(From my Original Post in November 2007 - this is the edited version. Be Warned: VERY Disturbing & This edited version STILL has some sting to it.)
Tuesday, November 13th 2007: It is reported in the news (CNN told it very, very well) despite the strengthening Economy in America, the Income gap between White Families and Black Families grew. The study showed, when the Income for the Black Man is adjusted for Inflation for the last 30 years, his Income went down. When the same is done for the White male, his Income went up! Despite those findings, a SMALL Percentage of the Black Population in America is doing well financially.
Let me be clear on two things:
1) I know many of my Non Black friends find this just as disturbing and are working hard to make a difference. All of us are.
2) Spending money on programs to dealing with Racial Discrimination is only part of the answer...to nip this issue in the bud. Common sense is Free.
Winter 2006/2007: CNN Reported a story on Wall Street: "End Of The Year Bonuses". I watch the video clip VERY closely...ALL of those interviewed for the story is White and mostly male. The males - if they would talk about it on camera - got end of the year bonuses from $50,000 to $100,000,000! AND, many of these "men" contacted financial advisors on what to do with the bonus money (are you kidding me?). One "Financial Advisor" interviewed for the story: White Female. She says she got many calls from men with questions about what to do with that Bonus.
Personally, I REALLY think those guys calling her were just trying to impress the lady...get her (or anyone else on the other end of that phone) to be "matchmaker".
An older looking white male was seen speeding, yes SPEEDING...away in a Ferrari on a VERY wide city street. I presume it is "Wall Street".
It is images like this that tell the rest of the world what America IS like. And why many Non Blacks are surprised I live in a house. Especially Immigrants.
What would I do if I got an End Of The Year Bonus? I will not call a Financial Advisor, that's for sure. I will already know what to spend it on. Yeah, something Model Train related. Why would I want to go out and get myself or others drunk or something??
See? I'm so "different" to some, it's scary. I may just set aside the bonus for 'Retirement'...(since my Income is LOW, anyway).
In conversation with a non Black, I have said: "I live in a house...I own it."
A small few respect that. Too many others will look at me and respond, "YOU live in a house?" And in their minds are the words "Why are you living in a house? Why not an Apartment or some Housing Project"? "What neighborhood is that you live in?"
Even a Haitian Woman (earning more income than I) stopped talking to me all together - I presume - when she saw a photo of my house.
And the most popular question: "How can YOU afford it?" My answer: "I work two jobs."
Then I may be asked (with a puzzled look from them), "Why are you working 2 jobs?" My answer - IF I were pushed enough: "Because many Blacks, myself included - Male AND Female - have to work two jobs to earn the same money the White Man makes."
Silence from some. Sympathy from others.
Other questions they (may) ask: "Can you ask for a raise? Why don't you (just quit) get another job somewhere else?"
My answer: "I have asked. The response from the employer: We are trying to save money."
I DON'T believe their response. We all KNOW CEO's get Big Raises/Bonuses totaling Millions annually.
Go to school? Get NEW job training/skills? That is just as promising as having a Driver License - no guarantee of owning a car. Besides, how many jobs requiring a College Education remain in America upon graduation? Or pay a decent income? Not all Americans are paid equally...as you already know.
I did expect the same higher wage start, with my years of experience in a trade/profession. Right! Reality Check: No dice. Employers are not that desperate/generous. Go figure.
Those words in the personals profile: '....Woman seeking a White Male, Financially Secure, Educated with a stable Job" seem louder than ever. Not to mention annoying. Welcome to the 21st Century.
Then come the words (well versed too, as I have heard them time and again) many Whites and NON-Whites (especially Asian) would Ask/Expect me to do: "Why don't you sell your House? You can move into an apartment. And when you save your money...you get a house you can afford?"
FEW Blacks would ever say that. They know 'the struggle' anyway.
'Saving for a house I can afford' as I was asked. I posed a question to one who IS in the High Income Bracket: 'How long will that take?' 'What if that day NEVER comes? And you KNOW it will never come?' 'Do you know someone who would love to buy my house, now? One of your "Family Members" perhaps?'
She was silent.
Response from another: 'you should be positive"..."think positive.'
If I got a dollar every time I was told the above quotes, I would never have to worry about being in the LOW Income Bracket.
Care to guess how often and how long I have been told those words? Care to guess how long I have been trying to be 'positive'? I still am...but the more I keep at it the more it hurts. I would look as if I am high on drugs or something. I NEVER touched that crap in my life.
Still think I "...must be doing something wrong"? I have been accused of it many times. Go figure.
True. This should not be just a 'Black & White' issue.
Looking a little further. It has been reported:
A) Asians are expected to surpass Whites in Annual Income...if it has not happened already.
B) In addition to 'A'...Asian Women in general see White Men as 'Status Symbols' if she does not want an Asian Man for marriage/lifetime partner.
C) Many Immigrants from South America, entering "Corporate, America" are still paid 'LOW Wages'...that ordinary Americans would NEVER work for (think 'the jobs American's won't do' - as quoted by, among others, President George W Bush). And...
D) "Light skinned Immigrants are MORE likely to get paid higher than Dark Skinned Immigrants".
An Asian Friend has told me in an Email, her Asian Girlfriends are all dating/married to White men. She can attest to the Racism here in America.
To ad more of a 'sting' to "B" (above)
Part of the reason Asian Women 'prefer' White Men is due to the pressure 'their families will disown them'. I have witnessed it myself. VERY Painful!
Also, on "another Website", a Chinese Woman living in China saw the picture of me in front of my house. She left a comment on the photo not believing I live in the house. She wanted to see the house I really live in. I guessed her English was not very good. So, I sent her a message in Chinese and English to assure her it is my house. To this day, she never responded.
Though there are sightings of Asian Women in relationships with Black Men, some possible reasons (from personal Experience/Observation):
A) She got curious of Black Men
B) Her family 'relented' after getting to know him more
C) She ignored her family demands
D) An event brought them together
E) They have the same common interests
To be fair, there are relationships between Asian Men and Black Women that are growing. Yet, the numbers are quite small.
Discrimination is what goes on as the American Government continues to look the other way. I'm not forgetting about Condoleezza Rice. She's the token Black Girl.
Barack Obama gains popularity...but many Americans still don't want to vote for him. Many don't believe the many racial problems will go away, either. Still, there are supporters that WANT him to win so America does not look racist to the rest of the world.
I'm NOT ashamed to say "I NEVER voted for (Governor) Duval Patrick". He still did not say why I should vote for him. I was not convinced of his plans to make Massachusetts livable, again. We still have the name "Taxachusetts".
July 30th, 2008 - There has been talk about an apology for the sins of Slavery. The Treatment of the Native American Indians...the list goes on! After the apology...is money next? I for one DON'T want it!
Slavery, Discrimination and Racism...ALL of that crap cast a nasty image over this country.
Clearly, the racial problems in America still raised more questions than answers.
Can we forgive each other? How quickly and easily can we move forward from there?
