Race and other social constructs
This morning I was listening to a conversation on Vox Conversations between Vox’s Sean Illing and the author of The Sum of Us, Heather McGhee about the cost of racism in America. I urge the reader of this big to listen to that conversation and to read Ms. McGhee’s book. The conversation stimulated a lot of thought and questions, most of which I will not address in this blog. I want to focus on one issue which Sean mentioned. The issue or the question concerns what to say when someone says that the fact that they got an education and jumped through many professional hoops should mean they deserve much more than the person working at a job which does not require as much formal education or other preparation. This response usually is made in response to a suggestion that the minimum, wage should be raised to at least $15.00 an hour.
To the person who has worked hard to get an education and jumped through professional hoops it may feel unfair if they do not make significantly more than the person for whom training and education was minimal. This sense of unfairness is based on some long held beliefs some of which are false. These include:
• Everyone has the same opportunity to get an education.
• Opportunity is not limited by cultural factors such as race, talents or ability with which one may be born, family support, or other encouragement or responsibilities.
• The person arguing again the minimum wage may be paying off huge school loans and, perhaps has a spendable income at present which is not much above the proposed minimal wage.
• The person who has an education and jumps through professional hoops has to make up for the income loss while in school and training.
How does one respond to these arguments or feeling?
• Many factors determine who is able to get an education or get a well-paid position without an education including physical ability, child care responsibilities, health, quality of early education in grades 1-12, talents, and the demands of economy in particular areas and time periods..
• Racism, family economics, innate ability, luck of having or not having a mentor, family expectations and responsibilities all play a role in who gets a formal education beyond high school.
• Some of us choose professions which we know will not pay a great deal above some proposed minimum wages. Social workers, counselors, teachers, and some clergy know that they are choosing a profession which may not every pay significantly more than a minimum wage although most get at least slightly above that amount.
• It is also true that many individuals are paying off huge school loans and which accumulate significant interest. Some will quickly make enough money to pay off loans and to live above the medium income. Many will not. In other countries the cost of school is considered a public investment.
• It is true that some spend many years in school, residencies and internships. Fortunately, many of these positions are now well paid; above the average proposed minimum wage.
It is also true:
• At $15.00 an hour, post taxes, Medicare and other deductions the average take home check a month is slightly over $2000.00. Unless one is living in a communal situation and sharing expenses it is difficult, at best, to do more than scrape by month to month. One unusual expense will quickly destroy the budget.
• If one cannot afford the basics to stay healthy one cannot continue to work. If one is ill and unable to work then one is not only unable to pay taxes and put money into the economy but must use some other public resources and/or be considered a walking dead drain on the economy and/or what many consider a throw away person. No one wins.
It is important to have an income large enough to cover the basic bills including healthcare. Emergencies and some luxuries. Anything larger than that does not keep one warm at night, bring one chicken soup when sick, or provide comfort when grieving or celebrating. Anything more than that might bring temporary pleasure from the things one purchases, or temporarily inflate one’s ego, but in the end life is 10 minutes long and we most need the comfort of each other.
Race, income disparity and other issues are not only social constructs but social and political ploys to keep us divided and, thus, to prevent us from joining together to build a society with works well for all of us; to prevent community.
Written March 12, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
This morning I was listening to a conversation on Vox Conversations between Vox’s Sean Illing and the author of The Sum of Us, Heather McGhee about the cost of racism in America. I urge the reader of this big to listen to that conversation and to read Ms. McGhee’s book. The conversation stimulated a lot of thought and questions, most of which I will not address in this blog. I want to focus on one issue which Sean mentioned. The issue or the question concerns what to say when someone says that the fact that they got an education and jumped through many professional hoops should mean they deserve much more than the person working at a job which does not require as much formal education or other preparation. This response usually is made in response to a suggestion that the minimum, wage should be raised to at least $15.00 an hour.
To the person who has worked hard to get an education and jumped through professional hoops it may feel unfair if they do not make significantly more than the person for whom training and education was minimal. This sense of unfairness is based on some long held beliefs some of which are false. These include:
• Everyone has the same opportunity to get an education.
• Opportunity is not limited by cultural factors such as race, talents or ability with which one may be born, family support, or other encouragement or responsibilities.
• The person arguing again the minimum wage may be paying off huge school loans and, perhaps has a spendable income at present which is not much above the proposed minimal wage.
• The person who has an education and jumps through professional hoops has to make up for the income loss while in school and training.
How does one respond to these arguments or feeling?
• Many factors determine who is able to get an education or get a well-paid position without an education including physical ability, child care responsibilities, health, quality of early education in grades 1-12, talents, and the demands of economy in particular areas and time periods..
• Racism, family economics, innate ability, luck of having or not having a mentor, family expectations and responsibilities all play a role in who gets a formal education beyond high school.
• Some of us choose professions which we know will not pay a great deal above some proposed minimum wages. Social workers, counselors, teachers, and some clergy know that they are choosing a profession which may not every pay significantly more than a minimum wage although most get at least slightly above that amount.
• It is also true that many individuals are paying off huge school loans and which accumulate significant interest. Some will quickly make enough money to pay off loans and to live above the medium income. Many will not. In other countries the cost of school is considered a public investment.
• It is true that some spend many years in school, residencies and internships. Fortunately, many of these positions are now well paid; above the average proposed minimum wage.
It is also true:
• At $15.00 an hour, post taxes, Medicare and other deductions the average take home check a month is slightly over $2000.00. Unless one is living in a communal situation and sharing expenses it is difficult, at best, to do more than scrape by month to month. One unusual expense will quickly destroy the budget.
• If one cannot afford the basics to stay healthy one cannot continue to work. If one is ill and unable to work then one is not only unable to pay taxes and put money into the economy but must use some other public resources and/or be considered a walking dead drain on the economy and/or what many consider a throw away person. No one wins.
It is important to have an income large enough to cover the basic bills including healthcare. Emergencies and some luxuries. Anything larger than that does not keep one warm at night, bring one chicken soup when sick, or provide comfort when grieving or celebrating. Anything more than that might bring temporary pleasure from the things one purchases, or temporarily inflate one’s ego, but in the end life is 10 minutes long and we most need the comfort of each other.
Race, income disparity and other issues are not only social constructs but social and political ploys to keep us divided and, thus, to prevent us from joining together to build a society with works well for all of us; to prevent community.
Written March 12, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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