These simple words from MLK layout the simple math to Black/White RACIAL INEQUALITY:

• "It is impossible to create a formula for the future which does not take into account that our society has been doing something special against [African Americans] for hundreds of years. How then can he be absorbed into the mainstream of American life if we do not do something special for him now, in order to balance the equation and equip him to compete on a just and equal basis?
  
  ... For it is obvious that if a man is entered at the starting line in a race three hundred years after another man, the first would have to perform some impossible feat in order to catch up with his fellow runner."

Yes. It's so obvious that it's undeniable and when asked to DO THE RACIAL INEQUALITY MATH many choose to avoid the obvious. To compound the problem, some even venture to offer the most ignorant and simplistic advice: the gap would close if Blacks would work hard, go to school, save money, and stay out of jail. Hmmm.... I guess we can just assume that's not being done but those are assumptions based on stereotypes and the type of paternalism that's typical of someone trying to avoid the obvious.

• FairEconomy.org - New Report: The State of the Dream
  
• At the current pace, Blacks and whites will reach high school graduation parity in 2013, six decades after the Brown v. Board of Education school desegregation decision. And college graduation parity wouldn’t be reached until 2075, more than 200 years after the end of slavery.
  
• The typical Black family had 60% as much income as a white family in 1968, but only 58% as much in 2002.
  
• One in nine African Americans cannot find a job. Black unemployment is more than twice the white rate – a wider gap than in 1972.
  
• At the slow rate that the Black-white poverty gap has been narrowing since 1968, it would take 150 years, until 2152, to close.
  
• For every dollar of white per-capita income, African Americans had 55 cents in 1968 – and only 57 cents in 2001. At this pace, it would take Blacks 581 years to get the remaining 43 cents.
  
• While white homeownership has jumped from 65% to 75% since 1970, Black homeownership has only risen from 42% to 48%. At this rate, it would take 1,664 years to close the homeownership gap – about 55 generations.
  

Hmmm.... interesting thing that homeownership gap. Interesting how it is forged in and, in this residentially segregated society, created by morphed policies and practices of America's racist past unwilling to die.


For those who promote the 500 - 1600 year plan... Sorry, but I have to note the obvious:
it wasn't and hasn't been the lack of work ethic, etc. that put Black people in this situation.

Blacks might try taking some of Bill Cosby's advice....

One of the reasons blacks tend to have lower home-ownership rates is that many blacks tend to live in urban areas where homeownership is out of reach for not just most blacks, but most whites as well. Another big reason is a very real "credit gap" that seems to have more to do with spending/credit practices differences than "racism."

Anyone who believes such things as "redlining" in housing, credit, buying cars, etc. is still going on in America, has no idea how competitive our economy is today. Yes, back in 1962, Cletus Hogg's Ford Dealership in Biloxi might not have extended credit to a black man, but today?

First, Cletus would either have to be about 70 years old and hanging on to his racism with both hands, very, very stupid (see first qualifier) or insane.

He'd be sued into the ground the first time he tried this past about 1975 and both white and black people would, when they learned of this, avoid his store like he was a leper. He'd be out of business overnight.

It may be time, given how far we've come since the days of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for blacks to stop looking ONLY outward for someone to blame for their problems.

Tokie

Steering and Financing Discrimination are Increasing

Although HDS2000 found that most indicators of discrimination have decreased since 1989, two areas that increased significantly are geographic steering and reduced financing assistance. It appears that geographic steering based on neighborhood racial composition appears to have increased significantly for African Americans since 1989. HDS2000 examines this issue in detail, looking at more spatial levels, types of steering, and steering mechanisms than in the past. It found that editorializing - the practice of providing either positive or negative comments about areas to consider - was the most common means of steering among African Americans.

HDS2000 results also found that "Differences in the assistance with financing that real estate agents provide represents the primary source of adverse treatment facing Hispanic home buyers." Non-Hispanic whites were significantly more likely to receive favorable treatment across the category of financing assistance. For example, agents were less likely to offer help with financing, recommend lenders, or discuss downpayment requirements with Hispanic testers than with non-Hispanic whites. This is a decline over 1989 figures when Hispanics received favorable financing assistance treatment in 32 percent of cases. In 2000, Hispanics were favored in only 24.2 percent of the tests.


Urban Research Monitor March/April 2003

According to a couple of posters on this forum, Cosby is a traitor to his race.

__________________
Not a day goes by that I don't see something that reinforces my belief that people are idiots.

It's always funny to hear/see people giving unsolicited "friendly" advice based on their own self-serving grasp on straight stereotypes. Then, equally as entertaining, are people who object to their kind of advice or thoughts being rejected as if their self-serving interests aren't telegraphed with their selection of "RESPONSIBLE NEGRO" of the Month/Year(s).


The more things change, the more they stay the same.

People talk on these forums. That's what they're there for. If you have an issue with people saying things not up to your standards of agreement I suggest a mirror instead of a forum.

__________________
Not a day goes by that I don't see something that reinforces my belief that people are idiots.

Posters talk on these forums. Since you have an issue with posters criticizing Cosby and saying things (about Cosby, etc.) that aren't up to your standards, I suggest you use a mirror and reflect on:

• your self-serving interests and how your Cosby comment reflects that

You will note how I said nothing that suggested I have a "problem" with what was said. I clearly noted how amused and entertained I am by it (along with a host of other dime a dozen remarks).


*

My self-serving interests?? I would ask you to state what those "reasons" are, but I'm sure you have already made them up.

This is the second time I have injected a simple comment into one of your race-baiting threads and the second time you have somehow read FAR too much into it.
You're an interesting person.

And spare me your editorializing, re: "Responsible Negro" as if I even IMPLIED such a thing.

__________________
Not a day goes by that I don't see something that reinforces my belief that people are idiots.

Scribbler, were you the only one to comment re: Bill Cosby? Was it you who selected Bill Cosby?

I guess you must feel guilty. You term "race-baiting" reveals much. This thread is about the aforementioned GAP FACTS and how people try to avoid those obvious facts. To whatever extent such information is "race-baiting", well, you took the bait and, yet, didn't register a comment re: those GAP FACTS but felt compelled to make a comment about other posters, defying the nature of the very advice you would later so graciously give me.

And, yes. Your comments about the posters who allegedly called Cosby a race-traitor are indeed self-serving for you. That's clear in the tone of your remarks, if nothing else. But, go ahead, tell me how much you disagree(d) with Bill Cosby and his remarks re: (lower economic) Blacks/African-Americans.


List all your points of disagreement HERE ______________

Name the other so-called "race-baiting" thread of mine. I dare you.