Cliff Albright

Recent Activity

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  Cliff signed the petition | about 2 years ago

  Support Eric Johnson: Black youth arrested after trying to help catch murder suspects
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  Cliff started the petition | about 2 years ago

  Support Eric Johnson: Black youth arrested after trying to help catch murder suspects
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  Cliff commented on the article | about 2 years ago

  90% of Black Children on Food Stamps

  Rebecca, your post, and several on this thread, are disturbing on several levels.  But for now, i'll limit my comments to your statement about us not being able to address race.  While we certainly cannot change anyone's race (contrary to Sammy Sosa's efforts), we certainly can change the way that race impacts and is impacted by public policy. 

  
  

  In your comments you suggest that we examine issues that CAN be addressed such as education, employment and housing patterns.  Are you of the opinion that race is not interwoven into each of those issues?  The reality is that while poverty impacts ALL people, it does not do so in the same manner.  Even the extent to which poverty is concentrated is certain neighborhoods varies depending on race.  White poverty tends not to be as concentrated; thus poor White households tend to have slightly more access to services and opportunities than you find with Black poverty.

  
  

  Again, this is not to say that ANY poverty is ok.  I despise all poverty, and I agree with Dr. King that at some point we need to stop feeling good about giving beggars some change and start changing structures that SYSTEMATICALLY produce beggars.

  
  

  Some say that such change require universal solutions, such as social security, FHA loans and the GI bill.  But we often forget that these universal solutions were far from race neutral.  They actually broadened the gap between Black and White, and I fear that your sentiment that because we can't change someone's race we can only focus on the other stuff would perpetuate the same results.