My response to: The Logic of Stupid Poor People

If you care to understand me a little bit more then please read this article. I find it almost scary how much I relate to this article. Thank you Florka for sending this around. 

" I watched my mother put on her best Diana Ross “Mahogany” outfit: a camel colored cape with matching slacks and knee high boots. I was miffed, as only an only child could be, about sharing my mother’s time with the neighbor girl. I must have said something about why we had to do this. Vivian fixed me with a stare as she was slipping on her pearl earrings and told me that people who can do, must do. It took half a day but something about my mother’s performance of respectable black person — her Queen’s English, her Mahogany outfit, her straight bob and pearl earrings — got done what the elderly lady next door had not been able to get done in over a year. I learned, watching my mother, that there was a price we had to pay to signal to gatekeepers that we were worthy of engaging. It meant dressing well and speaking well. It might not work. It likely wouldn‘t work but on the off chance that it would, you had to try. It was unfair but, as Vivian also always said, “life isn’t fair little girl.”

http://tressiemc.com/2013/10/29/the-logic-of-stupid-poor-people/

Perhaps now you will see why I insist on dressing the way I dress. For me its about the first impression. As a black male I have to try twice as hard if not more to make a good first impression. Because someone out there is going to judge me based off something as trivial as a logo.

Welfare and its "abusers".

"And when one speaks of welfare in this country, whether or not one wishes to acknowledge it, one is almost always speaking of black people, not because black people are the only folks receiving state aid (indeed more white receive benefits from the myriad social programs than do blacks), but because that is the image we have been encouraged to have when we hear the term. (90)”

Growing up for the first few years of my life I was homeless and poor living with my mother. I can remember those cold nights with no food or place to call home. When something as trivial as getting a new pair of shoes become as important as your next meal there is an issue.

I am not arguing that people of all races do not abuse welfare across the United States but what I am saying is that it is worth the gamble if it saves people like me. As a product of my parents, I was born very poor. My parents relied heavily on welfare to pay for not only their drugs but also for my life.  This system is easily abused but it is a good program. Changing it so that “drug users” cannot benefit from it also prevents many from actually receiving aid that they need. The argument that “If they can afford drugs then they can afford to pay for a house or food” is not a valid one in my head. If drug abusers are fortunate enough to have the cash for rehabilitative services like rehab then perhaps they also have a fighting chance of fighting off these addictions. People who abuse welfare are likely not fortunate enough to just be able to break their habits with things like a strong will. Programs like welfare are often a last resort and something that is keeping them alive. I know it kept me alive until I was saved by my aunt who is the reason why I’m here today.

Wise is being completely honest with us. Wise is a bit of a realist and thus he has his own way of approaching race.  He doesn't deny the existence of white privilege In his life. He realizes that white privilege has pretty much gotten him to where he is in life thus far and he acknowledges that without its presence or if he were a minority that he would not be where he is. When you are born white, you are by default entitled to power and opportunities that are not granted to minorities. 

People are people...

So I've been running last weeks class through my head over and over and I can't seem to shake the ideas I expresseed at the end of class. When I was asked how I would react to if a white person were to come up to me and introduce themselves to me and say something along the lines of "hey so I've never met a black person before..." I freaked out. But why? Why did this simple question or statement piss me off so much? Just the thought of someone being that ignorant or clueless at any age is a scary thought to me. On even the most baisic of levels I would view this person as a threat. Not because they have a gun but because anyone who thinks that how one should go about meeting people is a fool. Some of my agervation and frustration with this situation is that I don't identify myself as soley black. If you were to ask me what I am I would say I am mixed with half Czech and half Black. I don't identify with one more than the other. Race also wouldn't be the first thing I would state if asked what I am. I am going to put it all on the table and hopefully this will help people really understand me. I typically would state my sexual identity first and then my race "I am a gay, biracial half Czech half Black...I'm a rare sight." Why? To behonest I'm not sure. Perhaps it is because I think people put too much emphasis on race. However with that being said I see all of those things as irrelevant to everything. I feel deep down that I am human. We all are human. I don't personally don't view or judge people on things that they cannot change like race. I think it's pointless and ignorant I feel like meeting a black guy is just like meeting a white guy. I feel like meeting a Jewish guy is like meeting a Christian guy. Do you see what I am trying to say? It's offensive to me for 1) someone to assume I'm diffrent because of the color of my skin 2) for someone to actively point out these perceived differences 3) and for someone to think that it is my job to correct their lack of knowledge or ignorance. 

This is the topic are you willing to discuss it honestly with me?

1st Post

We opened our first class with a broad discussion on race. This discussion quickly turned into one about our personal experiences growing up with race. It was really interesting seeing how diverse our class is! I personally cannot wait for these in class discussions to heat up. I live for the awkward tense moments the ones where peoples true passion and brutal and honest thoughts come out. I want to offend people not to anger them but instead to find these deep rooted problems so that we as a collective whole and find solutions. Nothing really comes out of bullshitting around the problems.