Quote:
Originally posted by The Cushite
When more of the underclass becomes critical of the percieved status quo of poverty and questions the very nature of the widening gap between the haves and the have nots, then we will see people having hope that things can and must get better. But, if our message is simply "how to become better capitalists", then I believe the very nature of capitalist enterprise and competition represents more splintering of our community, and in turn ensures the continued oppression of the underclass and other oppressed peoples in this country.
Blackwatch!!!!!!
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In a capitalist society, what would you propose we do? Be critical and not participate (do the things neccessary to participate like voting)? Or to participate and eventually become leaders who can, with the resources available, do something about it?
America's economic (socioeconomic) fiber is based upon capitalism---it is entrenched with our identity; gain and how to keep gain. The Cushite, your socialist values aren't that different from what was said in the 60's and 70's, especially with the Black Nationalist Movement. However, we DON'T live in a socialist society; we can be critical of the system and sympathetic towards those most affected by the have-mores (Wilson's underclass--read "When Work Dissapears"; another good one is "Inside/Outside Game"), but in reality, what will that do? Criticism and then what? In 2005, America, as an entity, is not going to go for that. Blacks, as a whole, might not even go for that.
We DO need to become better capitalists in a capitalist society. We are not going to change in the next 5, 10, 15 or even 40 years and become more socialized (unless, of course, the executive, legislative AND maybe even judicial parties are all-the-way-left-leaning Democrats, which I doubt, in the next few years). I'm talking about the
NOW! How else will people succeed (in America)? the message you spoke of should be: We can succeed by implementing the neccessary steps towards ensuring growth and a positive realization of the ideals that America was based upon. That means getting an education, foremost, which means grasping the skills that White and many other Americans have one leg up on us. Not neccessarily college, but even certain crucial work skills that will enable us to not be the majority working entry/low level jobs. That's what separates us the MOST. We, overall, don't have the tools to be competitors. Every racial/ethnic group has it's minority of underclass yet our (Black) lower/underclass is the majority of our population.
So, then, since we don't live in Russia, let's EDUCATE our people on the widening gap and to be critical of the capitalist enterprise and competition--how it affects them and why; give US a voice of dissent that can go in and say "Yes, we expect more from you [government]. Enough of us are informed and motivated to see that change happens".
Yes, there will ALWAYS be someone on the bottom; that is the way this system works--if it doesn't work for you [general you, The Cushite
], LEAVE! If you don't want to leave/can't leave, make the best of what IS here.
And/Or. Make. Change.
In the meanwhile, it doesn't have to mean that the system MOSTLY affects us because we (are beginning to) let it. Yes, there are poor Whites (a lot of whom are worse off than those in the cities (re:Oprah's investigation into poverty in the US)), but us Blacks are a phenomenom of poverty (race, class and political) who, for many justified reasons, haven't done anything about it. We let the legacies of our ancestors go to t-shirts, cool slogans, and Black History Month celebrations (out of 12 months, many of us only celebrate being us ONLY ONE month)but we forgot our IDENTITY (which is key) and the struggle behind what we have/can have today.
There was THE Civil Rights Movement; we got OUR PEOPLE UNIFIED and a lot of great, instrumental things happened, but now we've taken two steps back, and then we started to wait again. And we're waiting, still, for something to happen. No more waiting, please.
enigma_AKA