Should I take "dirty" money? I work at a nonprofit fighting housing discrimination. We recently had a chance to partner with a large corporation that would fund our work for three years. The corporation has a reputation of being discriminatory, and, particularly, discriminatory against our community. Their CEO has made dismissive comments about our community in the past. Half my team says we should take the money and use it to help people who need it now. The other half says partnering with them legitimizes their image while they continue to practice discrimination. I'm the executive director and have to decide. The money would let us serve 500 more families. But I'd have to stand next to that CEO at a press conference and smile. When fighting for justice, how do you decide when to compromise and when to stand firm? Is it selling out if the money genuinely helps people? — Conflicted in Cleveland
Principled activism. Sojourner Truth's uncompromising voice meets Susan B. Anthony's strategic coalition-building.
Should I take "dirty" money? I work at a nonprofit fighting housing discrimination. We recently had a chance to partner with a large corporation that would fund our work for three years. The corporation has a reputation of being discriminatory, and, particularly, discriminatory against our community. Their CEO has made dismissive comments about our community in the past. Half my team says we should take the money and use it to help people who need it now. The other half says partnering with them legitimizes their image while they continue to practice discrimination. I'm the executive director and have to decide. The money would let us serve 500 more families. But I'd have to stand next to that CEO at a press conference and smile. When fighting for justice, how do you decide when to compromise and when to stand firm? Is it selling out if the money genuinely helps people? — Conflicted in Cleveland
Sojourner Truth
"Truth is powerful and it prevails—do not let their money buy your silence"
36 votes
Susan B. Anthony
"Failure is impossible—if we persist, strategize, and build coalitions"
50 votes
86 votes total
Full Positions
From The Narrative of Sojourner Truth
"Truth is powerful and it prevails—do not let their money buy your silence"
I have stood before powerful men and spoken truth they did not want to hear. Your presence at that press conference says something—it says their past words are forgiven, their image is cleansed. 500 families helped is good. But what message does it send to the next corporation that they can buy redemption without change?
From Susan B. Anthony: Rebel, Crusader, Humanitarian
"Failure is impossible—if we persist, strategize, and build coalitions"
I worked with people I disagreed with because the cause was larger than my comfort. Rights are won through persistent, collective action over decades, not overnight. Take their money. Use it well. Document the impact. And when you have power, use it to push them further. Purity is a luxury the oppressed cannot always afford.