Helping the Blacks and Helping the Weak - A Juneteenth Commemorative Writeup

I had written on this topic more than once but just keep getting back. As I said, the help I receive depends on the help I provide. Back in India, I am very much involved in several volunteer activities aimed at improving the conditions of under privileged sections. In my time of more than a year in U.S., I couldn’t get a foothold in helping the marginal people as it is a different mix of people with varied conditions. But nevertheless, a helping hand and upliftment is required in any part of the world. Thus, I am more attracted to the words of equity, inclusivity, betterment of bottom strata. It may not be a magic wand to change the circumstances but at least the good intentions and little work in that direction will go a long way in serving the cause. More than actions in this foreign nation, if we ponder, ruminate and internalize the betterment of underprivileged, it will render help in the form even if not same as acting on the ground. One of the ways for me to contribute is this blogging space and I am using this turn, time and space for writing on issues helping the cause.

 

U.S. is already a country where there is less poverty, less inequality and lesser discrimination. The country is already developed in most parameters with a plethora of opportunities for everyone to flourish. But no country is ideal, perfect and owing to the societal tendencies there is certainly more light to shed on the dark lives of some people. Those sections are predominantly Black people and one step in helping them lead better lives goes a long way in helping America. I am nurturing this thought for a long time and already written few blogposts on it, the last one being in Black History month. There are one too many occasions to promote the history and well-being of these people. The most recent one is the Juneteenth day which also happens to be a holiday. So, on that day I decided to look at the celebrations of Black people in black neighborhood and also went to a book talk of a black woman author. I ventured on my own and the environment is top-notch in these places. Though there are quite a number of days to celebrate Black history and importance, it felt like the occasions are always less to promote the lives of these people. Because of these many instances, I got an opportunity at last to catch the pulse of these people in this year. You go on promoting the worthy cause on many instances, not just for name sake, and it will bring new hope and improvement in the dark lives for all the efforts spent.

 

The past year, as can be seen, has definitely added a fillip to the cause of promoting and improving black lives as there are men working to equalize with good intentions to bring everyone to a common ground, irrespective of any intrinsic, natural differences. There are many days of remembrance and many instances of stimulus in the society to march ahead. It is definitely an advantage for these sections of the people as I had seen and felt with my own eyes. The good lives of these minority populace are in the interest of everyone. The addition of strength to the pathways of uprising of the weak people is also a good sign of a great nation. As I can see on the occasion, there is definitely an inherent current and process at play to help themselves by coming together in promoting the cause and improving it. This tells the little picture of the last year, at least in my residing place. Let this be the microcosmic representation of the larger story in the nation.

Lost in the good wave, can we forget the real situation of these black people in America. Even in a good country like U.S., forgetting the native African continent, there are huge racial disparities. The facts speak for themselves. I will list some glaring inequalities, more in this ‘developed’ city. The U.S. homicide rate for African American boys ages 16 to 17 was 18 times higher than that of white boys. The poverty rate for Black Chicagoans in 1960 was 29.7%; today, it is about 34%. The median income for African American households in Chicago is less than $36,000 a year, while white households is more than $82,000 a year. The unemployment rate for African American Chicagoans is more than 16%. For white residents, it is a little less than 11%. The jobless rate among African American teens, 16 to 19 years old, in Chicago was 87% in 2021 compared with 67% of all U.S. teens. The achievement gap between Black and white students is 36 percentage points. The African American population in Chicago has dropped to 29.2%, but African American firms received only 7.7% of city prime contracts and subcontracts between 2015 and 2019. Hispanic- and Asian-owned businesses fared much better at 17.1% and 16.4%, respectively. During the 1990s economic boom, African American communities on the South and West sides remained trapped in poverty, according to the 2000 census. Between 1960 and 2010, median income for Black Chicagoans rose by only $24,571, whereas for white, it increased by $51,052.

 

These are some glaring figures in the most focused black neighborhood in the country. If the picture of the section of populace is this bad in a top city of the nation which is miles ahead, we can comprehend their plight in the rest of the nation. When many leaders of eminence have emerged from the land, there is still huge gap between two groups. Every man is born equal and there needs to be every measure taken to make them equal. The government should work in some urgency to address these disparities by providing all means of resources and support to these communities.  

It is sickening to see the see the living conditions in the black households. Just try to absorb these few lines - “The vast majority of gun deaths among Black Americans are gun homicides, and Black Americans make up the majority of gun homicide victims in the US. In fact, 83% of all gun deaths among Black Americans are gun homicides. Despite the fact that Black boys and men account for just six percent of the total population, they comprise more than half of all gun homicide victims. Black boys were killed more than any other group and the homicide rate for African American boys ages 16 to 17 was 18 times higher than that of white boys.” With such dangerous conditions and weapons in possession of these young people, there is a need to teach, sensitize and put them in correct path, environment. A helping hand and kind words with empathy goes a long way to resolve the pressing problems of these people. The pattern to pacify the warring mind in a challenging backdrop need to be adopted to improve the median black life of the country, in particular those of the young adult. It can take an effort to help, an effort to volunteer, an effort to reach out and the spread of goodness from one section to other. 

 

These can be the actions that need to stem from the inaction of individuals. At a higher level, there is a need from organizations, government and society to embrace and encourage the support meted out to these groups. It is definitely not in the interest to cut back on these reservations, leave alone providing one. I am talking about this week Supreme court judgement to rule that the Affirmative action programs at certain colleges are ‘unconstitutional’, forcing universities and colleges nationwide to adjust admission policies. I have never seen a sane voice condemning supreme court ruling, but it has become a norm in U.S. since last year. To condemn a politician is one thing but no where one can condemn supreme court judgement, because it should leave little scope for disapproval. The supreme court in U.S. has gone nuts by banning abortion last year and affirmative action this year. The very fine principles which form the bedrock of American lifestream are being opposed by this so-called supreme court. Can this supreme court give life line to black students? No. But how dare it can snatch one from an aspiring teen aiming for a shot at a best college. In the context of all the above write-up, it is definitely stupid to oppose the hugely beneficial affirmative action. Indeed, there need to be much more supportive frameworks from government for black students to evolve from humble households and not cut back on existing ideals. In plain words, more black students need to join colleges and more young adults need to get good jobs. Anything that opposes is a joke that needs to be ridiculed. The hindrance by this court should not stop the progress of Blacks but should increase it in magnitude. The days of these judgements should serve to highlight the cause and make us rededicate towards ending the racial discrimination and inequalities in a just society.