[rdb3]

I think its about educating black folks to be good, productive Americans and not a dependent underclass.

And I think you should know what you're talking about before you speak. 75% of American blacks are middle-class and above.

Sure, there is an underclass in this demographic. Then again, there's one in the white demographic, too.

That you would say this in regards to the whole about black people says more about you than you think.

[mlmr]

And I think you should know what you're talking about before you speak. 75% of American blacks are middle-class and above.



Last stats I looked at had 50% as middle class and and above.
I cannot remember what the working class percentage was

[Dianna]

Then again, there's one in the white demographic, too.

I spent a few hours per week last semester at a low income, almost totally white, elementary school. It was an eye opener! Getting ANY cooperation from those parents was like pulling teeth.

Kids would turn up with notes that said that so-and-so was absent because "I had things to do" or it was too cold. A number of kids almost never turned in homework. When free, after school, tutoring was offered and recommended by the teacher, it was often turned down. And you know these kids weren't going to Sylvan...

It's a mindset, an attitude. The teachers get frustrated and don't expect that they can do anything to influence the parents. I don't know who can.

[Huck]

You sure about that 75%?

I am just poking around looking for #s:

The percentage of black households making more than the median income increased only to 26.5 percent of all black households in 1993 from 22 percent of all black households in 1970.

From http://www.americancivilrightsreview.com/civilrightspositivenews1.html

[Huck]

More #s:

Black median household income in 1997 was $25,050. That income level placed about 40 percent of black households in the middle class, compared with about 60 percent of white households.

From http://www.worldandi.com/public/1999/February/middle.cfm

[hershey]

The sad truth is that we have a segment of society, any and all colors, or white, who perhaps through no fault of their own, no parenting, bad parenting, whatever, are non productive members of society, who are prone to violence, alcohol and any other drug abuse and who will not change. They'll go to their graves having impacted everyone horrendously. People need examples of sensible, productive living, and kids need structure and to be taught that actions have consequences. Secular humanism, PC culture, multicultural claptrap, all have cost not only trillions of mispent dollars, but human lives. Evil does exist, however, and you can find people brought up with every advantage, who turn out to be sociopaths or worse. Yes, the Clintons come to mind.

[MagnoliaMS]

I hear ya, rdb3. I don't know how it is in other states, but here in Mississippi it's about 50/50. Where I live is a perfect example, the county's population is almost exactly 50/50, and IMNSHO so are the welfare rolls (in regard to black/white; not that 50% of the county is on welfare). ;)

But I am so cotton'-pickin' tired of the race baiters, haters, and dividers. And Howard Dean and Al Sharpton are perfect examples. Also Bill Clinton, he was just slicker about it.

We are all AMERICANS, and that is all that counts.

[SauronOfMordor]

Sure, there is an underclass in this demographic. Then again, there's one in the white demographic, too.

The problem is that the white underclass seems mostly out in trailer parks in rural areas, while the black underclass seems mostly in urban areas.

Middle-class whites see more of underclass blacks than they do of underclass whites, even if it's just having to drive thru underclass urban areas