01/21/2015
Statistics are funny little things- used for good or evil, for building a case or tearing one down. Monday, on MLK day, I read a couple of blog posts with statistics so alarming, to not respond would be neglect. The timing I'm sure, done for drama, gave them the intended punch. Both painted a dismal picture of the black "middle class". The alarming statistic said, " 7 out of 10 middle class black kids will experience downward mobility as adults". That means 70% of our kids, not just the kids in the "hood", but our kids, in our nice homes & our nice neighborhoods will more than likely not be able to attain what we did. And worse, will be in the same neighborhoods we worked to avoid. At first I was in a state of despair. How could this be? We just arrived at "middle class" a couple of generations ago, so it can't be over already, not yet. I know several kids of friends & family that somehow grew up & are now unemployed or underemployed. Therefore, they did have downward mobility. So it could be true, BUT what was missing from these articles was why this has happened & what can be done to stop it. Where was the remedy, the hope?
Now, I am really nobody, I am not a "leader", I hold no political office, I'm not a doctor or a judge. I am simply a 2nd generation Black middle class woman who is sick of being lumped in statistics that only spin the story the media wants. Appealing to God after calming done - I thought of some things that are important, things not included in the posts. There are facts and there is truth, but they are not the same. Facts are grounded in reality, the now- what we see. Truth is grounded in faith, the future- what we hope for. These posts were full of facts and that's good. The facts are sobering. They let us know where we stand. They let us know what we are up against, but they are not the end of the story.
There is a reason why our kids are slipping and there are solutions to ensure they get and stay on higher ground. I began to think of how it's like in Revelations, where an angel goes to all of these churches, telling them what they did good and what they are lacking- to the church at Sardis in Rev. 3 he says, "strengthen that which remains". There are 3 out of 10 making it- what are they doing different? What made the difference? We need to highlight successful practices and replicate them. We can change the statistics to 4 out of 10, then 5 out of 10, etc.. We have to, we must. For our own children & the generations to come.
This blog is aimed at -strengthening- fortifying wherever you & your children are. In order to do that there is an investment that has to be made- of time, of patience, of learning and sometimes money, so you can help your kids. Be concerned, but not alarmed. The links to the blog posts I referred to are below. I will be posting regularly- please post a comment or I can be reached at reapinjoy@aol.com.
Gloria J. Adams
Fortify!
© 2015
http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/social-mobility-memos/posts/2015/01/15-mlk-black-opportunity-reeves
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/01/how-black-middle-class-kids-become-black-lower-class-adults/384613/
One truth is we have to start where we are. After reading the statistics and the facts let's ask what can I ; an average everyday African American mom do to influence those young minds inside and outside my home. I want to take time and pray for guidance. Ask God to strengthen me to be able to give more time, and patience to my children and other folk's children. I can help a struggling young person find a decent job. I can speak to groups of at risks young people and let them know poverty now is not poverty later. I can go on and on. Yes, Gloria let's fortify. I hope I know what that means. I'm with you!
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