Welcome to a discussion about the upcoming 5th Revolution in the US, which I’ve titled the “Revenge Revolution.” For more about the Revenge Revolution and the author, click “About the Author” tab.  Periodically I write a “sense check” to assess whether a revolution in the US is possible or whether the entire exercise is based on a statistical aberration — i.e., a roughly 50-year cycle between major upheavals in the US. The previous “sense check” was ENTRY #500.

Preface: I do not know how many entries will address this topic.  Nor do I pretend to be an expert who will present a practical solution.  There have been numerous attempts to address the problem of why blacks seem stuck at the bottom of the economic ladder.  As is often the case when addressing a problem, particularly one that is complex, proposed solutions tend to focus more on symptoms rather than the cause.  Further, when trying to address a social problem, “political correctness” and/or political party affiliation tenda to interfere with an objective analysis of the problem and possible solutions. 

Entry #514 closed with this paragraph: Why have blacks not made more progress and remain stuck at the bottom? Is it a lack of ambition? Is the cause a mentality that continues to believe white society owes black something for actions of slaveholders more than 6-7 generations ago?  While the statement might seem preposterous, can it at least partially be the cause? Anecdotal evidence might provide some clues. 

Anecdotal evidence #1.  Since relocating to Charlotte more than 25 years ago, we’ve been exposed to a bit of the culture of what one might label as the “old south.”  When we first met long-time southerners, usually within a few minutes of beginning the conversation, we were asked questions along the lines of,  “What church do you belong to?” Soon thereafter came question #2, “Where are your people from?” 

From a “Yankee’s” perspective, these questions seem designed to establish one’s credibility as a southerner.   In terms of church hierarchy, Southern Baptist churches seem to rank #1. (BTW, for many southerners, synagogues are somehow considered really churches that Jews happen to attend.)

As far as the “your people” question, I’ve never understood the meaning other than if you’re relatives were north of the Mason Dixon line, then you’re to be viewed with great suspicion.  The essence of these questions seems to be, “we are still fighting the Civil War and you Yankees are not welcome here.“  (Think I should quit wearing a sweatshirt with a picture General Sherman carrying a torch in one hand?}

If you think these questions are continuing today, a couple of weeks ago my regular golfing partner and I were teamed up with two gentlemen in their mid-60’s.  One was a Charlotte native who proceeded to tell me on about the 5th hole that all the Yankees who had relocated were ruining Charlotte.

How does the “old south” attitude affect the behavior of blacks?  I never considered what I’m about to write as legitimate until drafting this entry. Blacks still may consider themselves somewhat under the thumb of the white man.  Yes, I know that seems absurd after 160 years since slavery, but I can’t think of a better reason.  The attitude of “invisible slavery“ seems to lead to a desire for retribution.

Anecdotal evidence #2, pine straw.  If you live in parts of the south, and your neighborhood has an HOA with any kind of authority, pine straw becomes a regular lawn maintenance item. At least once per year, you hire someone to deliver, spread, and rake bales upon bales of pine straw.

After our lawn service guy went to prison for tax evasion, we would hire people who came through the neighborhood with a truck and a trailer filled with bales of pine straw. For several years, we relied on the same gentleman – black man from South Carolina – to replenish the pine straw. His work was passable, and seemed a bit expensive. Overall grade, C.

Then our neighbor hired a man from Central America to do some yardwork and shrub trimming. We hired him as well and based on job performance, asked if he could do pine straw.  “Yes.”  He did a much better job than the other gentleman, at half the price, and was available via text for other yard maintenance.

As in many neighborhoods, word of mouth is a highly credible source of information.  Now the Hispanic gentleman does lawn-maintenance work for a substantial portion of the neighborhood. After about three years of hard work, his equipment has gone from an old, rather beat up pick-up truck to two new trucks with trailers, and a couple more employees.

How about the original guy, the black man from South Carolina? He still comes by but complains about the Hispanic guy taking away his business. “He’s too aggressive and he doesn’t charge enough.”  But has the black man changed his business model or lowered his price?  No.  He just complains.

What do these anecdotes tell us?  While anecdotal evidence is not proof, such evidence is worth evaluating for underlying causes or trends that should be studied more.  The stories here and a number of other casual observations suggest there might be an attitude among blacks, or at least certain blacks, which has prevailed for many decades.

Attitudes, regardless of the cause, do not automatically change when laws are implemented or changed.  Attitudes evolve over time by a willingness of those affected to make a change.  For blacks, the model for changing being stuck at the bottom of the economic ladder could be one that has worked for every other immigrant group. 

The model for change is to look ahead and encourage and support the entire family getting an education. Under this emphasis-on-education model, within a generation or two, the payoff for many immigrant families has been a substantial.  The payoff has been a major improvement in economic well-being. 

Education does not necessarily imply only college but includes the skilled trades.  The model also discourages sustained welfare. The formula: education and hard work pay dividends.

Future entries will attempt to address:

• Busing.  Is busing helping or hurting blacks?  Is busing intensifying resistance within the broader community to support public education?

