*Updated for title change, compliments of Opulent.
* * * Canary in a coal mine
Who is truly the face of WELFARE in America, and is there still a middle class?
In the last week we’ve seen articles and polls, and pundits commentary outlining the racial disparity among Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics. You know those pesky people of color. /snark
EXHIBIT A
EXHIBIT B
White Families Have 20 Times the Wealth of Black Families: How Racism’s Legacy Created a Crushing Depression In Black America
The economic crisis has hit most families hard–but since many black families had less wealth to start with, its impact on them has been nothing short of disastrous. Source
EXHIBIT C
Melissa Harris-Perry: Wealth gap reflects racism’s legacy
From the Grio with video here
According to Melissa Harris-Perry, there is a wealth gap because choices made by the government. Historically, black people could not own property because they were property. In post-World War II, policies that successfully created a middle class also shut out black people.
Now there’s no doubt in my or many Peoples of color minds that the above stats and polls aren’t true. It’s just that now with the so-called debt ceiling crisis and the pending 2012 elections, there’s some questions being raised about the timing and motivation driving this issue.
From 3 Chics commenter Opulent:
You know I really have mixed feelings about how this date is being used. Despite all the validity and truth of the stats it is racially polarizing.
Racial polarizing that once again puts a black face on welfare and government ‘handouts’ that is what I detest about this data.
The right is going to use this to drive white folks to the polls to vote against government programs for the poor as they will have successfully painted a picture of the majority of the poor, once again, being black.
Secondly, it will also be used by ‘progressives’ to show that POTUS does not care about blacks and that since he went into the office, blacks are worse off economically. This of course is intended to drive away the powerful base of black voters.
What I would like to see instead of this racial disparity economics is the economics of the nation as a whole, which is the truth they are NOT broadcasting as it does not suit the corporate masters to do so.
What needs to be shown is that eighty percent of Americans are fighting for 15 percent of the wealth in this nation, as 20 percent at the top control 85 percent of this nations wealth. They need to show income disparity like that. White folks need to see they are not gaining but losing as a middle class and that wealth has indeed been concentrated in the hands of the few…and this has NOTHING to DO with RACE and everything to do with the haves vs the havenots…rich vs poor, corporate vs citizens.
That is the great hoax…if I never ever see income disparity BASED on RACE again it will all be too soon.
Someone needs to call this in to Rev Al…he needs to juxtapose this and keep hammering home *the point that it is not just blacks who have lost ground economically but the entire White middle class has as well.
(Ameita’s comments: Case in point WISCONSIN) One need only look at all that has transpired in this state since the election of GOP Governor Scott Walker. And the media’s shameful coverage of the sea of thousands of WHITE FACES demonstrating and protesting to maintain their jobs, their way of life.
AREN’T THEY CONSIDERED MIDDLE CLASS?
Tens of thousands…
That is where the political gold is in terms of votes!!
I am with you, Opulent. We must remember the MAINSTREAM MEDIA creates and drives the narrative. It’s a very slippery slope, because in NO way would I want to diminish the struggles and outright racism that exist here. Black folks have every right to make the charge and seek equal opportunities to flourish economically, and should definitely not remain silent. We need to call this what it is, though.
98% Americans are struggling to get and keep jobs, some are losing houses through foreclosures, bankruptcy, losing credit, unable to send their kids to college, living pay check to pay check and are unable to save. The last time I checked, America is made up of BLACKS, WHITES, HISPANICS, ASIANS, INDIANS, et.al. Aren’t they being hit by the economy?
And yet the richest 2% Americans DO NOT WANT TO PAY TAXES.
What say you, folks? Is the sudden onslaught of concern for black economic disparity legitimate or calculated effort of the media to scare whites(“The darkies are trying to take our money, money they haven’t earned!”) and anger blacks and drive them to the polls to vote against President Obama?
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We have a long way to go. This issue is a bigger and deeper problem, than government can solve. We have to take our destiny in our own hands and begin to solve this problem, from the bottom up at a grassroots level.
Excellent, Chicas! This is wonderful. I’ve been saying that the goal of the “haves” is to have all of us scrabbling against each other for whatever scraps they want to throw. This is about division. Tell poor whites that all AA’s are scamming welfare, tell them all Latinos are “illegal” having “anchor babies” by the dozens to suck away their tax money and take their jobs. Even tell AA’s and Latinos that all poor whites hate them. Keep everyone scared, suspicious of each other’s motives and divided. This is how the “haves” keep what they have and rob us of even more.
This is the time to unite for the sake of all who are struggling to survive. I already sent Rev Al an email about this because I didn’t like how he covered the issue last night.
I ♥ you all here.
This is about division. Tell poor whites that all AA’s are scamming welfare, tell them all Latinos are “illegal” having “anchor babies” by the dozens to suck away their tax money and take their jobs.
Amen! A few days ago, I had to give a right winger a tongue lashing on his fuckery about “illegals” messing up “our” country and carrying diseases, robbing “our” income. Let them tell it, they OWN this country. Hell to the No they don’t! GTFOOH with that brain washed hate bs embedded in their heads to cause racial strife. They need to open their own eyes and use their own brain and see the rich are using the hell out of them to vote against their own damn interest. Time to wake up, folks!
Take us on home, AQUAGRANNY!
Normalized to 1979, the top 1% have seen their share of America’s income more than double. The bottom 90% have seen their portion shrink.
USE the FACTS!!
Tell the NATION..it ain’t about RACE!!
Don’t allow MelissaHL and RevAl to be pigeon holed about RACE!
BLAST the TRUTH!!
Black folks have always LED the change in America!
Get busy!!
Send these charts to AL and MelissHL!! shift the racial focus to the NATION
http://www.businessinsider.com/15-charts-about-wealth-and-inequality-in-america-2010-4?op=1
Tell the facts like NWA!!
The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Cliché, sure, but it’s also more true than at any time since the Gilded Age.
The poor are getting poorer, wages are falling behind inflation, and social mobility is at an all-time low.
If you’re in that top 1%, life is grand.
http://www.businessinsider.com/15-charts-about-wealth-and-inequality-in-america-2010-4?op=1
wow metia! thanks..humbled
This is an issue our people need to put to music!
Will.I.Am and Common need to team up and bring economic reality to the masses!
The refrain should be WHO GOT the MONEY! Where is the MONEY? Ain’t black ain’t white it is THEIRS..we fightin for scapes..being pitted against each other by color while the rich get richer.
They can sample this
so let it be written, so let it be done!
Twitter Al and tell him to use these charts!!
Someone needs to create a hashtag…WHO got the MONEY
http://www.businessinsider.com/15-charts-about-wealth-and-inequality-in-america-2010-4?op=1
O and meita..IMHO the title needs to be changed to Income DISPARITY aint a black thang IT’s a NATIONAL thing…we just the canaries in the coal mine
LMAO I love the title, Oh and Opulent, this is the last change in the title. THANKS!
Aww, you so sweet Ametia..I was just brainstorming outloud..but thought that got the gist more..thanks for taking up the suggestion.
ALL is good…no more title changes here!! lol
We appreciate VALUABLE feedback, suggestion, and critique. We’re players on the same team here. So Thank you, Opulent!
LOVE that hot link!! hahaha
Don’t let money change YOU!!
They using their money to distract and racially polarize.
Know the truth..spread the facts!!
It AIN’t a BLACK THANG
it’s an
AMERICAN thang!!