Mutual Aid is Radical!

Featuring: @ThinkpieceTribe @ThatDangDad
patreon.com/colormind
Works Cited
Watts - Riot or Revolt? (1965) Reel America Preview: • CBS Reports: Watts - R...
Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next)
By Spade, Dean: www.thriftbooks.com/w/mutual-...
Historical footage and interviews with Black Panthers: Historical footage and interviews with Black Panthers
Fred Hampton on the importance of revolutionary education:
• Fred Hampton on the im...
The Radical Origins of Free Breakfast for Children - Eater: www.eater.com/2016/2/16/11002...
Joy And Pain: A Story Of Black life and Liberation in Five Albums by Damien M Sojoyner
Further Reading:
Suburbia Doesn't Have to Feel Lonely: • Suburbia Doesn't Have ...
The Great Places Erased by Suburbia (the Third Place): • The Great Places Erase...
Pod Mapping for Mutual Aid

[@dr.fatima]

capitalism is when i drink your milkshake; mutual aid is when we share the milkshake

[@IbnRushd-mv3fp]

Guess what?, that milkshake we're sharing still comes from a slave either way...

[@traviskitteh]

To take the metaphor a step further: Capitalism is when I sell you so many milkshakes for so long that you, your family, and anyone you can remember has forgotten the recipe. Mutual aid is when we get together to try and figure out what that recipe was, then reproduce it to share.

[@fiona9891]

@@IbnRushd-mv3fp mutual aid not only helps some people live better within this currently pretty terrible world but it helps build us up to a state where we can exert our power to get rid of capitalism it's not going to solve every issue instantly, because there's no way to do that, but it's basically the best option we have in most places. it's certainly going to be more helpful to make the world better than just shrugging and doing nothing cause everything sucks

[@COLORMIND.mp4]

definitely going for 5 guys milkshakes when we link :)

[@greywolf2809]

Dont you touch your lips near my fkn milkshake

[@luckypup1919]

Requesting that all black men be exempt from the military was such a power move, and actually caught me off guard until I thought about it. Exploitation via military is such a fucking joke, ESPECIALLY when you’re “fighting for” a country that doesn’t even want you there. Fuck yes, don’t fight for shit that hurts you.

[@TK-cg4ks]

Competition is a lie. Cooperation is how we survive this. Thank you for sharing this video.

[@COLORMIND.mp4]

we’re ALL IN THIS TOOOGETHER *clap*

[@uhwaykin]

I’d love to see some discourse about competition and how our ideas about it have changed over time. I suspect it started as a more cooperative way to engage with community, to determine how to do things best and apply that knowledge to the benefit of the community. Now it seems increasingly anti-social, antagonistic, and for the purpose of dividing “winners” from “losers” to determine who can justifiably be deprived.

[@samhutchison9582]

On first consideration I thought "the idea of giving to others and expecting the same thing back just doesn't sit right me. We should give because it's the right thing to do, not because we want something back." Then I took a step and looked again. It's not about giving with the expectation or return. It's not about a single act. It's about creating an ecosystem where we can rely upon each other for things large and small because it benefits us all. Then again, I could have missed the point entirely. I tend to do that a lot.

[@COLORMIND.mp4]

NAH BRO YOU GOT IT. the world is much easier to save when you measure it in how safe and fed your friends are, then their friends, and so on!

[@mynameislunkk_8612]

THAT PART

[@BingBing-yy1qg]

From my mother-country we traditionally go mushroom hunting every year, so many mushrooms, delicious and nutritious. But my family came to England. One of the richest countries in the world, Britons killed millions of people to get that money, but poor people here have no access to good food! I was taught no life skills in school at all, it's so difficult for people to grow their own food, gather their own food... and there's mushrooms growing everywhere but all these hungry people have no clue they can eat them! The only empowering education I got in my life, besides basic literacy and numeracy, came from my family abroad teaching me how to depend on the landscape. England has such a poverty problem despite being such a rich country, and an education problem, educating my friends how to safely gather the free food around them without having to pay is a radical action and a strike against this horrible, unjust country's elites.

[@gearandalthefirst7027]

Also, the british spend billions of pounds every year on fungicide. Not only do they not know there's food all around, the imperial core actively destroys it.

[@terpsidance.]

"No matter what you do it will never amount to anything but a single drop in a limitless ocean. What is an ocean but a multitude of drops" I'm ready to be part of the tsunami my comrades...

[@ThatDangDad]

Thanks for letting me participate in this! Great topic, great video, really important!

