RSSStill Slaves…
The reality is true that Americans of Melanin (Black and Latino) have rarely been good employees. The truth of it is that we have always been marvelous indentured servants. Never have we truly broken through those barriers that keep us trapped like animals in a pen. The economic stopping power for people of color has never slowed pace only increased exponentially.
It is understandable that we all have different sized holes to dig out of, but holes nonetheless. The only way out is to do what people think you will not. No one expects a Black/African American man to get three jobs, learn patience and love his family. Only one third of that is expected, as a general stereotype for Jamaicans or Caribbean Islanders. Stuck in the muck, that is the stereotype where we are just gangsters and thugs bent on power and quick money, is where we will stay if nothing is learned.
Sharing the stats that were gathered and compiled by the US Census Bureau would be a good idea, but within their own data is a 3,000,000 person difference. Being that the government is wholly unorganized we can truly assume that there is closer to a 5,000,000 person difference and a large percentage of people that the bureau would rather not count. Reluctantly there are 35,000,000 “Black / African Americans” that have been accounted for in the United States. Of those 35 or so million at least 9 million are under the poverty level. (Note: 2008 HHS Poverty Level - $10,400 for one person and $3,600 for each additional person) These stats show us that 1 in 4 African Americans is living under the poverty line as set by the US Department of Health and Human Services. I don’t know any man or woman Black or not surviving comfortably off of $12,000 let alone $10,000. In actuality assuming that 1 in 3 Americans of color are homeless or under poverty is not as far removed as we would like to think.
This poverty stricken existence has gotten our people anxious for that next dollar – ready to spend it on the things we never had or imagined we would have. We are suckered in by thinking that a “thing” will supply us happiness, when we as a people have yet to experience such a thing. Under the definition of indentured servant we are still serving terms that we are blind to break. The bills we have accumulated and the dependence of the government for subsistence is our contract and the tiring struggle to find work or hustle for money is our servitude. The only way to break free is for Americans of color/Black and Latino is to bind together like the Jews, the Italians and the Arabic to build our own communities creating our own money.
It is noticeably obvious that we have lacked the patience to save, the selflessness to work for the greater good and the strength to stand on our own as individuals without the goading of our own private peanut galleries. Society’s view says that we are one thing but as a people we must stand as another and not succumb to being forced to be bell boys at hotels instead of managers. It is assumed we are impatient, neither want to manage or serve only collect. To break these economic barriers one or two of us can not walk to the other side, there must be a new class that defines where we stand and intend to go economically.
16 Comments, Comment or Ping
Q.
Preach..
[Reply]
TROUBLMan
My question to you is how do we develop a communal consciousness among blacks and Latinos?This is the number one barrier that keeps this from happening. racism has infected but communities, which has led to blacks resenting Latinos, accusing them of stealing all the jobs and latinos avoiding their association with blackness. And in all reality, I don’t see how we do this without involving white folks. I’m all for our financial independence, but realize that at this point there’s no escaping our dependence on white money (if there’s such a thing as “white” money).
[Reply]
"A Mom" reply on May 7, 2008 11:43 pm:
We are all in this together. If we could only realize it. But our country promotes this fear we have for each other and people have to have someone to blame.
[Reply]
troublsome
Two points that I want to make: Latinos are given these jobs, because there is no pride barrier to what they will or will not do. They will take any job given to them, and because of that they are climbing very quickly on the totem pole as for a race goes. Often times black people have too much pride to work at McDonalds or a place that does not hold the prestige that they desire, even if they don’t qualify for the better position.
Another point that I want to make is, Latinos all depending on what geographic region of the world they are from are black in my book. Puerto Ricans, Dominican, Cubans, Brazilians, are all considered black to me. We all just went on different boats to different places when we were sold from Africa.
The media and society creates this illusion that we are all different, so that we continue to fight for scraps, and step on each other while climbing to the top. If we allied ourselves together we could be the most powerful force imaginable. Just my opinion…
Like Troublman said there is no escaping our dependence on “White Money” But we have a better chance if Blacks stop resenting Latinos for supposedly stealing all the jobs, and Latinos continuing to be brainwashed and avoiding their association with Blackness…
[Reply]
TROUBLMan reply on May 7, 2008 11:36 am:
I agree with the pride issue. Before we break the chains of social oppression, we have to break away from our mental oppression.
[Reply]
troublsome
Pride is a Monster…
[Reply]
"A Mom" reply on May 7, 2008 11:44 pm:
We have too much of it. It’s hard to step back and look at yourself.
