My grandfather was one of the first black master plumbers in DC. The family legend is that he made $30,000 a year during the Depression. They had their own house, car, my mother went to private camp, was a debutante, and she and her 2 brothers all went to college, back when blacks had next to nothing and whites had only a little more. My family still has much of the estate my grandfather was able to build up from being 'just' a plumber.
ps, my mother taught me to do a lot of my own plumbing. Since i'm going to be a college professor, maybe the plumbing skills will come in handy. : )
You know, you have a good point. I bust my but working in engineering when other opportunitinies are in everyone's bathroom and kitchen. And help is ALLWAYS needed, because folks don't like being "inconvenienced". I'm just an average white guy, too!