What wasn't mentioned are the cultural factors that hold people back. It's really important to incorporate those into the discussion. Poor single mother households, nobody really raising the kids, no role models, no rules, no behavioral standards, no value on education, lots of violence, guns, drugs, and much more. It doesn't matter what color your skin is, these things will mire you in the socio-economic bottomness of society. The longer we wait to focus on these things, the less progress we'll see in upward mobility.
Kate, What you read is very condensed version of a chapter from Ruy Teixeira and my book, “Where Have All the Democrats Gone?” The chapter deals with this issue in the discussion of WJ Wilson’s views. John Judis
What wasn't mentioned are the cultural factors that hold people back. It's really important to incorporate those into the discussion. Poor single mother households, nobody really raising the kids, no role models, no rules, no behavioral standards, no value on education, lots of violence, guns, drugs, and much more. It doesn't matter what color your skin is, these things will mire you in the socio-economic bottomness of society. The longer we wait to focus on these things, the less progress we'll see in upward mobility.
Kate, What you read is very condensed version of a chapter from Ruy Teixeira and my book, “Where Have All the Democrats Gone?” The chapter deals with this issue in the discussion of WJ Wilson’s views. John Judis
Thanks, John. I have not read the book yet. It's on my list!
The very existence of the Black working- and middle classes refutes the cliche of systemic racism found under every bed in America.