Tonight while watching Giants/Phillies on one TV, the other TV in the living room was on CNN watching the "Black in America" documentary, specifically focused on debt in the black community and connecting topic with black church.
I must say that I have been generally avoiding the "black in America" series on CNN because of my view that it stereotypes black people, but in light of "debt" being the big topic of discussion and one that I can relate to, I figured that I would watch. I am so glad that I watch as it gave me a chance to think on the various issues that affect black America, with one being debt.
The focus question was if debt is a bigger issue in the black community than racism. I'm not 100% convinced that debt is a bigger issue than racism but I will not totally dismiss the idea of debt being a bigger issue in the black community. I personally think that racism is more "under the surface" today than it was in previous years.
I believe that one of the main problems in our community, and probably in this society as a whole is that we live too much trying to impress others. Part of this, I believe, happens because we are so worried about what people think of us. What will people think of me if I live in apartment? Who cares as long as you have some type of shelter. In this society we give people value based on their material possessions. I am on a mission to get rid of this thinking and promote a thinking that says that our value is solely based on the work of Christ on the cross. In other words, who I am is not defined by what I have, but by the reality that God created me in His image!
2nd, I believe that in the black community we have went away from the "success for the sake of our community"mindset to more of the "I gotta do what's best for me" mindset. Why? Because I believe that many of us have accepted the "European-American" model as the way to success, as defined by America. I'm not advocating socialism, communism, or any other form of government but just saying that our original African way of thinking was success for the sake of the community. I feel like many of us have a "it is what it is" attitude as it relates to success. Basically, if that's the model we have to abide by to be successful then we have to do what we have to do.
The last thing I want to address is public policy. While I believe that personal responsibility is critical to our economic development I believe that our country must do more to ensure that everyone has equal access to the many ways of black people having economic success. If it has to be a loan, tax credit, access to resources, whatever it is, we need to make sure that black people have equal access to that opportunity.
When it's all said and done, we need to start preaching in the church financial literacy instead of financial increase. Not saying that people do not need more money but sometimes part of the problem is that we do not manage right what we already have. I pray that we will use personal responsibility, investment in our own resources (I say this admitting that I do not do this often as I should), advocating equal access and financial literacy as our tools of achieving what we can achieve. We must also return to community model of success and STOP DETERMINING OUR WORTH BASED ON MATERIAL THINGS!!!!
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