[@ThatDangDad]

also that mic 😍😍

[@Chatrbuug]

Thanks for sharing the video; brought at least one new person to it

[@michelehamilton961]

@ThatDangDad Thanks. I love your content. Now I have a new channel.

[@mynameislunkk_8612]

I think it's pretty radical to have a former white cop talking on a topic like a black revolution I love it

[@kalka1l]

Mutual aid is a full house of chosen folk, everyone sharing the labor and no rent just board and help.

[@COLORMIND.mp4]

my dreammmmmmm

[@kalka1l]

@@COLORMIND.mp4 YMMV this spread has more goats than humans so it’s not for everyone 😅 It may be humble but collective struggle is always easier than the solitary grind. I’ll spill more over on Patreon if you like.

[@vaporeonice3146]

What the fuck this was so good holy shit. Stop waiting for a revolution, and start taking care of each other. That snowballs into the revolution. What a joyous, beautiful piece of art. Thank you!

[@nurnfurnia]

This hits home, currently building community space with some mutual aid friends - a big garden where we can just *be*. a garden that feeds our spirits as we see it taking shape, as more people join us, a garden that will feed us and our community. And, a third space. A beautiful spot to sit in the green and be with one another.

[@Kagomai15]

I was told by security at my library that I wasn't allowed to sit on the floor. I deliberately sat out of anybody's way but that still wasn't good enough. It turned out when I got home that I shouldn't have been out in the first place (I caught covid earlier in the week and the one I caught it from didn't tell me until I confronted them about it. We don't talk anymore.) - but I couldn't get over how bad it made me feel to be told I couldn't sit on the floor in this great open space I thought was welcoming. Like I think they have the policy because there are a lot of unhoused people downtown, and they're gatekeeping the fricken floor! I wasn't in anyone's way. I was just doing my physiotherapy in front of a seat instead of in it. So they don't like neurodivergent folks at the library, that's what I got out of that interaction. I haven't been back since, and I hate that. I used to spend a lot of time there. It's been two years.

[@RobinRaye-np3vw]

I'm wondering if it'd do anything if you sent an email to the library's management team or HR team or something. Tell them why their policy is ableist and harms you and others like you. See if you can get a couple friends to send similar emails I honestly don't know if my idea would help or not. But there's no harm in trying, and it'd probably feel about as satisfying as writing a youtube comment does

[@Kagomai15]

@@RobinRaye-np3vw Fair enough, and I have thought about it. I just...haven't followed through 😅

[@RobinRaye-np3vw]

@@Kagomai15 Hey no judgement here. I've been needing to send an email to cancel a subscription and after two weeks I still haven't gotten around to it

[@AchiorJacobs]

Great topic! I’m 62. When I was a kid we always had people sleeping on our floor, eating with us, getting rides, using our phone. Those mutual aid practices are more difficult to establish when we don’t live near our people-when we’re scattered. But also when we just don’t do it; we don’t ask for concrete help and we don’t offer either. (Thoughts and prayers are great and all, but …) It just takes widening your circle a tiny bit to see that it’s possible.

[@n3rdboink]

you said it perfectly at 17:00 ! transactional relationships and seeing people as an ends rather than a means! unconditional kindness above all! yup yup yup! i just got a new library card yesterday, i havent been to a library in years. my friends and i used to hang out in the library in middle school, and by the time i got to high school, we stopped. i was almost overwhelmed to see that young and old people alike, with all different backgrounds were still coming to this library and using it as a communal space to hang out, do research, use the computers, etc. on their own time. and not to mention all the free stuff that comes with having a library card, which can change the media u consume completely! libby, kanopy, park passes, etc. so amazing and i feel like nobody talks about it lol

[@Dork2099]

As an aging introvert I find the fundamental structure of mutual aid terrifying. That said, excellent analysis like this inspires me to keep trying.

[@COLORMIND.mp4]

what about the structure makes you so nervous?

[@Dork2099]

I’m afraid of speaking to a human being face to face or even on the phone ever. 😂 I’m 90% kidding but for real I do specifically seek out 0-touch opportunities to help. For example, I donate to community refrigerators. I know that this is childishness and it limits my usefulness and an ally. And I am legit working on it.

[@Dork2099]

Got to say again- and loud- that your video essays are a powerful force pushing me and countless others toward proper mutual engagement. Many thanks!

