Evaluating the series of constant protest throughout the country at times violent, but mostly non-violent has left a deep uncertainty on the role rage, race and rebellion that continue to plague many African American communities. These events continue to voice the frustration of upward economic mobility, social despair, disregard for black lives, police brutality and many other social ills that many African American communities are embedded in. The recent riots only addressed police brutality but gone from the discussion that should be taking place are the continued economic class warfare that has plagued many of these inner city communities. The access to upward economic mobility…
Evaluating the series of constant protest throughout the country at times violent, but mostly non-violent has left a deep uncertainty on the role rage, race and rebellion that continue to plague many African American communities. These events continue to voice the frustration of upward economic mobility, social despair, disregard for black lives, police brutality and many other social ills that many African American communities are embedded in.
The recent riots only addressed police brutality but gone from the discussion that should be taking place are the continued economic class warfare that has plagued many of these inner city communities. The access to upward economic mobility in many African American communities is the underlying cause of their frustration that has manifested itself into a race rebellions and riots. The discussion that America must address is how do we increase upward economic mobility in a community that has been denied their rightful piece of the American pie. Gone from the dialogue is the upward economic mobility and its impact on the riots, gone from the dialogue is the continued social oppression that plague these inner cities, gone from the dialogue is why are many African Americans and their communities continue to plague with economic starvation and poverty? These frustrations played an important role in many of the riots in the 1960’s which was often labeled race riots and not class rebellions. The social uprising were part of the economic warfare and disparities that haunted many African American communities, yes race was a factor in the 1960’s but not the main underlying source of the frustration found in many African American communities.
In the 21st century there are still many facets of oppression that exist and are prevalent in many African American communities, silent and not overt racism exists in their school systems, employment, poverty, healthcare, prison system, and other sectors of their societies. Class disparities continue to be an important element that define many black and brown inner cities and compelled with the lack of upward economic mobility opportunities this can be easily use to gauge many African American communities. These economic and class disparities permeates our society in ways we don’t even realize and plays an important role in the frustration that plague many inner city urban communities that African Americans call home. This access to upward economic mobility is more important today than in any other time in our history and will be the key to bridging many of America’s socio-economic and racial dilemmas.
The idea of Americans living in a post racial society where all races are guaranteed the socio-economic benefits of the American dream and a society where race and racism no longer exists have almost disappeared in many African American communities. African Americans and other minority groups remain one of the most underrepresented communities in schools, the workforce and other sectors in American society due to a direct result of economic racism, class discrimination and more so their exclusion from the American pie.
Whatever the arguments are, there is a direct connection to race, racism and our economic system and the underlying issue remains that race continues to play an important part in all public policy implementation. Economic mobility is the main factor that continues to define many African American communities and has continued to define who we are as Americans and has often taken away the best of what we can become as a nation. Yes, race remains an important factor in many of our social ills, but correcting race must start with the economic empowerment that is so deeply needed in many of the inner city communities. Isn’t what this country is all about: Achieving the American dream for all?
America truly has come a long way in the last 50 years; we made great strides towards a racially harmonious society, where we respect all contributions to our great country. We should be very proud of these accomplishments but it is also important that we do not become complacent with that progress. African Americans are tied to America, where America goes, African American will follow and they are mutually tied to the American fabric. The Kerner Report, that represented the findings of an official government commission that studied the reasons behind the urban riots the major conclusion was that “America is still two nations: one white and one black” in 1969, where are we today in 2015?
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Rage, Race and Rebellion: Class Warfare and Frustration in African American Communities
