Patrisse Cullors, co- founder of Black Lives Matter, claims that owning four homes is not defying her Marxist principles because the homes are being used to support her family.

During an interview with Marc Lamont Hill, Cullors defended herself stating that she had never taken a salary from BLM and that all the money that was used to purchase the homes came from income she earned from a deal (capitalism) with YouTube and other speaking engagements (capitalism). Cullors also claimed that by using the money to purchase the homes to help her family, she was also putting money back into the community.

“That is a critique that is wanting. The way that I live my life is in direct support to black people, including my black family members, first and foremost. And for so many black folks who are able to invest in themselves and their community, they choose to invest in their family and that’s what I have chosen to do.” – Patrisse Cullors

While Cullors may not be taking a salary directly from BLM, Hill argued that a majority of the deals she gets are connected in name recognition in her connection with the BLM organization.

Cullors argued that the role of BLM is to help gain power for those who are marginalized and BLM began with her own family’s struggles with policing. She ignored criticism of where BLM funding was going and argued that there is a difference between a power building organization and a charity.