I agree with this. Wonderful breakdown of our conundrum indeed. The older I get, the more I wish we could go back to a simpler life. Education for financial pursuits is overrated — because it comes with no guarantees. Black women are the most educated group in this nation — but we’re still underrepresented in nearly every field, and certainly underpaid compared to White people and White women (thank White feminism).
We should be able to pursue the opportunities to contribute throughout society but we aren’t allowed because the gatekeepers not only keep us out, they’ll change the game when you do make it in. Gerrymandering, voter rights, a watered down civil rights bill (meant to protect except they keep adding already protected groups into it i.e. White women and gay White men), segregating via private and religious education mechanisms, serving in the military — we try, we “make it” and either the rules change or there is an invisible glass ceiling that prevents us from reaching the top.
Like the military. You ever seen a Black 5-star general? Nope. We just got the first Black President after a couple hundred years. We can’t achieve much because of the huge amounts of inequality.
As you stated so wonderfully, we must demand equality and a clean slate. Until this happens, nothing will ever change. And even then — look out! When America gives you something, you best believe it’s got some strings attached or some shenanigans afoot. America doesn’t have a full understanding of what equal opportunities are yet.
