Something is wrong with capitalism as it now stands in the United States. Ultimately, the plight of the poor brother depends partly on the democratization of the major economic resources in North America. A society that allowed the rich brother to sneak through has to give way to a democratic one that prioritizes and privileges the life of the poor brother. In the final analysis, the quality of life and spiritual peace of the middle-class black males rests on the predicament and prospects of the poor brother. I don't suggest that guilt will spur on the rich brother to search for ways to implement faith, family, education, and political culture as adequate value judgments and lifestyles.
Guilt can only lead to condescension.
On the contrary, initiative to relate to poor and working class African American males should come from middle class blacks because the latter's lives are also at stake. At one level, the rich brother's own humanity is threatened and lost as long as the poor brother suffers. To be human, in the African and African American tradition, is to be in community. Broken humanity somewhere affects humanity everywhere. On another level, ethics dictate that it is the right thing to do.