Black in America

What it's been like--as near as I can tell, since I'm white--to be a Black American in the last 100 years, for a lot of them, if not all:

--You may, or may not, be hired for a job;

--If you are hired for a job, it may well be for an entry-level and/or low-paying job;

--The job may also be either dirty or looked down on or both (e.g., janitor, etc.);

--If you get hired, it is likely for low-paying work;

--Consequently, because you are quite likely paid little, you also likely can't afford much of a house for your home. It will not be big, it will not be grand and it cannot be in a more "exclusive" area, if you can even afford to buy. You may have to rent;

--If you need or want a loan for a home, the chances are high you could be charged a higher interest rate by the bank or financial company (see link below);

--If you want or need a car, the car dealer may well charge you a higher price than he or she would charge a white person--just because they can;

--Many white people in your country--and even Hispanics--may well assume you are "dirty" and/or threatening and/or ignorant, just because of your color;

--One religion, at minimum, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (also known as the Mormons) had as their official policy, from the pulpit, until as late as 1979, that you, as a Black American, could belong to the religion, sure, and they'd take your money but you could never become part of their higher "priesthood" because of your color. Also, the reason is that it's based on a passage from the Bible (Go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_and_mark_of_Cain). Further, some religions--mostly fundamentalist "Christian" ones, still believe this, either formally or informally;

--Finally, to cap all this off, as if all that isn't enough, far too many people of your own country is far too likely to think you are poor because you are lazy and that it's your own fault.

The indignity.

Try understanding all this, let along living with those kinds of pressures.

This, then, is why far too many people just don't "get it" about discrimination and the status of Black Americans in the United States.

Links: http://www.latimes.com/business/money/fi-mo-wells-bias-20120712,0,4185138.story

http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/02/18/us-usa-farmers-pigford-idUSTRE61H5XD20100218

http://www.slaverybyanothername.com/