From: brs@holmes.acc.Virginia.EDU (Blanche R. Steppe)
Subject: Re Apportioning blame
Originator: brs@holmes.acc.Virginia.EDU
Organization: University of Virginia
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 15:04:01 GMT


 djohns@elm.circa.ufl.edu (David A. Johns) writes:

>In article <1992Sep29.171932.17611@midway.uchicago.edu> tuff@midway.uchicago.edu writes:

># The reality of the situation is that the vast majority of people
># who started in a low-income bracket will end up in one. The
># majority of people who started in a middle-class situation will end
># up in a middle-class position; and the majority of the people who
># start in an upper- class situation will end up in one. This is a
># reality.

>The question is why.

>The easy answer is that the door is shut.  But the fact that some
>people make it across that class boundary -- and that blacks from
>other cultures cross even more often -- indicates that that's not the
>whole story.

>Certainly part of the problem is that people from low-income areas
>simply don't know how to act and don't know what's expected of them in
>middle-class jobs.  Their families can't teach them, because *they*
>don't know.  What are often called "job skills" -- promptness, some
>self-direction, an appropriate level of deference to bosses and to
>customers, etc. -- have to be taught.  The problem is worse for blacks
>than for poor whites because of the perception that these skills
>involve "acting white" and because following orders is often perceived
>as subservience.

What you talking 'bout David?  

I don't know what you consider "low-income areas".  Where did you get such 
ideas?  I know lots of "low-income" people.  They have better "job skills"
than a lot of high-income people.  The low-income workers are the ones who
have to get to work on time.  Most of them have to punch a time clock.  Some
high-income people can waltz in at any time.  

Where did you get the idea that having job skills is "acting white"?  We
African Americans have been working hard for generations in this country.
At first we worked for no wages, now we work for low wages.  Most of the
time we are paid less (than whites) for the same work.

I know college graduates both black and white who work at low paying jobs.
They must have learned some "job skills" along the way.  Don't assume that
people who make low wages are less intelligent than those who make high
salaries.  

Also, low-income families don't love their children any less than higher
income families.  In fact, I would say that they love them more and expect
more of them.  These are the people who work 2 and 3 jobs so that their
children can attend college and move to the next income level.

>What would happen if someone with a little money -- Cosby, Jordan,
>whoever -- set up an integrated training school and placement service
>for inner city kids?  Imagine being able to call an employer and say,
>"I've got a kid here who I can guarantee.  If he doesn't work out for
>one reason or another, I'll replace him myself.  And I'm available to
>provide further training, help mediate disputes, etc."

I hate people who are always trying to "spend" others money.  Cosby and
Jordan know how to spend their money.  They don't need help from you.
Cosby has given millions of dollars to colleges.  Job training centers
have existed for years.  Some are run by private companies for profit.
Others are non-profit such as our local Monticello Area Community Action
Agency.  I served on their board of directors for 5 years.  They have been
running a job training center for 25 years.  They train young people for 
clerical jobs, store clerks, practical nursing and various other low paying 
jobs.  The agency also administers Head Start and several other programs.
I'll send you a brochure if you like.

>David

Blanche