Why we can’t go without

It’s tough to live in a capitalistic society and not desire grand things.  To live amongst the greedy with their disposables and not become conditioned to their ways.  We’re twelve percent of the population yet fifty percent of its consumerism.  In other words, as a whole, we’re living outside of our means while mostly earning hand to mouth.

This has to change.

For one thing, I’m all for reparations but, with our conditioning, any monetary payments we receive would only benefit the system that put us here, returning back to sender with nothing gained.  Maybe some trinkets but, even those will be repossessed once a payment is missed.  Now, with credit destroyed, we’re in worse shape than we started.  We need financial education, primarily, then responsibility before being entrusted with the hard earnings of reparations.  But for now, we need to curtail our spendthrift ways before we can begin to build the wealth for our future.

We need to begin to love each other for who we are and can be.  And how, together, we are all aiming to provide for our future.  We shouldn’t be impressed with fancy care, Gucci this and Prada that; we’re not there yet, and shouldn’t be (Eurocentric minded), even those that can afford it, that’s on an individual basis, as a whole, we still have a ways to go.  At our pace, it’ll take over 700 years to catch up to the wealth of white people.  700 years, yet we try to keep up with the Joneses in the here and now.  We need to begin teaching our children fiscal responsibility and refrain from putting bills in their name but, flip the script, and enrich them with bank accounts and investments.

It’s tough, especially when we’re inundated with commercials and shows that depict wealth.  Celebrities looking fabulous on the red carpet, dreamlike, fantasizing us into an unreal reality.  We need to separate from the entertainment but, it’s tough because of its need as an escape from our daily injustices but, that connection to make-believe is an injustice as well.  Is it so hard to minimize the trips to the barber, nail salons and such?  And save that money and invest it?  Is it so hard to shop frugally in order to create an economic path into the future?

A penny saved is a penny earned and economic health is second only to biological well-being.  We need to support Black businesses and close down all non-Black owned properties in our neighborhoods.  We need to swallow our pride and appreciate the successes of Black shop owners and professionals of color and supply them with the business they deservedly need.  And encourage them to give back to the communities that support them and create a circle of life that’s unbreakable and linked solidly with the strength of Black excellence.