A furtive prayer for change

". . . the proportion of blacks who remained in poverty, even among those who worked regularly, actually increased during the [1970s]. The increase was particularly acute among black families headed by females."

--William H. Harris' The Harder We Run, pg. 178.

Startling that the 1970s was in many ways worse for African Americans than was the 1950s, even though segregation had been beaten back. It is economic inequality that confronts our generation today (Bill Clinton mentioned economic inequality in his speech this year at Harvard during Class Day celebrations as one of the great problems facing our nation), and that inequality remains starkest in the African American community.

The Civil Rights movement of the 50s and 60s began in earnest when African Americans, especially young African Americans, refused to allow racism to degrade, demean, and destroy their lives any longer. They got angry, got organized and changed the system. One can be forever grateful of that. But it is far less likely that economic inequality will spur the same kind of social movement among poorer Americans. This country has always fiercely resisted class-warfare of any kind. But the problem of economic inequality remains acute, and it is getting worse.

Our recent run of unparalleled growth, driven in large part by increased worker productivity, has left most workers unrewarded for their increased productivity. As a result of stagnant wage growth, millions of Americans have been perilously swept into a whirlwind of expanding debt in order to enjoy the benefits of our consumer culture. What will happen when they retire? Their children are already being saddled with oppressive student loans, so how are they going to be able to take care of their parents when mom and dad can't earn a living anymore? These are serious problems that may not be dealt with until it's too late to avoid catastrophe, but there are answers.

Education is part of the solution, community and economic development another part. We need to get workers moving into sectors experiencing wage growth, typically those that require a good education, as well as help increase opportunities for advancement among the poor.

Education alone won't fix the problems of America's inner cities. The poor need every imaginable service, and they need them in great numbers. They've been left behind in so many areas and now need help catching up. You can't make it alone. Everyone needs a little help, a chance at the very least. The government needs to step in to give them that chance. 12% of this country lives below the poverty line. 40 million Americans don't have health insurance. Private industry and volunteers alone cannot fix those problems.

Fundamentally, I don't believe that it's fair that I live well, and others do not, simply by the accident of my birth. I have been given every opportunity to succeed, while many Americans get but a few. This country is not a meritocracy, no matter what it may pretend to be. There are enormous opportunities here, but they are not available to all in full measure. Many of those people who climbed out of disadvantaged situations did so by making their own opportunities and overcoming obstacles that most privileged Americans would never have to endure. They succeeded in spite of the system, whereas many Americans succeed because of the system.

Furthermore, I think that my life would be improved by others' lives being improved. People do need to stand up for themselves, but it's hard to stand up when so many things are weighing you down. If we could just lighten the burden for people, we could accomplish so much.

I do not pray to god that this may happen, but to humanity. I have great faith in humanity, a hope that defies the dictates of reason. History has shown us all the faults and fallacies of man. But the thing about people is that they keep getting up each day. As long as that continues to happen, there is hope for mankind. Tomorrow is promised to no man. Let us be quick to our work.