(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?
So Wall Street, "America's Financial District", broke 13,000 points for the very first time. "13,090" points on April 25th, 2007.
Now what? Do we see the Homeless Population dropping soon? No. Did we see it drop when the Stock Market broke 10,000? Nope. The Homeless Population still grew record break after record break after record break.
The Jobless rate grew too...those that graduated from school and still looking for work later. Lower paid workers grew in number.
That's the proof the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
How many people can buy a REAL House AT minimum wage in this country? None. But, that depends on the many BIG Winning Lottery Ticket winners. And how many winners, at THAT income, got lucky? They are not even a blip on the screen as of this date.
Have you noticed Bank/ATM Robberies are NOT a blip on the screen any more?
There are many with low incomes that do play the lottery (myself included). Many play often. Hmmmmm. Ever wonder why so many play?
I say "Real House", because I don't want to give those "richly paid Moonbats and other whack jobs" - Educated or Dropout - out here that chance to say: "Sure. You can buy a house at Minimum Wage: A Doll House. Ha. Ha. Ha. (think mean laugh)"
For the apartment seekers: A Security Deposit? Can you make that AT minimum wage? A few thousand can. "Maybe."
Are more jobs being created in America? Yes. Do they pay "living wage income"? NO!
13,000+ points.
Why does 'the Media' play this up as a good thing? What's in it for them? A BIG Paycheck. For the rest of us: The crumbs.
Are American jobs still leaving America for lower wage countries? Yes.
Why? So "America's Financial District" - Wall Street - can break more record closings for the current generation. Themselves.
Meanwhile, are small start-ups going to make millions in their first year? Will they even be able to afford Medical Coverage for ALL of its employees as they start their first day on the job? No and no.
Don't even count on "paid vacations" for all.
'America is so unequal' to its people, a friend from Overseas told me.
He's right. Illegal Immigrants will benefit faster from a13,000+ points record on Wall Street, than us Americans born at OR below poverty level.
That's some insult coming from a 6th Generation American. Me!
Have you ever seen a raise that you can REALLY appreciate? How many of you got an "End Of The Year Bonus"? Have you "ever" gotten one of those?
Are you still trying to 'make ends meet'? Are you among those facing the "F-word" from the Bank? "Foreclosure."
Wall Street knows of THAT "F-word". They don't care because of their "End Of The Year Bonus".
Will "Social Security" get fixed? Are gas prices going down to record lows? What about heating Oil?
13,000+ Points. Tax dollars are still being wasted. The Rich still DON'T have much to worry about for paying taxes and Social Security.
Who has health coverage better than you? Other than our politicians: Mayors, Governors on up to the President...the Rich People do better for such coverage.
Don't forget actors and actresses. They can pay for that "Detox" stuff...no matter how long the stay. And no matter how often they go back.
Ever notice "No One" on Wall Street is concerned about those "Outrageously expensive Medical Bills and the cost of prescriptions", "Foreclosure", high auto insurance, the troubles in saving for 'retirement', high gas prices, the expense of what it REALLY costs to make a 'Hybrid' car?
We are OVERDUE to be Energy Independent.
When was the last time America has had a perfect Rail system like Japan? WE helped them rebuild. Our "Rail System" is so unreliable, I wonder how those in upper Management and those "Shareholders" can sleep at night, and still get BIG bucks?
13,000+ Points. Don't even get me started on the "aftermath" of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.
