home values
The used color-coded maps of approved neighborhoods. While housing segregation existed before "Redlining," the US GOVERNMENT certified the racist idea that Black people existing devalued home values
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
But how was a bank or a mortgage lender supposed to know if negroes were around?
The used color-coded maps of approved neighborhoods. While housing segregation existed before "Redlining," the US GOVERNMENT certified the racist idea that Black people existing devalued home values
The used color-coded maps of approved neighborhoods. While housing segregation existed before "Redlining," the US GOVERNMENT certified the racist idea that Black people existing devalued home values
After the Great Depression, FDR created the biggest welfare program in history. It guaranteed low-interest loans to purchase homes. Then it gave developers low interest guaranteed loans to BUILD the homes in areas that became known as "suburbs." There was one catch
No Black people
No Black people
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
After the Great Depression, FDR created the biggest welfare program in history. It guaranteed low-interest loans to purchase homes. Then it gave developers low interest guaranteed loans to BUILD the homes in areas that became known as "suburbs." There was one catch
No Black people
No Black people
We know 40 Acres & a Mule, but what about the 80 acres?
After the Civil War, Congress took 46 million acres that was re-re-repossessed from Natives to be given to freedmen and Union veterans in 80-acre parcels. It SPECIFICALLY excluded Confederates
Guess who got it?
The welfare Kings.
After the Civil War, Congress took 46 million acres that was re-re-repossessed from Natives to be given to freedmen and Union veterans in 80-acre parcels. It SPECIFICALLY excluded Confederates
Guess who got it?
The welfare Kings.
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
We know 40 Acres & a Mule, but what about the 80 acres?
After the Civil War, Congress took 46 million acres that was re-re-repossessed from Natives to be given to freedmen and Union veterans in 80-acre parcels. It SPECIFICALLY excluded Confederates
Guess who got it?
The welfare Kings.
After the Civil War, Congress took 46 million acres that was re-re-repossessed from Natives to be given to freedmen and Union veterans in 80-acre parcels. It SPECIFICALLY excluded Confederates
Guess who got it?
The welfare Kings.
Have you ever heard that Oregon has the ugliest, most racist white people? It's because of welfare
In 1850, the US tried to build an all-white state. But only single white men showed up, so they had to create the biggest land welfare program in history.
I WISH I could make this shit up.
In 1850, the US tried to build an all-white state. But only single white men showed up, so they had to create the biggest land welfare program in history.
I WISH I could make this shit up.
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Have you ever heard that Oregon has the ugliest, most racist white people? It's because of welfare
In 1850, the US tried to build an all-white state. But only single white men showed up, so they had to create the biggest land welfare program in history.
I WISH I could make this shit up.
In 1850, the US tried to build an all-white state. But only single white men showed up, so they had to create the biggest land welfare program in history.
I WISH I could make this shit up.
Last year, I wrote about a candidate for congress whose entire platform was that she was a "Real Alabaman"
It turns out, she was a 5th generation Alabama Fever scammer whose family used welfare to start the Klan in AL...
Her opponent's father bankrupted the Klan
thegrio.com/2024/09/24/d...
It turns out, she was a 5th generation Alabama Fever scammer whose family used welfare to start the Klan in AL...
Her opponent's father bankrupted the Klan
thegrio.com/2024/09/24/d...
Downballot: a daughter of the confederacy vs. the Klan killer’s son
OPINION: To win Alabama’s newest congressional seat, the son of a civil rights hero faces a gerrymandered map, racial dog whistles and a wealthy descendant of slave-owning Confederate Klansmen.
thegrio.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Last year, I wrote about a candidate for congress whose entire platform was that she was a "Real Alabaman"
It turns out, she was a 5th generation Alabama Fever scammer whose family used welfare to start the Klan in AL...
Her opponent's father bankrupted the Klan
thegrio.com/2024/09/24/d...
It turns out, she was a 5th generation Alabama Fever scammer whose family used welfare to start the Klan in AL...
Her opponent's father bankrupted the Klan
thegrio.com/2024/09/24/d...
But they weren't done. In 1813, the government kicked the Cherokee, Choctaw & Muskogee out of the white neighborhood & sold the land for $1.25 an acre.
BC of "Alabama Fever" enslavers got "mortgages" using their slaves as collateral, left town with the $ AND THE SLAVES & moved to AL
Welfare fraud
BC of "Alabama Fever" enslavers got "mortgages" using their slaves as collateral, left town with the $ AND THE SLAVES & moved to AL
Welfare fraud
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
But they weren't done. In 1813, the government kicked the Cherokee, Choctaw & Muskogee out of the white neighborhood & sold the land for $1.25 an acre.
BC of "Alabama Fever" enslavers got "mortgages" using their slaves as collateral, left town with the $ AND THE SLAVES & moved to AL
Welfare fraud
BC of "Alabama Fever" enslavers got "mortgages" using their slaves as collateral, left town with the $ AND THE SLAVES & moved to AL
Welfare fraud
Instead, FOUR DUDES bought up all the land. To make things right, the government paid the dudes MORE MONEY, handed out the land & changed the name to something befitting a housing project filled with white welfare recipients:
And that's how we got Alabama & Mississippi
Welfare
And that's how we got Alabama & Mississippi
Welfare
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Instead, FOUR DUDES bought up all the land. To make things right, the government paid the dudes MORE MONEY, handed out the land & changed the name to something befitting a housing project filled with white welfare recipients:
And that's how we got Alabama & Mississippi
Welfare
And that's how we got Alabama & Mississippi
Welfare
After that not-so-revolutionary war thing with Britain, the US had a very low credit score. To pay some bills, the US gov't sold 35 million acres to white people for a penny and a half ... as long as they were willing move to rural GA (ATL wasn't jumping like that).
Except they didn't
Except they didn't
October 31, 2025 at 12:26 AM
After that not-so-revolutionary war thing with Britain, the US had a very low credit score. To pay some bills, the US gov't sold 35 million acres to white people for a penny and a half ... as long as they were willing move to rural GA (ATL wasn't jumping like that).
Except they didn't
Except they didn't