An Anti-Capitalist Holiday Gift Guide
Friendsgiving and some gift ideas for those sick of over-consumption.
It’s Thanksgiving here in America, which means the capitalism is about to start capitalizing in full force.
I’m spending this holiday in Lansing, Michigan, with some of my all-time favorite people, two of whom live here. We’re going to make a delicious vegetarian Friendsgiving dinner (the star will be a root vegetable puff pastry mound, hopefully in the shape of a turkey), tour this rust belt city’s most beautiful dive bars, and maybe get matching smokestack tattoos.
I asked my friends to help me put together a list of anti-capitalist holiday gift ideas for everyone out there who’s sick of over-consumption— things to make or stuff to spend your money on that aligns with your values and supports small businesses over huge corporations. Enjoy!
Things to buy
Certain Days calendar
The Certain Days Calendar is a collaboration between organizers and current and former political prisoners, and features 11 essays and 12 pieces of artwork. All the proceeds support political prisoners and grassroots organizations working to end mass incarceration.
Anti-Work Hoodie
Lux Magazine’s Anti-Work hoodie also has an excerpt from Lux magazine’s “Move Slow and Break Things” essay on the arm.
MESA fundraiser shirts
Support the Middle East Studies Association with one of these Defend Academic Freedom shirts.
La Mano sweatshirt
This sweatshirt from the Texas AFT Union.
Things to make
Limoncello from foraged lemons
I made limoncello for the first time like seven years ago and every year since then I say I’m going to make a bunch of liquor infusions and give them as gifts and then every year I forget to start infusing until it’s too late. Don’t be like me.
In this excellent recipe, you suspend whole lemons in cheesecloth over the vodka so it comes out lighter and smoother than soaking the peels in it.
For the ultimate anti-capitalist limoncello, use the falling fruit map to gather lemons from your neighborhood and steal the vodka.
Macramé anything
I taught myself how to macramé and made this wall hanging using only one kind of knot. I bet you could do it too.
The perfect mixtape
Years ago, a bunch of us went to Austin and a friend who lived there gave us all the same mixtape he’d made. This tape was so good we still talk about it. Make a tape like that.
Matching stick-and-poke tattoos
Give each other the gift that will last a lifetime.
Any other ideas? Let me know in the comments!
Until next time,
Tara