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I’m not going to retweet them but I’ve seen some complaints about this article and how it’s “not about the real middle class.”
I have thoughts. https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22245223/black-middle-class-racism-reparations
I have thoughts. https://www.vox.com/the-goods/22245223/black-middle-class-racism-reparations
now, I’m not an economic sociologist nor do I study housing inequity or even the Black middle class writ large.... but some complaints I’m seeing don’t make sense based on the piece.
first, the complaint that incomes between $150-200K isn’t middle class. the fact that the author notes that they should have specified they’re not talking about the MIDDLE middle class aside...these combined incomes for families are certainly UPPER middle class.
further, the direct quotes/narratives from people Petersen interviewed live in places like New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta.
that income doesn’t go as far in these major metro areas as it does in smaller markets with lower cost of living so I’m perplexed.
that income doesn’t go as far in these major metro areas as it does in smaller markets with lower cost of living so I’m perplexed.
every person also described having massive student loan debt, credit card debt, *AND* like virtually all upwardly mobile Black folks in the US, they were supporting family members as well.
that will eat up high incomes in high cost of living locations. these folks aren’t rich.
that will eat up high incomes in high cost of living locations. these folks aren’t rich.
Petersen also focuses a lot on wealth in the piece — the ways parents and grandparents who had managed to buy homes lost them in economic crises that disproportionately impacted Black folks, the fact that they didn’t have much in savings or retirement. sounds middle class to me.
now to the complaint that she only engages “one” sociologist for a so-called reasonable definition of middle class. several sociologists are cited in the article. several Black economists are cited in the article.
what more do you want?
what more do you want?
I’m not suggesting the article is perfect — as Petersen notes s guild have provided better specificity about who she was talking about up front when she started the series.
but she’s tying together a history of racist policy that prevents Black people from accruing wealth...
but she’s tying together a history of racist policy that prevents Black people from accruing wealth...
...to make a point about the MIDDLE of the middle class being hollowed out so much that even these folks on the top end of it are at risk of falling out of their income-based class position.
I’m just not getting the complaints.
I’m just not getting the complaints.