[@lynn858]

@@Dork2099If it helps, know that the vast majority of public facing, or highly interactive community organizers/voices are neurodivergent. It may seem like we're very "on" and outgoing... but I think a lot of us come home and want to be very ALONE for awhile after an event. We're not necessarily good at asking for help. A lot of admin tasks get put off forever. Archiving. Cleaning. Overhauling the way our supplies are organized. Data entry. Database cleanup. Building back end systems. Documenting procedures.... If we are the type of person who can do both, those back end tasks still get put off, because unlike the new urgent thing... well... Not everyone needs to be up front, or attend events. I work with 2 local groups doing similar work. What we need desperately, is someone(s) who will go through the local council meetings scheduled for 3 municipalities every week, and add anything relevant to us to a shared calendar. And sign up for some email lists related to engagement on those topics. No actual people interactions necessary. Every type of mutual aid has people-free tasks. I promise you.

[@stripedpolkadots8692]

@@Dork2099i like to believe part of community teamwork like this is finding places for everyone to contribute what they can, including people who may not want to deal with people face to face

[@River_Rune]

Beautifully done. Thanks for your hard work. 💚🖤

[@COLORMIND.mp4]

Thank you so much!

[@nullpotential]

I really liked the part about generalized reciprocity. I never really thought about why I hold the door for people it's just something you do. It's kind of beautiful that something kind has just been normalized and adapted like that.

[@browncoat_redshirt_jedi6274]

Came here from a Leftist Cooks community post! Happy to find another lovely channel to subscribe to!

[@stuarttomlinson1819]

Awesome video! Came here from That Dang Dad's community post and I'm definitely glad I did!

[@SayisSaying]

I wish I could repost this video. For my interior design thesis project I'm designing a mutual aid resource center and it's astonishing how many people don't really grasp what mutual aid actually is. Especially in a field like interior design that's ripe with classism luxury and elitism.

[@COLORMIND.mp4]

you can totally use my video in something academic/educational! id be honored actually 🤓

[@KdinIsHere]

Reciprocity is needed!

[@KdinIsHere]

I'm also getting into interior design, environmental interior design, DIY with KB, and the Wayfair youtube channel is pretty good for free education

[@mrhare00]

This video has expanded my primary understanding of what mutual aid looks like.

[@TreeHairedGingerAle]

😂 That bird screaming, "Right on, right on!!", SENT me! 🤣👏🏾✨

[@Kagomai15]

*wind picks up on mic* "Not now Aang!" 😂 Fr tho this video is so good I'm gonna chew on it for a while thank you!

[@divinationsystem]

Rarely comment but you deserve this comment. 11/10 work.

[@Oggy_the_Moggy]

Came here from That Dang Dad, and I'm loving your work! The flower mic is 🤌🤌

[@MulberryDays]

not on topic but is that name a Fantasy High reference?

[@Ancusohm]

Another great video. Thanks for making this. 👍

[@COLORMIND.mp4]

thank you for watching!

[@comradethatmetalguy]

Beautiful and powerful video. Let's organize comrades ✊🏼

[@squarecymbals]

The colors and framing in this are impeccable

[@timothyhicks3643]

Hornbake Library! Where I hope to be studying for my master’s degree in library science next year! Great video!

[@sarah_cook]

Bird collab please!!

[@objectreborn.artsewing]

I'm so happy to have been pointed here. You're speaking so much good truth. And you're allowing voices from the years speak the truth perfectly. Thank you for educating me, and for planting these seeds 🩵✌️

[@RaxiazRedux]

This was SO good thank you for creating this. Never stop!!!

[@Johnyturmpet82]

Amazing video! Thank you so much

[@COLORMIND.mp4]

appreciate you watching 🥰🥰

[@TheTroutyness]

Blood for your algorithm gods

[@austinmitchell2652]

Excellent essay, and the video footage all looks really beautiful 👌

[@LangSmith.]

Wonderful video. Really love how you illuminated what forms we unconsciously participate in. The more we actively engage in mutual aid, the faster we can dismantle capitalism.

[@ValenteConsello]

All power to the people! Love seeing videos about direct action like mutual aid. 🖤

[@chriswaves]

this was a banger as usual. mutual aid is something I really believe in, and it's great to see it so well represented here!

[@Who-en2vo]

Fantastic work 🎉 I am still alive and housed thanks to living with a friend. Survival takes community and intentionality- I try to spend as little money as possible on things, try to trade/barter. Always more ways to learn how to participate in mutual aid.

