Working Class Blacks Work It Out

Understanding the power, privilege, and difference that is afforded to white citizens and workers in the United States is essential to grasping the frustration and suspicion of Black citizens and workers. It is impossible to comprehend the impact of capitalism without acknowledging how racism informs our economic system. Yet, for some of us working class Blacks economics, social status, and even race do not define who we are or how we live.
Analyzing the Black working-class removes the anomalies of those too few Blacks who truly fit into the socioeconomic middle and upper middle class or the even rarer wealthy Blacks. It also takes out of the equation those Blacks who due to myriad reasons are no longer working or seeking to work. Limiting our discussion in this manner allows a more focused analysis than to take a monolithic approach or a multifaceted study.
As a Black woman nearing the half century mark, I have been exposed to Blacks in various socioeconomic statuses; however, I myself have never lived beyond the bounds of the Black working-class. Yet, it has always fascinated me that those studying the social patterns of people often do not realize that it is misleading to apply the same labels or class identifiers to all people. Often the Black working-class considers themselves middle class and indeed they live like it. The difference for this group than whites in the same economic status is the formal and informal social support systems developed to sustain their families and communities.
I have a large extended-community family, which results in innumerable resources. While I was a child we shared in poverty together: housing, food, clothing, and care were shared. As each of us were educated and took occupations we shared our talents, treasure, and time with one another in much the same way that our parents shared houses and cars. While some of us obtained more professional positions than others, we all had excellent pediatric care for our children as one of our "play cousins" became a pediatrician. She treated all the younger "play cousins" regardless of insurance coverage. Those with no insurance coverage bartered with her for services she needed personally or professionally.
Similarly, a few "play cousins" became barbers or stylists and even those of us working minimum wage never went to work looking unkempt. Many Blacks I know share similar histories. Indeed, I know of families who have legally given custody of children to an adult with benefits while retaining physical custody of their children. In this way the children were able to obtain benefits or college aid while providing financial assistance to a family member in a higher tax bracket.
The Black working-class as a group is characterized as industrious and innovative, many of the Black working-class leave wage-earning jobs after their shifts to continue working in self-operated service business. Many of these entrepreneurs operate service businesses that are similar to the services performed by slaves and later domestics and handymen. However, the significant difference is that now these people determine how and when they will work and for what price.
In my experience it is the Black working-class that works in the labor industry, their homes, and their communities. It is because of their determination to work to obtain a better life for their family that they are drawn into movements to end economic disparity, racial inequality, and labor discrimination. Too often the Black-working class has not been seen as essential, intelligent, and qualified to lead or even to work as equals.