As reported in the Bloomberg.com article, "Five Charts That Show the Extent of the Black Wealth Gap in U.S.," by Alexandre Tanzi:
Black people hold $6.00 of assets for every $100.00 owned by Whites
Perhaps, I should pursue a different reality?
Oh, yeah, I definitely wish I was White, because if I was White, I'm extremely more likely to have real estate holdings, consumer durables, corporate equities and mutual funds, pension entitlements, own a private business and have other assets - which I don't have.
Oh, yeah, I definitely wish I was White, because if I was White, my parents would have been more likely to pass on wealth to their children- which they were unable to do . . . because they were Black.
Oh, yeah, I definitely wish I was White, because if I was White, I'm extremely more likely to own a home or homes - which I no longer do (last hired, first fired; at-will employment, "glass ceiling," yada, yada, yada).
Oh, yeah, I definitely wish I was White, because if I was White, I'm extremely more likely to have "assets" - which I and the overwhelming majority of Black people don't have.
Oh, yeah, I definitely wish I was White, because if I was White, I'm extremely more likely to have earned $100,000 or more - which I didn't do in 2018, or 2019, or 2020, etc.
Oh, yeah, I definitely wish I was White, because as researched and published by the Brookings Institution, no matter how you look at it, half of Black Americans Born Poor Stay Poor: Upward mobility from the bottom of the income distribution is much less likely for black than white Americans: 51% of the black Americans born into the lowest fifth of the earnings distribution remain there at age 40:
Oh, yeah, I definitely wish I was White, because as researched and published by the Brookings Institution, no matter how you look at it, most Black Middle Class Kids Are Downwardly Mobile: Downward intergenerational social mobility from the middle to the bottom is much more common among Black Americans. Seven out of ten black Americans born into the middle quintile fall into one of the two quintiles below as adults. In some ways, this is an even more depressing fact than the poor rates of upward mobility. Even black Americans who make it to the middle class are likely to see their kids fall down the ladder:
Oh, yeah, I definitely wish I was White, because if I was White . . . I'd be White and right!
As a college student back in 1973 I wrote the following two "book end" poems:
Just Because I’m Black
Just because you’re white,
I’m not supposed to love!
Just because you’re white,
I’m not supposed to care.
Just because you're white,
I’m supposed to act as if you’re not there!
Just because you’re white... Just because!
© 1973 Trip ReynoldsJust Because You’re White
Just because I’m Black,
I work off my ass!
Just because I’m Black,
Every little bit must last!
Just because Im Black,
I have to wait,
For the White man to find the time,
To develope another sham
Giving niggars nickels and dimes!
Just because I’m Black,
I’m captured by these capitalist motherfuckers!
Just because...
Just because I’m Black!
And like hotel niggers in the hall,
I’m supposed to JUMP when you call!
Be an obedient little bastard...
With pride and joy, yeah, your nigger boy!
Thank you, But you can fuck "it" man!
“...Had enough of your master sham,
Your nigger waste’n master plan!
Fuck-it man, “FUCK—IT!”
© 1973 Trip ReynoldsSo, it's 2021, and forty-eight years after I wrote these poems the socio-economic status between Black and White people has not improved, in fact, it's worse. Oh, YOU can continue to point fingers at White people, but frankly, YOU must also point fingers at the stupidity of Black people! When White people make some "token" Black people as rich and affluent as Oprah Winfrey, or Michael Jordan, or Berry Gordy, or Robert Johnson and so many others, and these rich Black people fail to align themselves to create dynamic business enterprises to uniquely advance the socio-economic status of other Black people, then yes, these Black people exist as perpetually brainwashed and "highly-controlled" pathetic Uncle Tom's. Equally bad, given the absence of initiative and business acumen of elite Black people to "collectively build Black-owned businesses and industries," how should "we" perceive their denial or indifference to blatant racism and oppression endured by their ancestors and peers? Yes, Black people can be just as egotistical, and stingy, and narcissistic as White people, and likewise, these . . . cowards . . . are not deserving of any respect or idolatry.
In fact, far too many Black people continue to refer to each other with the same level of contempt as racist White people, as nothing more than niggers. Stupidity? It's stupid to expect White people to think of Black people as anything other than niggers when Black people continue to refer to themselves in print, in film, and in music as niggers.
Oh, yeah, I definitely wish I was White, because if I was White, I probably wouldn't give a fuck about them niggers either.
Back to reality, who am I?
I am an extremely smart, fine, and talented Black man. That's who I am, and I have absolutely no wish to be White.
And here's why: https://youtu.be/2UijylaHuzU
I welcome your feedback.Trip Reynolds
trip.reynolds@yahoo.com
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Reynolds' Rap First Amendment to the United States Constitution - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. |