Looks like it's time for a coin flip. Rep. Paul Ryan has received an
ample amount of flack in recent weeks for blaming the current poverty rate on a
"tailspin of culture" in America's "inner city" life, a statement
that many consider to be nothing more than a blatant use of dog whistle
politics. Granted, for him to simply come out and say that inner cities
are rife with African American males who are lazy and have no ambition would
have been much worse, but the truth of the matter is that Ryan simply forgot to
do his homework on the subject. As with any form of controversy, there are
always two sides to a single coin. The coin, in this case, represents poverty
as a whole, while
its two sides resemble the various
cultural
and
structural functions of poverty.
In
truth, Ryan spoke of poverty only in terms of culture (Heads) and, as a result,
failed to recognize the all-important structural element (Tails) that many
believe holds the key to understanding the roots of poverty within the broader
spectrum of American culture.
Heads:
The Cultural Side
Ryan's reasoning behind his choice of words may be due, in part, to a larger
discussion involving the appeal of "cultural arguments" in American
society on controversial topics. According to author William Julius Wilson,
such arguments "are more likely to resonate with the broader public
because there is this dominant American belief system that associates poverty
and welfare with individual initiative." In short, Ryan is embracing the
age old concept of an American who is poised to achieve "The American
Dream" through a constant level of hard work and dedication. Anyone that
falls short of this idea gets the "laziness" and "lack of
motivation" labels attached to them, including whole cultures of people.
These ideas are frequently reinforced in local news media broadcasts where stories
of gunshot violence, drug raids, and burglary incidents are often paired with
somber, unflattering, and often, embarrassing imagery of African American youth
and families. The same can be said with regard to other forms of media that include,
but are not limited to movies, television, and music videos. For example,
African American Rap, Hip-Hop, and R&B artists tend to promote overarching themes
of the phrase “Get rich quick!”, where becoming a millionaire can be done with
little to no effort.
Such media imagery not
only generates and promotes racial stereotypes, but also allows one to make the
generalization that
all African
Americans think, act, and behave in ways that are counter intuitive to an
honest, hardworking lifestyle. The longer this trend continues within
mainstream media, the more likely people will regard it as an accurate
descriptor of African American culture.
Tails:
The Structural Side
The crux of the current discussion, however, involves the structural
functions of poverty which, in truth, have a mixture of racial and non-racial
connotations. The racial implications, according to Wilson, are rooted in
historical forms of discrimination and segregation that are still considered
prominent issues. In a hypothetical letter to Paul Ryan, author Jonathan
Capehart wishes to set the record straight with Ryan on the cold hard truth
behind inner city life by stating that such a lifestyle is nowhere near
accidental, nor is it the result of an unwillingness to work.
Rather, the living conditions of present-day
African Americans within impoverished sections of inner cities are essentially
the result of generations before them who were subjected to “discriminatory
housing policies” such as “redlining,” “restrictive covenants,” and the “departure
of manufacturing of commerce from cities.” Not to mention, with the
implementation of the Fair Housing Act in 1968 by President Lyndon Johnson,
integration of formerly all-white neighborhoods became a reality in the early
70’s, thus leading to instances of “blockbusting” that eventually turned thriving
neighborhoods into slums. One might describe the entire process as taking on
characteristics of a snowball effect, growing larger and more economically damaging
with each new generation. Finally, with each new generation come non-racial
structural functions of poverty such as economic changes (rising inflation, economic
recession, etc.) and technological innovations (internet, cell phones, etc.).
These functions exist more prominently today
as technology, in particular, has played a crucial role in redefining what it
means to be a consumer, how interpersonal relationships are formed and/or maintained,
and especially, the rate at which information is processed and spread across
vast distances.
Not having access to
such technology only manages to further alienate those living in near, or
absolute poverty from middle-class “normalcy.”
Getting
to Know Both Sides
The major point to take away from this discussion is simple. The government
must do their homework.
They must
refrain from offering black and white solutions to problems that are riddled
with grey areas. They must also refrain from making rapid fire generalizations about a specific
group of people based on brief glimpses from outside the inner city window.
Instead, they must make the attempt to walk inside the city’s door. Once inside, do not simply
converse with a fake smile. Speak with each and every individual on a personal
level. Get to know their thoughts, feelings, hopes and dreams. Persuade them to
show you what the other side of the coin looks like.
http://www.utimes.pitt.edu/?p=18764
University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work Dean, Larry Davis, speaks at a University Club conference on the subject of African American males and how they are portrayed in various forms of media.
http://www.aapss.org/news/2010/06/18/william-julius-wilson-how-cultural-and-structural-forces-interact
William Julius Wilson is interviewed on the subject of how cultural and structural functions of poverty interact with each other, with a special focus on inner city poverty.
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2009/03/how_to_understand_the_culture_of_poverty.2.html
This article features William Julius Wilson's "revised" version of the "Culture of Poverty" thesis where "victims" of poverty are neither defended, nor are they blamed for their current position within society.
http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/paul-ryan-urban-plight-isnt-cultural
MSNBC Contributor, Jonathan Capehart, writes a "love letter" to Paul Ryan that instructs him on the truth behind inner city life for people of color.
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