• Affirmative Action.  What is the underlying cause of the decline in black admissions to certain universities following the SCOTUS restrictions on affirmative action tell us?  Are blacks not as qualified and/or do they not put forth the effort to learn? 

No doubt other issues will evolve as the series progresses. Stay tuned. END ENTRY #515

Other Topics. Interested in more info about climate change, what’s required to electrify a fleet of cars/trucks, and an array of other topics, visit another page of this website, https://usrevolution5.com/jrd-thought-comments/

Welcome to a discussion about the upcoming 5th Revolution in the US, which I’ve titled the “Revenge Revolution.” For more about the Revenge Revolution and the author, click “About the Author” tab.  Periodically I write a “sense check” to assess whether a revolution in the US is possible or whether the entire exercise is based on a statistical aberration — i.e., a roughly 50-year cycle between major upheavals in the US. The previous “sense check” was ENTRY #500.

Been a while since the post #513. Check the prediction in #513 about Trump finding an excuse to drop out before the election. Based on his performance during the 09/10/24 debate, the odds seem even more likely.

The next series of entries may be considered a bit controversial. My view is we, societal we, need to have a honest and open conversation about trying to solve important social issues.

One solution we will discuss in this series is whether to modify the national education policy to fall someplace between Brown v. Board and Plessy v. Furgeson (separate but equal)?  The idea of such a policy might seem outrageous and might seem even more out of place for a discussion about ideas to help save democracy.  However, if one delves a bit deeper into what is causing major rifts in our society and rifts between political parties, “social programs” are near the top of the pile. 

Some housecleaning.  I do not know how many entries will address this topic.  Nor do I pretend to be an expert who will present a practical solution.  There have been numerous attempts to address the problem of why blacks seem stuck at the bottom of the economic ladder.  As is often the case when addressing a problem, particularly ones that are complex, proposed solutions tend to focus more on symptoms rather than the cause.  Further, when trying to address social problems, “political correctness” and/or political party affiliation tend to interfere with an objective analysis of the problem and possible solutions. 

House cleaning is over.  Back to the issue.  For this conversation, “social programs” are defined as those designed to attempt to overcome a perceived wrong inflicted upon another segment of society.  What seems to cause the rifts between groups is not an attempt to provide aid for those temporarily in need. 

The rift seems to evolve from social programs that are perceived to encourage recipients to remain on “welfare-like” program and/or to provide recipients with a seemingly unfair advantage.  Notice emphasis on “perception.” 

Are there data that could provide a degree of validity to various perceptions that seem to cause the rifts?   For many years I have asked myself, “Why have a seemingly higher proportion of blacks remained at the bottom of the economic ladder?”

Obviously, there are pockets of the economy where blacks have excelled – sports and entertainment, for example.  I understand the NBA teams are facing a suit that, if successful,  would result in implementing a quota system for white players – just kidding.  And many blacks have become quite successful nationally – Barack Obama and Kamala Harris are but two internationally known politicians.

What about blacks as a whole in economic terms?  How have they fared over time?  Let’s look at the symptoms as a start. 

Based on US Census data, in 2023 median income for blacks was about 70% of national median income.  In 1970, roughly two generations ago, median income for blacks was just over 61% of national median income.  Is that reasonable progress?

Compared to median income for whites, blacks’ median income increased from about 57% in 1970 to 63% of whites in 2023.  Compared to median income for Asians, blacks have remained at about 50% since 1982, the first year that median income for Asians was available. 

As one looks at the data, the question remains, “Why does the growth in median income for blacks seem so slow?  What is causing the significant persistent gap in median income among blacks?“

160+ years have passed since the Emancipation Proclamation. Post WWII, starting with the integration of the military, followed by Brown v. Board of Education and then a plethora of laws in the mid-1960’s addressing inequities in voting rights, education, housing, employment, etc.  Still blacks have remained stuck at the bottom of the economic ladder.

During the past 160 years numerous other ethnic groups have entered the US.  Many of those groups have faced severe discrimination – Italians, Irish, Jews, Chinese, Japanese, etc.   

Yet, for these other immigrant groups, despite being offered jobs with only a subsistence wage, within 2-3 generations, and sometimes less, the group as a whole started to move up the economic ladder.

Current immigrants of Hispanic origin face discrimination and challenges similar to previous immigrant groups. Further, Hispanics as a percent of US population have increased from ~7% in 1980 to nearly 20% in 2023.  Many of the newly arrived Hispanics find employment in lower-paying jobs.  Despite the bulge in the number of Hispanics with low-paying jobs, median income for Hispanics has remained at about 80-81% of national median income and 115+% of blacks. 

Why have blacks not made more progress and remained stuck at the bottom? Is it a lack of ambition? Is the cause a mentality that continues to believe white society owes black something for actions of slaveholders more than 6-7 generations ago?  While the statement might seem preposterous, can it at least partially be the cause? In Entry #515 we’ll discuss whether anecdotal evidence might provide some clues. END ENTRY #514

Other Topics. Interested in more info about climate change, what’s required to electrify a fleet of cars/trucks, and an array of other topics, visit another page of this website, https://usrevolution5.com/jrd-thought-comments/