A $95,000 question: why are whites five times richer than blacks in the US?

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 5/17/10 | Chris McGreal

[reaganrevolutionin2010]

A huge wealth gap has opened up between black and white people in the US over the past quarter of a century – a difference sufficient to put two children through university – because of racial discrimination and economic policies that favour the affluent.

A typical white family is now five times richer than its African-American counterpart of the same class, according to a report released today by Brandeis University in Massachusetts.

White families typically have assets worth $100,000 (£69,000), up from $22,000 in the mid-1980s. African-American families' assets stand at just $5,000, up from around $2,000.

A quarter of black families have no assets at all. The study monitored more than 2,000 families since 1984.

[reaganrevolutionin2010]

Not to worry, black America - there's always Hope And Change...

[MNJohnnie]

Because the average white kid is not told from birth that they are going to be discriminated against and held back no matter what they do by their so called “leaders”.

[edcoil]

This is from England where the different in wealth in classes is ten times more then the USA.

[SmokingJoe]

The Guardian should be asking itself : Why are whites five times richer than blacks in the UK?

[Travis McGee]

This is proof we need an Economic Democracy Amendment to the Constitution!

The govt should take from the rich and give to the poor, until we’re all equal.

/sarc

[RFEngineer]

I don’t care about that.

I have more important concerns. I want to know who is going to solve the disparity in spinner rims on automobiles between blacks and whites.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

The article doesn’t even mention the high incidence of single-parent families in the AA community as one of the possible factors.

[Chickensoup]

Thomas Sowell discussed this in one of his economics books.

[PGR88]

One could not have devised a more effective plan to destroy the African American race than the Great Society and Welfare has done.

[MNJohnnie]

Of course they did not bother to adjust for the fact the White Population is 8 to 9 times bigger in the USA then the black population,

[Amberdawn]

DON’T believe anything you read in the Guardian.

[GeronL]

because of racial discrimination

Oh yes, we are more racist than the days of Democrat Jim Crow and Democrat Segregation. uh huh

[ReneeLynn]

Why doesn’t the Guardian(UK) mind it’s own country’s multiple problems, like being taken over by Islam?

[reaganrevolutionin2010]

IMO, I think fathers matter.

And then there's that 50% high school dropout rate that Bill Cosby has famously talked about.

[sodpoodle]

This is the result of *the war on poverty* - sadly, black families were seduced by false promises and sabotaged with welfare bribes.

The tragedy of fatherless families should be a clue.

[Paladin2]

This study is clearly flawed as not being normalized by “family” size and age distributions. Besides, what about the celebration of diversity? Who even wants to be like Whitey?

[struggle]

Self-victimization doesn’t make you rich.

It just makes you angry at everyone else that you’re not.

Add to that the two career choices as enumerated by pop culture for blacks: rapper or athlete.

[allmost]

West Virginia, demographically, seems to contradict the insinuations in this headline.

[EyeGuy]

Work, Sacrifice, Family unit, Respect for the law.

[highimpact]

A huge wealth gap has opened up between black and white people in the US over the past quarter of a century – a difference sufficient to put two children through university – because of racial discrimination and economic policies that favour the affluent the prevailing attitude in inner-city schools that studying to achieve good grades, and ultimately professional success later in life, is "acting white."

Fixed it.

[reaganrevolutionin2010]

Yep. The author is a fraidy cat, who tap dances around the real reasons.

[Tigen]

Democrats !

[dfwgator]

A huge wealth ambition gap has opened up...

[Bringbackthedraft]

The answer is so simple, in the words of MLK “Learn baby learn, and you will earn baby earn.” I guess that advise was ignored by most.

[Kozak]

Because the average white child still has a dad in the home and mama ain’t married to a welfare check.

[I see my hands]

[agere_contra]

The Guardian asks the question, and then 'answers' it as follows.

Since the 1980s, US administrations have also geared the tax system to the advantage of the better off. Taxes on unearned income, such as shares and inheritance, fell sharply and are much lower than taxes on pay.

Yes that would explain why a particular section of society aren't earning/retaining any money (face-palm).

Dear Guardian, what percentage of poor blacks pay taxes of any kind? Conversely, what percentage of poor blacks are net recipients of tax money?

[tet68]

Where did they get these figures, the greater Soviet
Encyclopedia?

[Osage Orange]

Answer: The Democrats!!

[kabar]

Education.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Let me guess: Since welfare, affirmative action, food stamps, the stimulus, section 8 and all that didn’t work, it’s time for slavery reparations? Am I warm?

[BitWielder1]

The question as asked, automatically implies racism.
They are asking the wrong question.
It would be better to ask why there is a difference between poor and rich blacks.
They would get more helpful information that way, but of course that is not the issue.

[Bringbackthedraft]

PS, Where is the major problem? Watch Maury or Gerry Springer

[ntnychik]

Our children did not qualify for scholarships (based on our combined income), so we paid full freight for them both. We also educated someone else’s children, as the tuition is substantially higher if you do not qualify for aid. We also contribute to two scholarship funds for minority children.

I hope the recipients realize that “free money” comes from somewhere.

[PeterPrinciple]

Because we choose not to be enslaved by the government.

[MBB1984]

Interesting question. But, we know they really do not want to know the truth and their few, false answers are laughable.

They can’t handle the truth.

[griswold3]

The U.S.’s very own nomenklatura, our permanent political class and its parasitic allies, has been on a binge since the Great Society programs of the 1960s.
The whole idea is to keep them pacified enough not to revolt but not given enough resources to advance. Rather than citizens, they are consumers in need of protection.
It’s a vicious cycle.

[TXnMA]

Laziness.

Entitlement mentality.

Any further questions?

[Danae]

Because they keep voting for democrats who keep them poor and dependent.

[stuartcr]

Better paying jobs?

[RC2]

Go to South Central Los Angeles and you’ll get the answer. Welfare is rampant.

[EyeGuy]

“Because we choose not to be enslaved by the government.”

####

Bullseye. Emphasis on CHOOSE.

While their is SOME truth in blaming the Great Society disaster for the current sad state of affairs in the black family, it all starts with free choice, a decision consciously made.

[r9etb]

Because a white kid is 5 times more likely to live with both (married) parents.

[Charlespg]

bingo

[i_dont_chat]

It is a spiritual malady — and resentment is the cause.

I know it is a generalization, but my +60 years experience shows that most black children are taught to resent the Caucasian race. That’s racism, and it never gets better — it only gets worse.

[MNJohnnie]

2 parent families, actually graduate HS and go on to higher education, lower % per capita of teenage mothers etc etc etc etc

[camerongood210]

Oh yes, we are more racist than the days of Democrat Jim Crow and Democrat Segregation. uh huh

Someone called me a racist the other day over my stance on the new AZ law. I calmly replied, "I don't have to take that kind of an insult from someone who has sex with goats." That put an end to his name calling.

[goodnesswins]

WHY? Because Black neighborhoods VOTE DEMOCRAT 95+% of the time....in other words...they VOTE FOR THE PLANTATION OWNERS who wants to keep them enslaved!

[SuziQ]

Because sadly, the culture of Black Americans is one that minimizes the importance of education and self-reliance. If the people around you are continually telling you, through word, or action, that you don't need to constantly improve yourself through education, school or otherwise, and that you can do for yourself better, and more quickly, than government can do it, you will be stuck in a rut, resentful, for your entire life.

It would be interesting to see the statistics about white people broken down, to see the results of various economic levels within the larger group.

[GeronL]

lol!