Posted on 11/13/2007 6:28:17 AM PST by shrinkermd
Nearly half of African Americans born to middle-income parents in the late 1960s plunged into poverty or near-poverty as adults, according to a new study -- a perplexing finding that analysts say highlights the fragile nature of middle-class life for many African Americans.
Overall, family incomes have risen for both blacks and whites over the past three decades. But in a society where the privileges of class and income most often perpetuate themselves from generation to generation, black Americans have had more difficulty than whites in transmitting those benefits to their children.
Forty-five percent of black children whose parents were solidly middle class in 1968 -- a stratum with a median income of $55,600 in inflation-adjusted dollars -- grew up to be among the lowest fifth of the nation's earners, with a median family income of $23,100. Only 16 percent of whites experienced similar downward mobility. At the same time, 48 percent of black children whose parents were in an economic bracket with a median family income of $41,700 sank into the lowest income group.
This troubling picture of black economic evolution is contained in a package of three reports being released today by the Pew Charitable Trusts that test the vitality of the American dream. Using a nationally representative data source that for nearly four decades has tracked people who were children in 1968, researchers attempted to answer two questions: Do Americans generally advance beyond their parents in terms of income? How much is that affected by race and gender?
"We are attempting to broaden the current debate" beyond the growing gap between higher- and lower-income Americans, said John Morton, Pew's managing director for program planning and economic policy. "There is little out there on the question of mobility across generations, and we wanted to examine that."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
It is true that as the American culture has coarsened and degraded, the African-American subculture has done so at an even more accelerated rate.
Anecdotally, when in the temporary labor business I saw many poor hard working black men treated like crap by their women, who then treated their delinquent sons like little Princes of Nubia. It was heartbreaking, to say the least, but scientifically worthless.
Ah yes, the Sharpton/NAACP/Jesse Jackson crowd. That’s a big problem - the so-called “leadership” within the black communty. IMHO, these shysters don’t give a rat’s a$$ about “their people”, but are total blood sucking opportunists, just in it for themselves, period.
Education is a big problem within inner cities, so what does the black leadership do? They condemn and lobby against school vouchers that would actually level the playing field a bit. BTW, Julian Bond of the NAACP who was and is vehemently against school vouchers went to elite private schools his entire life.
Mincy and others speculated that the increase in the number of single-parent black households, continued educational gaps between blacks and whites and even racial isolation that remains common for many middle-income African Americans could be factors.
What they don't say, of course, is that "single-parent households" often leads to "educational gaps." And since blacks have a far, far higher rate of the former, you have to expect the latter.
And then there's that "racial isolation." It's real enough, and the "why" of it is (astoundingly) mentioned in the article:
These kids were middle class, but apparently their parents did not have the cultural capital and connections to pass along to them."
Culture. That's the key. And a culture in which "single-parent families" (which is really code for "kids raised by the mom") are the norm, the kids miss out on that crucial investment of time and love from a father.
Both boys and girls learn that men don't have to be responsible for anything. Which means ... ever more "single-parent families," ever decreasing educational results, and ever widening income gaps.
I saw the same thing...reason: the guy was running around at night with other chicks and spending his money on them. Had kids with three other women.
What is up with that?
Women and children hit hardest.
That's an understatement. The teachers spend more time with disruptive students than teaching. Why does this go on? I suspect the Dems really just don't give a crap.
All I knew about these guys was their attendance was good and their work attitude tops. If you’re running around that doesn’t happen.
Bet me...saw it a hundred times over working in numerous settings in the inner city. Really talk to the black women and listen....you will get an earful. Most the ones I know have the same dreams as the rest of us. Stable family and a descent living. Try doing that on one income or if you have a guy that doesn’t spend his money on the family.
I believe Thomas Sowell has something to say about this. Think the GREAT SOCIETY.
the blacks in Mississippi are mostly social conservatives which really means their grandma sings in a church for 4 hours on Sunday....but they still vote Dem.....as do 90% of blacks
i don’t think class makes the difference folks thought it would in the 70s
same for whites....Jersey and CT are rich states...see how their peckerwoods vote
upper west side Manhattan....not too poor but very lefty
They wouldn't do it if they knew they were being lied to 24/7 by the commie democrat media.
This country desperately needs to revamp its NEA-dominated education system and produce smart kids, who get into engineering. Recent projections show that in 15 years something like 90% of the worlds engineers will reside in China and India. The implications of all that design talent not residing in the US is a nightmare for those of us who want to retire comfortably.
The post WWII GI bill and the number of citizen soldiers who studied and became engineers and their children who became engineers really helped create the products and technology that helped this county develop its high economic level.
“Frankly, since white folks are not permitted to discuss such issues without being labeled a racist or bigot, I have ceased to be concerned whey it is tht the dream is not being realized.”
Lady you just nailed it. No one here could have said it any better than you did. Until you can have an honest discussion about the subject you’ll never have a solution.
I like what another Freeper wrote in here yesterday, “Isn’t affirmative action racial profiling?”
And by the way, how are those folks doing in South Africa now that the evil whites have been politely removed?
And many times there is a good REASON why no father is in the home.
Sometimes the father is very abusive and involved in activities that put the family in danger.
And often when the man TRIES to be a good father,the wife or mother does everyting she can possibly do to subvert his efforts and won’t let him be the man of the house.
Those so called”rich”black kids you see?
Half of their parents are two paychecks from the welfare line.
Bill Clinton Jabs With Racially-Loaded Barb (Democrats have always been the racist party)
Newsmax ^ | Tuesday, November 13, 2007 | Lowell Ponte
Posted on 11/13/2007 10:46:59 AM EST by IrishMike
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1925073/posts?page=8#8
*snip* “The Democratic Party, from its birth down to today, has always used divide-and-conquer politics, racial polarization, hatred, and fear to gain power.” *snip*
This article is 100% bunko/bs.
NOT advocating illegitimate kids and sexual abandon but who in his right mind would want to get married in today’s world?
Have you seen the type of women out there today?
There is a lot of things I can critisize about black men.
But being wary of marriage is NOT one of them.
Then again,did not Cosby father his OWN illegitimate child while still married?
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