Believe it or not, there are those who actually believe we have solved our racial problems in this country. You only have to look at the widening gap between Blacks and Whites in this country to know that is not true.
In 1974, the median income of the typical Black family was 63% of the median income of the typical White family. This was only a few years after the civil rights laws were passed, and to some extent that was to be expected. You would expect that 30 years later things would be better, but instead it is worse. The median income of the typical Black family is now only 58% of that of the typical White family.
As National Urban League president Marc Morial says, "Too many Americans, Whites and even some Blacks, think that the playing field has indeed leveled. It has not."
Figures show that the income for both Black and White families have increased, but don't celebrate that. It is only because more women have entered the workforce. The only way these families have increased their incomes, regardless of color, is because wives have joined their husbands in working.
Wages for White men have actually been stagnant for the last 30 years after adjusting for inflation. Black men have not fared so well. Their income has actually dropped by 12% when adjusted for inflation. Women have had to enter the workforce just so families can keep up with the rising costs of everything.
This is the legacy the Republicans have given to working class Americans. They have not only failed to forward the cause of racial justice, they have put families of all colors in a worse financial position. But even though both are suffering, Blacks have been hit even harder than Whites.
Republicans have turned our society over to the corporations and given them a free hand. The rich are doing better than ever, but most Americans are not. Recently, it has even started to affect the middle class.
Most Blacks understand this, and they usually vote as a block against the Republicans. It is Whites that I don't understand. The White working and middle classes have voted against their own economic interests for years now. Whites bought into the ridiculous "trickle down" theory, and as a result working Americans have been devastated. It is time they woke up and booted the corporate lackeys from office -- for the good of everyone.
The Democrats aren't perfect, but they do tend to believe in racial and economic justice.
If the income disparity between whites and blacks is entirely due to racism why does that not extend to other minority groups? The median income of Asian-Americans is higher than whites. Do Asian-Americans not experience racism?
ReplyDeleteNot nearly to the extent that African-Americans do.
ReplyDeleteI think it is the role of government to ensure there is an opportunity, NOT to ensure success. Screw the Republicans AND the Democrats - I don't need a handout from some cracker politician to be successful. I can stand on my OWN two feet.
ReplyDeleteHow about we try looking at something different - like education level. Typically, if you don't put much effort into getting one, you have to work your buns off until you figure it out. THEN, if you further sabotage yourself by having kids before you can support them it makes it that much harder to get the education you need to make more money.....
Do equal education and career opportunities exist?
ReplyDeleteThe education is there for the taking.
ReplyDelete