This is the 3rd post in a series preceeded by
Time for a New Solution and
Promoting Democracy or Obstructing it, and followed by
Poverty, Racism, and Economic Growth.
Katrina opened our eyes to something we didn’t want to admit: poverty and racism still exist in America; the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the history of man; the land of the free; “bring me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses...” How could poverty and racism still exist - of all places - here?
Racism in America has a long history. Its roots go back to the days of colonialism: European nations claiming sovereignty over foreign lands and foreign people to facilitate economic domination over their resources, labor, and markets. They justified this by their own believed superiority to their victims. Most people can only treat others with such unjust and cruel acts if they fool themselves into believing the others are somehow less human, less deserving than they are themselves. In the days of Colonialism, the justification was that these “savages” were heathens, and it was God’s will to bring the word of Christ to them - no matter what the cost. If the Europeans happened to amass great amounts of wealth in the process, so be it.
America’s white history is no different. Our forefathers were European, and started off with all the colonial-based wealth that implies. Furthermore, our country's founders added to that wealth by owning slaves, again justified by the belief that the slaves were inferior “savages”. Much of our county’s initial wealth was built on racist behavior.
OK, but that was over 100 years ago. What does it have to do with poverty and racism today? Very much. It takes money to make money. If you come from a family with money, your chances of success are much greater than if you come from a poor one. Your family already has money to invest in you, your future, and your dreams. Your chances of growing-up in a safe neighborhood, of going to better schools, of getting business and home loans, and of getting a good job are all higher. It only makes sense. Money pays for better neighborhoods and schools. If you come from a family with money, a bank is much more likely to give you a loan - your family has the collateral to back it up, your family has a history of success, and odds are you already have a good education. Getting a good job is much more likely if you come from a family with money, because your family and friends come with connections that you wouldn’t have otherwise. And again, the fact that you probably have a better education is to your benefit. All of these are advantages people with wealth have over those without. They are NOT advantages that are earned; they’re advantages that already exist at birth.
The initial wealth that came with slavery and other exploitive actions provided a legacy of advantages for white people that blacks (and other minorities) simply do not share. When America abolished slavery, the slaves were freed, but they weren’t given anything to build upon. They had no homes, no education, and no wealth. Over the last century, that has slowly changed, but the disadvantages still exist by the very nature of our economic system: it takes money to make money. According to a recent report, the average white family has 11 times more worth than the average black one. Racism and poverty continue.
Racism continues not only in our unjust economic-political system, but also in our culture. Many people assume others are poor, because they’re lazy or stupid. We assume they’re there due to their own failings, their own weaknesses; that they are inferior and less deserving. Sound familiar? And if they are poor due to their own weaknesses, we have no responsibility to help them - how convenient for us.
In reality, people are poor for a variety of reasons: disparities in wealth based on a history of racism; disparities in wealth based on current racist policies; low self-esteem from growing-up in a society that has taught them that they aren’t worth anything; living in an unstable environment; and, yes, an over-dependence on government hand-outs.
So what can we do about it?
The first thing we need to do is recognize that people are not poor because they are inferior and less deserving. Their poverty takes place in a broader context of a society with a long history of racism, not only against minorities, but against poor people in general. The first step toward solving poverty is coming from a place of understanding and compassion. Until that step is taken, any changes to the current socio-economic-political system will reflect our racist tendencies.
This is the 3rd post in a series focused on problems revealed by Katrina and real solutions to those problems. The next post will discuss further steps we can take toward reducing racism and poverty.
Tags: poverty, racism, Katrina, politics
