Paper knives destroy poor people’s lives

Terry Berry family by Tiny Gray-Garcia aka povertyskola, daughter of Dee , Mama of Tiburcio From treaties to probate to evictions, Mama Earth’s commodification continues Paper knives cut poor people’s lives& In half& Causing our now-houseless bodies To crash Into streets& Covered in grief& Never safe again to sleep& Under roofs that require more paper knife proof& That paid for yo stay otherwise u outside in one day& “We are a multi-generational Black family of six and have been living in my husband’s childhood home for the last 10 years with my mother-in-law taking care of her and helping her pay the mortgage – and now we are homeless,” Mama and eviction survivor Terry B tried to unpack the complicated journey of her family caught, destroyed and broken by what i call the paper knives. On Po’ Peoples Radio last week, she said, “Three days after my mother-in-law’s funeral, my sister-in-law began probate.” Terry explained the complicated, impossible process of settler lies (I mean, laws) that stole her family’s home from her family. As her tearful words poured out, I was reminded of the Sloan family,& the Williams family, the Ramirez family, Brokin Cloud and his Great Aunti Kathy Galvez,...