Discuss wealth inequality with honesty

There has been a recent upsurge in media coverage of racial wealth inequality that no one seems to be discussing publicly. Last Saturday, President Obama tried to bring this topic into conversation when he told blacks to stop complaining and to put on their “marching shoes” in order to achieve more prosperous lives. A few months ago, the Associated Press reported on how blacks were faring compared to whites, and the story was not pleasant. It reported that the average wealth of white Americans was around $98,000, compared to $2,000 for blacks. In light of such stark gaps in wealth, there should be more public conversations surrounding racial wealth inequality. Despite whatever reasons deter this conversation, discussion needs to happen—and soon.

In classes and social gatherings at Columbia, there is such an emphasis on social niceties and decorum. People are eager to discuss inequality, to speculate why it may exist, and to find excuses to throw in references to Rousseau. Few mention race, though, in their discussions. The reasons people stop short of this are quite obvious. Americans do not engage in these discussions because these discussions bring up unpleasant feelings of misunderstanding and shame. By speaking about wealth differences, more affluent groups—namely whites and Asian Americans—sincerely fear the discussion will lead to negative perceptions and biases that make them seem racist. It is this fear of being seen as racist that halts discussions. In the hopes of fostering conversations, whites should not be afraid to point out factual truths. A second reason whites are uncomfortable speaking about economic inequality could stem from the fact that the white Americans of our generation were born after the Civil Rights Movement. Since many of these whites had no role in systematically oppressing blacks, they feel it unfair if and when blacks blame them for the wealth gap, and they are right to feel this way.

For similar reasons, there is a hesitation to discuss wealth inequality for blacks as well. African Americans may be embarrassed to discuss what little capital they have accumulated in the last 40 years. These discussions give the appearance that not much has happened economically for blacks since the end of the Civil Rights Movement. By bringing up this conversation, blacks fear discussions will lead to feelings of inferiority. Not wanting to be seen as less than equal to whites sparks blacks to work hard and persevere, but it does not address larger structural and systematic forms of equality that will lead to better wealth outcomes. It’s clear from looking at the wealth gap that hard work and perseverance are not the only answers, for there is no question that many blacks do work hard. Many people would agree with the statement that America is a nation that guarantees opportunities but not results for those who work hard.

The government cannot ensure success for all Americans. Not every black child born in this country can “make it” in terms of prosperity. The children of many minority groups, including blacks, are not always given equal opportunities. What are we to say to poor African American or Hispanic children born into families lacking resources, stable households, good housing, and an education? Do we tell them “shame on them” for not taking advantage of American opportunities? No reasonable person would do that. If, then, from conception poor minority children are not given opportunities similar to whites, the argument in favor of dismantling programs such as affirmative action and quotas which help minority groups loses grounding. If we do not offer equal opportunities, we cannot expect similar results. Without programs such as affirmative action in place, not only would there be less social mobility for blacks, but income inequality would worsen since the majority of black children are born to parents without college degrees. A mere 16% of black adults will continue to have a college degree, limiting career options in today’s competitive economy. Without programs supported by the law, poverty will continue to be cyclical.

If we as Columbia students take the time to break down conversational taboos involving race, we will move closer to solving many problems associated with low income areas such as crime, poverty, high unemployment, and poor health outcomes. Since many of these issues are more common in poor minority neighborhoods, how can we discuss fixing them without speaking about race? We can’t. The key to these discussions is to speak with complete honesty in a way that does not disparage any other group. I ask whites in this country to open their eyes and to explain how they feel. As a black man, I will not be offended, and I encourage other blacks not to be either. By discussing wealth inequality, America will have a better foundation to come up with conversations and end misunderstandings between blacks and whites. So get out there, talk to your friends, and ask them “Why is there wealth inequality between whites and blacks, and how can it best be fixed?”

Jelani Harvey is a Columbia College senior majoring in history. He is currently the Residential Adviser on John Jay 13, a facility supervisor at the Dodge Fitness Center, and a member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. The Niceties of Speculation runs alternate Fridays.