Accountability Statement
As a wealthy white man, I have limitations in my lived experience that effect my ability to predict how my actions will impact less wealthy white men, white women, and people of color.
It is impossible for me – or anyone else – to develop a perfect understanding of how each of the 8 billion people on this planet uniquely experience life on this planet or will be uniquely impacted by our actions. That said, I believe any person who exercises power – like I have by writing this book – has a responsibility to be accountable to those who may be impacted.
To honor this belief, I strive to honor the wisdom of our ancestors and the wisdom of those whose lived experience is different from my own. An aspect of this practice is being intentional about cultivating a diverse set of relationships across a variety of differences. These relationships have helped to sensitize me to lived experiences that are different from my own, attune me to the pain enacted by the status quo and the urgency to change it, and helped me see some of the ways that our cultures and structures do not serve any of us – not even guys like me – optimally.
Power is one of the great temptations of our world, so I also believe that formal structures – what America’s founding fathers described as ‘checks and balances’ – are needed to ensure that exercises of power do not degrade into toxic entitlement and abuse. The most equitable governance structure I’ve encountered and experienced is sociocracy, which is distinguished by consent-based decision making. I strive to practice this power sharing approach in all of my relationships, and I seek out collaborators who will hold me accountable if I take action or make decisions without first securing the consent of those who may be impacted.
About My Work and Wealth Accumulation
In America, wealth is a primary – perhaps the primary – source of power. Therefore, any attempt by a rich white man to launch a commercial enterprise is an exercise of power that may further consolidate wealth and other sources of power in white male hands.
I used to think that becoming extremely wealthy was a healthy and ethical aspiration, but I see it differently now. I no longer feel it is necessary for me to have a high financial net worth in order to have high self-worth, nor do I feel that I need extreme wealth to be confident that I can meet my own needs and those of my family. In fact, I have found that equating financial net worth with my self-worth and trying to meet my needs by buying wants is like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in the bottom. As challenging as it can be given American societal norms, I have found that cultivating the notion that I am enough and that I have enough is more inspiring, rewarding, and attainable than the anxiety-inducing fantasy and loneliness that accompanies the quest for unlimited wealth and power. The winner of a rat race, I heard Dr. Cornel West say, is still a rat. And, West adds, being successful in a society that is crumbling is not a proud legacy.
How I’m Practicing Equitable Economics and Governance Through This Project
As one step toward pursuing a healthier relationship with wealth and power, I’ve partnered with allen kwabena frimpong – a cultural strategist, artist, and cooperative entrepreneur – to transform what would have been my author royalties into a royalties cooperative. I partnered with allen to co-create a consent-based structure in which six social justice partners are receiving $5,000 honorariums plus 6/7 (86%) of author royalties (beyond the advance), in exchange for offering accountability and guidance. Partners are receiving royalties with ‘no strings attached.’ That is, partners are not required to support the project in any way and will continue to receive royalties even if they criticize me publicly or divest from our partnership. My hope that this approach will prevent this project from reproducing disparities in wealth and power, and enable me to practice and help to normalize relationships that center accountability, equity, humility, reciprocity, and self-determination.
The members of the cooperative are as follows:
Allen Kwabena Frimpong of Zeal
Chris Westcott of Solidaire Network
Erin Heaney of SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice)
Honor Keeler of Honor the Old Ways
Sandy Banks, LA Times journalist
Jasmine Gomez of Resist
I was fortunate to be able to write this book under the guidance and approval of a publisher who has lived experience and expertise that is relevant to the impact I hope to have. My publisher, Krishan Trotman, is one of the highest-ranking Black women in ‘Big 5’ publishing and oversees Legacy Lit, an imprint that is dedicated to giving voice to issues, authors, and all groups that have been underrepresented, under-served, and overlooked. Krishan has been an invaluable guide, and I am especially grateful for her encouragement and diligence to sure that – as much as possible – I’m telling my own story, not speaking on behalf of others.
All that said, accountability – as I understand it – is about being accountable to all who are impacted, not just those I am closest with. Therefore, if you believe my words or actions do not align with my stated goals, I welcome your feedback, privately or publicly.
FAQs
What is a royalties cooperative?
A royalties cooperative is an economic and governance structure that prioritizes an equitable distribution of financial resources and decision-making power.
Why did we see a need for a royalties cooperative?
I believe any person who exercises power – like I have by writing this book – has a responsibility to be accountable to those who may be impacted. And I believe that any wealthy white man who launches a commercial enterprise ought to see that endeavor as an exercise of power that may further consolidate wealth and other sources of power in white male hands. A royalties cooperative is a way to leverage the power of my location as a wealthy white man in a way that I believe is more likely to be accountable and responsive to those who may be impacted than the economic and governance models that rich white men often describe as best practice in America’s capitalist system.
How does the royalties cooperative work?
Six social justice partners are receiving $5,000 honorariums plus 6/7 (86%) of author royalties (beyond the advance), in exchange for offering accountability and guidance. Partners are receiving royalties with ‘no strings attached.’ That is, partners are not required to support the project in any way and will continue to receive royalties even if they criticize me publicly or divest from our partnership. My hope that this approach will prevent this project from reproducing disparities in wealth and power, and enable me to practice and help to normalize relationships that center accountability, equity, humility, reciprocity, and self-determination.
Who are the royalties cooperative partners?
The members of the cooperative are as follows:
Allen Kwabena Frimpong of Zeal
Chris Westcott of Solidaire Network
Erin Heaney of SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice)
Honor Keeler of Honor the Old Ways
Sandy Banks, LA Times journalist
Jasmine Gomez of Resist
What do we aspire to achieve with the royalties cooperative?
Mobilize significant, unrestricted, and long-term resources for under resourced and marginalized Black and Indigenous led efforts.
Recruit people into organizations that build the capacity of wealthy white people – and particularly rich white men – to work in solidarity.
Deepen pre-existing relationships where there is alignment with values and aspirations, such as equity, reciprocity, accountability, abundance, consent, truth telling, centering the most marginalized, a solidarity economy, a culture of care, and a culture of repair.
Increase awareness among wealthy white people – and especially rich white men – of cooperatives, collaborative solidarity (as an alternative to charity), the range of social justice work that is happening, and the range of reparative actions they can take such as funding individuals, social movements, and alternative institution building.
Representation of a diversity of marginalized perspectives, to broaden wisdom and accountability and to minimize erasure of particular marginalized perspectives.
Honor the wisdom and organizing that made this political moment and particular project possible, including those who have influenced the author directly.
Minimize extraction and harm by visibilizing the labor – including past labor that has become contemporary wisdom – that made this book possible, compensate people for their labor, requesting a modest time commitment from partners, and not requiring that partners participate in any group interactions that could foster competitive dynamics.
Acknowledge those who have directly influenced me.
What criteria did we use to select royalties cooperative partners?
Representation of a diversity of marginalized perspectives.
Representation of a diversity of approaches to liberatory work.
Diversity of organizational capacity, to lift up grassroots efforts while also ensuring that partners can absorb large numbers of people, including some who are early on in their liberation journeys.
Preexisting relationships where there is a foundation of trust.
People and organizations that have contributed their wisdom and/or labor to the book.
How were decisions made about who would be invited into the royalties cooperative?
Organizations were selected via a consent-based process between author Garrett Neiman and allen kwabena frimpong. allen is a cultural strategist, artist, and cooperative entrepreneur who organizes through social movements for a solidarity economy.