…it is the family.
Walter Williams, Professor of economics at George Mason University writes:
Though I grow weary of pointing it out, let’s do it again. Let’s examine some numbers readily available from the Census Bureau’s 2004 Current Population Survey and ask some questions. There’s one segment of the black population that suffers only a 9.9 percent poverty rate, and only 13.7 percent of its under-5-year-olds are poor. There’s another segment that suffers a 39.5 percent poverty rate, and 58.1 percent of its under-5-year-olds are poor. Among whites, one segment suffers a 6 percent poverty rate, and only 9.9 percent of its under-5-year-olds are poor. The other segment suffers a 26.4 percent poverty rate, and 52 percent of its under-5-year-olds are poor. What do you think distinguishes the high and low poverty populations among blacks?
Would you buy an explanation that it’s because white people practice discrimination against one segment of the black population and not the other or one segment had a history of slavery and not the other? You’d have to be a lunatic to buy such an explanation. The only distinction between both the black and white populations is marriage — lower poverty in married-couple families.
In 1960, only 28 percent of black females ages 15 to 44 were never married and illegitimacy among blacks was 22 percent. Today, the never-married rate is 56 percent and illegitimacy stands at 70 percent. If today’s black family structure were what it was in 1960, the overall black poverty rate would be in or near single digits. The weakening of the black family structure, and its devastating consequences, have nothing to do with the history of slavery or racial discrimination.
Well as a black male I can tell you alot of that is the”I dont need a man” attitude alot of black women have, with them its not about the family or even love its about “what can you do for me”. I read artical after artical about how there is a shortage of good black men, but when you read the fine print , they are really talking about white collar black males.
But that attitude is not limited to blacks , I see it alot among 2nd and 3rd generation latinaz , so in time you will notice this trend in your own population.
^^^^^^^^^^ People need Jesus.
HP - totally agree with you about the central role of the family in regards to poverty. The impact of a marriage on the total fabric of society is incredible. If more public policy was focused on addressing the role & place of the family, many poverty issues would begin to change.
However, your statement that “the weakening of the black family structure, and its devastating consequences, have nothing to do with the history of slavery or racial discrimination” is a dangerous hyperbole that doesn’t actually add up historically. The systemic destruction of black families that slavery reinforced for 200 years is bigger than just a “get over it” attitude problem.
That some or many have been able to break from that generational paradigm points to the reality that it can be broken. But paradigms aren’t always broken overnight & are reinforced by systemic realities.
Also, DD is right — people do need Jesus, both rich & poor.
people need jesus? wasn’t that said right before the spanish inquisition ?
seriously , I read a study 9 years ago that says blacks actually earn more than white if you only count those over the middle class line , this could be because most black who make it out of poverty are in union or government jobs which usually have cost of living increases every year. Even though the majority of union members in this country are white males, there is a highers percentage of black in the unions based on total population of said groups.
Heck I know alot of brothaz personally who would quit jobs left and right , then get a union job , and they are at work everyday. Why? because of job security. Brothaz tend to have more loyalty when they are getting paid more , and have good benifits .
The Spanish need Jesus too.
eeeerrrr is’nt spain 97% catholic?
I agree that slavery had a negative impact on the marriage rate for Blacks, but I don’t think it fully accounts for the large gap that currently exists, if I had to attribute it to one primary factor, I would say it is more related to this, and things like it, than slavery.
HP - Great link from Sowell. Most agree with the “subsidized unwed pregnancy” comment. I still believe that the roots of poverty (not recovery) that Sowell points to from the 60’s “War on Poverty” are the same “root” problems of systemic disintegration of the family that were legislated in slavery.
The ideological continuation is the same, even if Sowell is right that there was a break from this pattern historically from the 30’s to the 60’s.
And yes, people still need Jesus. He calls for both individual accountability (don’t blame the man) and corporate change (to real systemic problems). Buddha can’t call for what Jesus does. Mohammed split personality of war/peace can’t offer what Jesus does. But that’s all another topic for another day.
i think its deeper than just having a solid and ‘traditional’ family structure. i mean i think it makes a HUGE difference to have a united two parent household but i also think there are a lot of other factors that need to be taken into account when we talk about people living in poverty–such as education level and contacts. jesus might play some role in it, i’ve seen church networks come to the rescue for some individuals but i think personal values and goals can make a HUGE difference as well. making the personal decision not to settle for a mediocre existence should be enough to get you ahead, that doesn’t necessarily mean its going to be easy.
I agree 100% with you Irasali.
I disagree with the statement that the history of slavery and racism doesn’t account for the gaps of today. If you look back in history you can find a lot of examples of history controlling today’s gaps. African Americans for instance have had a history of slavery, once they were freed they were simply let go. No jobs no marketable skills save for working in a field. If someone had the choice to hire a white man or a black man back then they would hire the white man regardless of skill. This created a problem for generations of black families. You can look at the example of women too. They were discriminated against as well in the past. Only recently have they been given the same right as men. But still a woman working the same job as a man gets paid less on overage. 75 cents per dollar for men. “In poverty, as in certain propositions in physics, starting conditions are everything.” And as far as personal values and goals come into play and settling for a mediocre existence, have you ever thought that one of the means of survival today consists of people having children to get aid from the government. Suddenly having a child and being a single parent makes it possible for you to receive free money from the government. Which in itself creates another burden on society and the mother of the child. I don’t think it’s personal morals completely that decides if someone will squeeze one out and not be marries. You won’t get aid if you are married. I’m not saying morals don’t play any part in it just not as big of a part as someone might think. We have created a system that encourages single parent, mainly single mother, families to survive in this country if you don’t have the means to survive on your own.
Let look at the numbers here
White - to - Black
06.0 - to - 09.9
26.4 - to - 39.5
Ok Historic Discrimination built in to the system can be said to cause 3.9% to 13.1% of poverty.
Married to Unmarried
9.9 - to - 39.9
6.0 - to - 26.4
Being unmarried causes 20.4% to 30% of Poverty
Which is the Bigger Problem?