[@jam-trousers]

Hits every nail on the head perfectly. Thank you sir

[@veindrain]

"not now aang!" 💀💀

[@ilCarrubba]

13:46 I had to look it up, so I thought I'd comment for anyone else out of the loop. That's Mychal Threets.

[@AlexTuble]

Don’t forget to organize and formalize your mutual aid groups into real grassroots organizations! Help the people realize their place in the broader struggle for justice and peace. Not just in your community, but also globally (many folks migrate from other parts of the world where the same factors that oppress us, also oppress them in similar but also distinct ways - see: imperialism/neocolonialism). The people united will never be defeated!

[@BidekWeezer]

As always another fire video. More Third spaces could probably do a lot to solve the loneliness issue I agree

[@Danae_O]

great video

[@amangem]

As someone who has been homeless since December 2023, mutual aid has been the only thing that has kept me alive. It's exhausting to beg thousands of people for help with basic survival needs, and receive little support, while being told that i have to pull myself up by my bootstraps and do it myself. I've been trying so hard for so long. I was working two jobs at a point, and am still homeless. Now that I've lost my job, due to an abusive superior, ive been treated if i am useless by "not contributing to society". i invest in my community as much as i can, but its hard to be a functional, participating member of society when you're starving, don't have a permanent place to stay, and always have everything on the line. i just want safety and enough financial security to live, to have my own bed, but it seems like such an impossible ask. I constatnly feel so hopeless and helpless

[@cornkopp2985]

The algorithm has blessed me with a good video on mutual aid

[@timonnieveler1486]

just to add some nuance: where i live not everyone is welcome at the library. homeless people etc. are actively excluded.

[@GratefulEd]

Great video. Really like the presentation and production values as well as the message. That's a great book too!

[@Leftistattheparty]

"Not now Aang!" Subscribed.

[@soupsoupington2634]

Okay, just finding your channel. and yeah this video is everything and i am sharing widely. I love this deeply!!!! thank you!!! this is the truth!!! MUTUAL AID, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MUTUALLY AID ONE ANOTHER YALL. I feel like people forget there was a time before colonialism for real. That time was literally "mutual aid" based, it was a lot of other things too...but for the terms of the video. We literally do not need the government.

[@darrenellis165]

Mutual aid is the type of radical communal cooperation that given time will lead to the collective asking themselves. "If we all want to help each other and we all want abundance without barriers why do we even have a currency?" When families that work the farms, run the electric plants, make the cars, build the roads, etc all communicate and understand that they are the ones making the things, not the companies. Not a single dollar or copper coin gets melted down as a part of the production process. Then finally our people can drop currency and just work together.

[@Thaelyn1312]

I was so happy to learn about mutual aid. Also, another book to add to my library ^.^

[@indiemew]

Great video! I have just completed my thesis on public libraries as community serving institutions for my bachelors and you are spot on. The combination of the lack of third spaces, lack of trust within institutions, poor literacy rates, the loneliness epidemic, cost of living, and societal divisions are all problems which show the need to strengthen public libraries. I have never uploaded before but I am really interested in talking more about this topic--the expansion of public libraries can lead to communities subverting the capitalist system by banding together through mutual aid. Wonderfully edited, well researched, and excellent pacing!

[@RyanG487]

The message, the musical interludes, the squirrel (?) that is trying to collab... just immaculate. I can't help with the patreon, but I can leave a comment and like. Keep making great content and solidarity forever.

[@bones6996]

This got randomly recommended to me, instant subscribe. The quality is off the walls, i expected you to have at least 100k+ subscribers

[@ad2094]

8:31 right at this point i got a temu ad that started with "feels like a dream, feels like magic". Had to pause for a sec😅

[@Graeberwave]

“Charity creates a multitude of sins.” -Oscar Wilde

[@LoveBbyJay]

This is the first video I've seen of yours, I have to say I'm hooked. You take a somewhat in depth look but with real world examples in a way I dont think I've seen done as well before especially on the subject... I'm looking forward to watching more!!

[@Zosio]

The Leftist Cooks sent me your way, and I'm so thankful that they did. I just joined a local mutual aid thread with other radicals. It's crazy how different my life has become over such a short span of time just by diving back in to community and humanity. Feels like living. Amazing video. Subscribed 🫶

[@bugzndirt]

so engaged this whole video thank u for sharing :3

[@BidekWeezer]

New Colormind dropped let’s goooo!!!!!

[@Dana0113]

Great video. Felt like talking with a friend. Loved the part about it isn't about what can be gained in an interaction, but what needs to be normalized! Mutual aid as direct action against transactional relationships. Just became a patreon. Thanks for the video!

