Message Board Archives
The American Dream, lost for Black Millennials
Casper
2019-01-06 02:01:03
The American dream, the idea that anyone can succeed through hard work, is one of the most enduring myths in this country. And one of its most prominent falsehoods. As I entered my 30s, still navigating what achieving the dream would mean, I wondered what other black millennials were feeling. I wanted to figure out what my generation of black Americans thought about the promise of the American dream and how we can attain it.
Over the course of several years, beginning in 2014 through last year, I spoke with more than 75 people in their 20s and 30s from places like New York; Raeford, N.C.; Jackson, Miss.; and New Orleans. They were Americans from various parts of the African diaspora, class backgrounds and sexual identities. Many of these black millennials told me that their dreams can’t be realized in the same ways as others’ can, particularly their white counterparts, despite perceptions of equality in this “woke” generation.
They were frustrated by the reality of limited opportunities — and also frustrated that many people, including black people from different generations, didn’t understand why we couldn’t just pull up our pants, find a job with our fancy degrees and be happy.
I had many of these conversations at a time when unarmed black men and women were being fatally shot by the police, which led to social movements, many led by people in my generation. But after it was proclaimed to the world that our lives mattered, as video after video of young black people being harassed continued to circulate widely, it often felt like opportunity and even justice would never be ours to claim.
Today, young black Americans are not being chased down by dogs, we don’t have to fight to use the same restrooms and water fountains as people who don’t look like us. But we’re still tired of having to prove our humanity and trying to make sure that America makes good on its promise.
I'm an early millennial or, as some people put it, an “old millennial” — meaning I am among the first of the generation that has come to be defined by this term. I attempted to claim a piece of my American dream through homeownership, and quickly I saw how much of a falsehood that dream could be.
”What have you got to lose”?
A very lot, it would seem.
nitro
2019-01-06 05:35:57
In reply to Casper
The employment picture for black Americans is better than it ever has been.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate fell to 5.9 percent in November, tying a record low hit in May.
Facts please not someone's opinion.
Emir
2019-01-06 08:40:05
In reply to Casper
"The American Dream" is simply a marketing term. Americans of all ethnic groups and demographics have and will continue to enjoy success- however they define it, at a greater percentage than our counterparts in comparable nations.
African Americans & dark skin "Hispanics" will still face discrimination but at a much lower percentage than in comparable countries, However, highly qualified African Americans are gobbled up by corporations as soon as they become available.
There is an "underclass" African American demographic that continue to suffer as they live in poor and crime ridden neighborhoods with over crowded and insufficient school and education resources. They are also lacking in public health education resulting in poor diet leading to premature health issues.
Government role is to provide better education, health care and safer housing as a means to help this disadvantage group come out of poverty and level the playing field.
Social policy to prevent single parent households must be aggressively pursued.
The current "low unemployment" rate is mainly due to low wage and unskilled work, hardly the type that can realize the results needed.
Casper
2019-01-06 09:03:43
In reply to nitro
But here are some disturbing facts. I know you MAGA types don’t like facts, they are like the cross and holy water to you Draculas of the Right.
No matter how much you earn, getting by is still a struggle for most people these days.
Seventy-eight percent of full-time workers said they live paycheck to paycheck, up from 75 percent last year, according to a recent report from CareerBuilder.
Overall, 71 percent of all U.S. workers said they’re now in debt, up from 68 percent a year ago, CareerBuilder said.
While 46 percent said their debt is manageable, 56 percent said they were in over their heads. About 56 percent also save $100 or less each month, according to CareerBuilder. The job-hunting site polled over 2,000 hiring and human resource managers and more than 3,000 full-time employees between May and June.
Facts Baby, Facts. Burn.
I know, you “build a wall around America” types are primarily concerned that the new immigrants would become Democrats, just as your
abomination of a president could care less about government workers because “they are all Democrats”. So he’s hurting American to build a wall to his narcissism and hatred of others, especially if they are not of his skin colour and, are likely to be, or become Democrats.
Here is one more fact for you.
Even those making over six figures said they struggle to make ends meet, the report said. Nearly 1 in 10 of those making $100,000 or more said they usually or always live paycheck to paycheck, and 59 percent of those in that salary range said they were in the red.
God forbid they don’t have proper or adequate health insurance.
Runs
2019-01-06 09:31:38
nitro
2019-01-06 09:40:44
In reply to Casper
Americans do not know how to live within their means. That is no fault of the Greatest Ptesident for Minorities.
birdseye
2019-01-06 14:04:59
In reply to Emir
There is an "underclass" African American demographic that continue to suffer as they live in poor and crime ridden neighborhoods with over crowded and insufficient school and education resources.
What you describe is by no means limited to African Americans….. Many times what separate the successful from the unsuccessful are the expectations they have for their own lives. ….. Some of the most poverty stricken parts of this country are in the Trump support areas….the message of the rightwing is - it’s not your fault you are a loser – it’s the government and its immigration policies....
Emir
2019-01-06 15:48:38
In reply to birdseye
What you describe is by no means limited to African Americans
Correct. The white underclass in Appalachia is a case in point.
But this article was about African Americans or Black millennials.
Casper
2019-01-06 16:05:03
In reply to Emir
Government role is to provide better education, health care and safer housing as a means to help this disadvantage group come out of poverty and level the playing field.
Social policy to prevent single parent households must be aggressively pursued.
You can’t talk facts with the MAGA types. Their brains are addled with right-wing laced Kool-Aid. Now, with the presidency of Donald
“Jim Jones” Trump they have completely lost their minds. They are headed in one self-destructive direction and Democrats have to make sure that the whole of America is not taken over the brink.
Every time Republicans are in power Democrats have to come and clean up their debt and deficit mess.
Then, Republicans lie and cheat their way back to power by fooling their Kool-Aid drunks about Big Government, they give any surpluses in tax relief to the 1%, leaving little money beyond a bloated military for education, health, social program or even adequate infrastructure .
It’s a vicious cycle that has been going on since the Franklin D. Roosevelt New Deal and Lyndon Johnson Great Society reforms. They exacerbate the problems, then blame Democrats for attempting to create solutions.
They lie to their racist core supporters that “others” are the cause of their problems and that they must have their guns as protection against Big Government or those “others” who “feed off” the government. These Kool-Aid drunkards become even more angry about their deteriorating situation and blame the “others” rather the real suckers of the teat of government, the 1%.
Now, there is Donald
”Jim Jones” Trump telling them they must have a “beautiful “ big wall to keep the “others” out.
How can real problems be solved if they keep drinking this shit?
maj
2019-01-07 00:22:50
In reply to nitro
Americans do not know how to live within their means. That is no fault of the Greatest Ptesident for Minorities.
Absolutely shiny material objects and the obsession to own them, is their demise. I dont own the lastest cell phone, never owned a pair of sneakers costing more than a hundred dollars. I eat in mostly, go out more than I would like to. But I have means and know my limits and priorities. Most need exercise financial restraint, but they rather own a land rover but still have a landlord. Stop trying to keep up with all the trends you see on social media.
maj
2019-01-07 00:28:59
buds
2019-01-07 01:25:27
In reply to Casper
Absolutely $1000% correct!! I have seen this vicious cycle repeat itself over and over again.
The Repugs have no shame and feed the Jim Jones Flock their lies and take this country over the cliff evertime the Dems clean up their mess after failure failure failure..
RemainsUnknown
2019-01-08 10:09:30
In reply to buds
Absolutely $1000% correct!!
That's a wicked combo....
