Why Aren't Black Americans Occupying Wall Street?
Earlier this month, Fast Company released an infographic detailing the demographic makeup of the Occupy Wall Street movement which revealed that only 1.6 percent of protesters are black.
The Washington Post today awkwardly endeavors to explain why, despite being disproportionately afflicted by the economic downturn, African Americans have not embraced Occupy Wall Street. The half-baked hypothesis: after decades of economic hardship blacks are resigned to their plight.
Blacks have historically suffered the income inequality and job scarcity that the Wall Street protesters are now railing against. Perhaps black America’s absence is sending a message to the Occupiers: “We told you so! Nothing will change. We’ve been here already. It’s hopeless.”
[...]
Beyond a lack of leaders to inspire them to join the Occupy fold, blacks are not seeing anything new for themselves in the movement. Why should they ally with whites who are just now experiencing the hardships that blacks have known for generations? Perhaps white Americans are now paying the psychic price for not answering the basic questions that blacks have long raised about income inequality.
Other under-represented populations in the Occupy Wall Street movement include Asians (only 2.6% of OWS is Asian), Hispanics (6.8%), and Republicans (2.4%). I cannot wait to read the WaPo's theories on these groups.
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Nov '11
Re: Why Aren't Black Americans Occupying Wall Street?
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
Astonishing
This is American, so you're allowed to express your bi-campualness openly. But be honest, wouldn't you rather sleep in a nice RV? · Nov 25 at 8:58pm
Sleep in one? Sure. Go through the expense and trouble of renting one for each trip? Not so much. Plus, the places darling hubby likes best involve roads where an RV could easily get stuck, especially if I'm the one driving it (there's that klutz factor again). · Nov 25 at 9:15pm
Real Americans own their own RVs. Or aspire to own an RV. Or a 5th Wheel. Real Americans don't want to go places where you can't drive an RV. Or a 5th Wheel. You can't drive an RV in Zuccotti Park. Or anywhere in New York City. The only real question is, which is better: RV or 5th Wheel?
Nov '11
Re: Why Aren't Black Americans Occupying Wall Street?
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
Astonishing
Oh, man, you stole my thunder.
(SWPL is way funny, but really it should be called "Stuff Liberal White People Like." How lucky I feel not be white! Because it's just too embarassing for them sometimes, and everybody is still allowed to make fun of them.) · Nov 25 at 8:53pm
Har! Didja know #94 on the list of SWPL is free health care? Oh and "awareness" and "threatening to move to Canada" make the list, too, among other things. · Nov 25 at 9:04pm
But they forgot to include one thing white people like almost more than anything else that white people like: inidigenous peoples, which works out very nicely for me, seeing as how I is one. Being indigenous is almost enough to make up for being conservative. Especially on campouts, when sitting out there underneath all the stars, I get all mystical and stuff. They love that.
Man, I coulda been a superstar at Zuccotti. I coulda been running that place. I coulda had my hands on that half a mil.
May '10
Re: Why Aren't Black Americans Occupying Wall Street?
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
Hi, Lysdexic! Just wanted to say that hubby here and I love your name. We use that word all the time! · Nov 25 at 8:40pm
Hey, thanks! I've had it for a while. It's not terribly original, but I like it. :)
May '10
Re: Why Aren't Black Americans Occupying Wall Street?
Astonishing
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
Astonishing wouldn't you rather sleep in a nice RV? · Nov 25 at 8:58pm
Sleep in one? Sure. Go through the expense and trouble of renting one for each trip? Not so much.
Real Americans own their own RVs. Or aspire to own an RV. The only real question is, which is better: RV or 5th Wheel? · Nov 25 at 9:24pm
This is relevant to my interests. ;) We're looking at a trip from Texas to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and after looking at the alternatives, we're going to have to just drive our regular Buick with a shell on top rather than rent or buy an RV. This time.
Feb '10
Re: Why Aren't Black Americans Occupying Wall Street?
Test comment. Please ignore.