[Reply]
TROUBLMan
Personally, I hate it when I hear black people say, “the Mexicans are stealing all of our jobs.” First off, how are they stealing. They need work just as much as anyone. They have families to feed also. Secondly, how are the jobs ours? The jobs belong to the company that is hiring. Black people need to realize that in this world, what you get is what you take!!!
[Reply]
troublsome
Personally, I think that is just an excuse. Yes of course Mexicans do work for cheap, but they work pretty damn hard. I was shocked a few years back when I seen that almost the whole staff at “Roscoes Chicken and Waffles” were Mexican… To me it kinda took the integrity of the spot away. Then I thought for a second, and in reality it didn’t… The business is continuing to blossom and make money, and notarity… Do I think that the Mexicans bull rushed the back door demanding jobs and instant gratifcation “No”. I just think that they humbled themselves and accepting an opportunity to feed their families, with no pride and very meek…
[Reply]
Malia reply on May 7, 2008 4:53 pm:
They do have a great work ethic and they don’t mind sacrificing for the sake of building. I used to lived with an Ecuadorian family that had like 5 businesses: renting rooms, selling cars, catering, facilitating parties, and breeding dogs,….it amazed me how much hustle they had in them. They came from a third world country and went full throttle for the American Dream…..but like you said in another post, some people only dream about it and never turn it into a reality. I think black people are impatient, and selfish and lazy! Myself included…..I do wake my tail up every morning and do the damn thing regardless…..but I’d much rather be chillin in the French Riviera with Diddy!
[Reply]
Q.
i’m with y’all.. nobody is stealing jobs.. personally, i’m not willing to do the jobs many people will do.. i spent summers picking fruit for pennies.. not a good look for me.. i was too hardheaded, and, i think, too smart for my own good.. that whole ish felt like slavery to me.. as i looked at the ppl paying me, they sure did look like the ppl that had the whip on the backs of my ancestors.. so that alone made me realize that picking stuff would never be for me..
getting us to work together will be the biggest challenge.. i’m not even talking about Blacks and Latinos.. I’m talking about just Blacks.. we have failed time and time again on that.. i’ve personally failed as a business owner in making that a reality.. y’all Black ppl have some serious issues.. y’all exude every dang stereotype..
and yes, i’m Black too!
on most days, i’m sick of Black ppl.. i usually only have one day that i’m not, and that’s Sunday, just cuz i choose to shut y’all out..
[Reply]
Malia reply on May 7, 2008 4:46 pm:
SHUT UP!!! *rollin eyes* LOL
I wrote an article about YOUR people and how we don’t support black businesses. It’s sad state of affairs when every Jewish dollar is recycled at least 12 times in it’s own community before it is considered “white money” again……as soon as a nigga gets his paycheck he’s at the liquor store or callin the weed man, and yes, he might buy a black owned outfit at a white owned store. Neiman, Nordstroms, macy’s…..and if we do go to a black owned business a brother always want a “hook up”……
[Reply]
Q. reply on May 8, 2008 7:33 am:
PREACH!!
that’s why i’m done w/ y’all Black people.. gettin’ on my nerves!!
[Reply]
Boosy
I see this situation as a double edged sword. The black community unfortunately are still divided by mental concepts of “home”, i as an american claim america my home but never forget the long history of my fore fathers back in africa. Seeing all the Caribbean islands as my brothers and part of the community; as well as the many Latino mixes…
[Reply]
TROUBLdMAMI
I will have to agree with Troublsome…in the African American community pride hinders progress. Everyone wants to ball and stunt, before they put in the 24/7 grind or hustle…And grind and hustle doesn’t mean slangin or hangin on the block–fast money…it could mean working at McDonald’s, being a janitor, or housecleaning…but most aren’t ready for that…patience is a fuckin virtue…Then, its what we accept…we can continue to settle and bicker and bitch, or we can put our pride aside and do what it takes to make ourselves better as indviduals, then trickle that knowledge we gain to our children, so we can build more positive communities…Thats another thing, almost every other culture are more communal than the African American community…we need to want more as a whole and not just ’self’…we need to understand the dollar not just on a day to day basis, or just as a paycheck, but as investments… stop tryna stay up with the joneses or have 22’s before you purchase a house, before you invest in stock, before you put money in a cd for you family…When are we going to stop bitching about ‘who’s holdin us down!’…But, instead find a way up ourselves…make a way…We have to start projecting for our great great great great great great great grandchildren…
[Reply]
troublsome
Troubldmami-
Couldn’t have said it better myself…
[Reply]
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