[@tripwire202]

Awesome work. Thank you - hope you have many wonderful days with tons of writing inspiration.

[@keremmadran]

Awesome video that motivated me further. Thank you!

[@bowthehuman9569]

You have given me hope. Thank you.

[@ROYAL-ob6kf]

i fw you heavy vro 💝

[@phillipmitchell2254]

Bless you for making this! Instant sub

[@rl936]

Thank you for this video. It was excellent. The pacing was incredible and the writing was succinct, snappy and very funny

[@ROYAL-ob6kf]

the guy that you had read sounded like daily dose of internet

[@peinlicherjunge]

Omg yes thank you. You verbalized all the thoughts that are currently running through my head and that I'm trying to forward to my community.

[@naih3315]

Love! Also this video was so pretty to look at! ❤️❤️❤️

[@hummybird2546]

thank you thank you thank you for making this video! the ways in which you address this subject is so well structured, and easy to comprehend. you take this idea of the loss of third spaces, and truly connect it to reality. i can tell you put a lot of effort into this topic, plus this video as a whole. i appreciate this very much! these type of videos help me to understand what to do with all of the change i wish to see. and to cause change (even if it’s small) starts with myself, and assisting others. i cannot stress enough how important communicating is! it’s the foundation of connection! it’s the exchange of thoughts, feelings, and through this communication we can start to begin solving problems we all didn’t realize we shared. 💯

[@celsient]

brilliant video, thank you!

[@SepSyn]

Thank you! Now I wanna go to the library

[@rat_world]

Great video! Looking forward to more from you

[@The_pillow_fort]

Awesome video!

[@davidalesia6881]

Great video!

[@alexvietzke6027]

This video is excellent and appreciated

[@seinquant]

very well done! thank you 🫶

[@antoineriwalski4074]

I love that there is humour in the vid! i once heard from a civil resisstance organiser in venezuela that the most important with organising together was to make it enjoyable, so that we might do it for long. and i find that your video fits perfectly in this framwork! i do appreciate the gloomy, scary and kind of epic videos about capitalisme, hierarchies and the response that is a horizental revolution, for the fire that they give. but your video is so important, to talk about all these subjects while staying chill. thank's

[@N8ThaGr8r]

Ive worked at Starbucks for far too long, but when i hear 3rd space, all i can think of is the training videos

[@fullmetal929]

Damn, that was quick on the conan clip, hahaha

[@32kuba32]

great video ⭐️ !!!

[@treetea]

Thank you for your hard work! I’m wanting more 3rd spaces and mutual aid myself. Community is what I crave.

[@calebf2373]

This was a fantastic video

[@raulsalome7038]

This is why I hate feeling alone

[@Ed-ss1uh]

Great video.

[@kennethhymes9734]

Subscribed based on title alone. Looking forward to getting to know the channel.

[@Regene4239]

Great video. I been thinking about mutual aid recently too. I think it’s the way forward. Also the Yuyu Hakasho Demon Days poster is SO sick!

[@sethlogee]

First time viewer love your content ✊🏻❤🎉

[@Britbec]

Appreciate your work! Consider posting your Venmo so YT can’t take 1/3 of your donations.

[@COLORMIND.mp4]

yo i appreciate YOU tysm :))) ill also seriously take that advice!

[@memxfgtwjd]

I have seen my money change more lives by donating directly to people in gaza helping my friends evacuate their families or help feed their families than I ever have with donating to NGOs

[@COLORMIND.mp4]

charity lowkey looking like a scam 🤡

[@memxfgtwjd]

@@COLORMIND.mp4 it is almost like they don't want us knowing this, fr

[@curtissjamesd]

Great video, thought I was subscribed but I for sure am now

[@HumanFellaPerson]

That Dang Dad has such a nice voice.

[@cherryturnip]

* me watching this in the library, mysterious girlfriend X open, full page mural of FD almost complete* 😳

[@ieatpaintchips72]

Thanks!

[@COLORMIND.mp4]

youre the best 🥹🥹

[@werm5]

14:37 that was very specific...😋

[@DavidLindes]

12:05/12:14 - oh wow, I totally want to see this collab now! 🤣

[@new9039]

great vid. subbed immediately ✊

[@bertbaker7067]

🎶When the union’s inspiration through the workers blood shall run There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun Yet what force on Earth is weaker than the feeble force of one but The union makes us strong🎶 Solidarity forever ✊