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Eight Things More Important to Black People than Racism
Anti-racists think racism is the most important problem in America, but only 3% of black people agree with them. That shouldn’t surprise you—if you believe all people are basically alike, you know black people’s main concerns are the ones we all share. And since a high percentage of black people are in the working class, you know a high percentage of their concerns will be class issues.
Pew’s poll reflects that. Working-class people are hit harder by violence and crime, they’re constantly aware of economic issues, and they feel the effects of rising rents and mortgage rates. Working-class people are more likely to be exposed to covid, and without universal health care, they have to worry about public health. Working-class people live closer to their neighbors and interact with them more, and they rely more on public safety and emergency services. People who put race first miss all those facts, but people who put class first miss none of them.
In more racist times, black people were naturally more concerned with racism. Today, the black working class is concerned with everyone getting along, and the black bourgeoisie, like the white bourgeoisie, is concerned with continuing to exploit the entire working class.
