Black Pride Meets White Privilege

There is something wrong with this community. I couldn’t put my finger on it at first. My experiences and worldview didn’t allow me to see the problem. Then it hit me. The personal finance conferences I attend and even the readers of this blog are predominantly white. I felt the issue was so huge I had to write about encouraging minorities, especially the black community, to join our group. Fearful I might come across as a dick, I delayed and delayed. I started writing this post and then threw it away. It was all wrong. How can a white guy from a very white community reach out to the black community?

Then I got the wake up call. I published Overreacting Solves Nothing, where I attempt to calm the crowd after Trump won the election. A few days ago I was called out by a reader. SKG writes, “Easy for you to say not to overreact, you’re white. It’s a whole different story for people of color.” The gauntlet has been tossed and at the risk of coming across as a dick I have to reach out to this massive group of people filled with great pride in their heritage.

As white as the community I live in is, I still have a few black clients. I don’t call them black either; I call them clients. There are more Hispanic people in my community and, as a result, I have more Hispanic clients. Minorities never bothered me. My biggest problem with non-white clients is that sometimes I can’t understand them. Most Hispanics speak English just fine, but some have a strong dialect which I have to concentrate on to understand. When they see me struggle they revert to using Hispanic words because it is clearer for them.

It helps having an office manager who is Hispanic. Karen speaks the language which is a massive benefit to Hispanic clients. They and Karen really have powerful conversations while the white guy has a stupid look on his face. After all these years I have picked up a few words so I sometimes get a feel for where the discussion is going. Imagine that, the white guy was paying attention.

But what about the black community? Well, I have a few black clients, too. They tend to be business owners or professionals. Black women seem to have no problem walking into my office; the husband comes along for the ride. I serve their needs as I would any client. I don’t go out of my way to treat them better or different. They’re client! How else should I treat them?

White Privilege

It is so easy for me to sit back and watch the drama in politics unfold. For the black community it must be a serious body blow. I have white privilege and refuse to give it up. I like the benefits of white privilege. Rather than have white people give something up, how about extending the same privileges to minorities.

How can I come close to understanding what black people experience in this country? Racial profiling is real and the police seem to shoot and kill a disproportionate number of unarmed black men on a casual stroll to the local 7-Eleven for a pack of smokes because they looked like a suspect. You know, you guys all look the same to us. (I am not saying that jokingly either; I am saying it facetiously. To this day I have never mixed up the identity of a black client because they “looked” the same. They always look like individuals to me. Now my memory is a bit light and I may struggle to remember a name or prior conversation. Please chalk that up to honky getting old.)

There are advantages to being white in the United States. Those advantages should be extended to everyone, in my humble opinion. I like my clients, all of them. The color of their skin has no bearing on my opinion. The kind of person they are molds my opinion. I am concerned for minorities, especially the black community.

But this post is not as much about white privilege as it is about black pride.

Black Pride

At personal finance conferences I have attended there seem to be minorities in attendance, but there are few blacks. Blacks comprise 12.3% of the U.S. population, according to a quick Google search. There is no way in hell 1 in 10 people at the conferences I attended are black. And that is distressing.

The black people at these conferences tend to also be female. I experience the same thing in my office. Single black women have no problem working with a white-owned business. Married black women seem to have no prejudices against working with a white-owned business either. The husband comes along for the ride. Sure, I have worked with black men, but it seems more black women are open to working with my office in our very white community. At conferences, black women talk to me without any problem, but fewer black men. Do I look that intimidating? I shave my head. Do I come across as a skinhead or some other such asshole? I hope not. The black community is in desperate need of financial literacy. The added challenges, as SKG noted, of the black community means the need is greater.

I hope black people read this and are motivated. The added challenges of being black in America is not something I can do anything about. What I can do is provide solid information anyone can use. What I teach here, what other personal finance bloggers teach, is valuable information useful to everyone. Saving more of what you earn and investing in index funds is a colorblind activity. Your index fund investment performs the same as mine. No white privilege there.

But I am not the only place to get good information. I want my black readers to come away with something they can use to make their life better. I will refrain from giving Stoic advice; it would come across wrong. I would encourage black people to read Epictetus, a man who was a slave, won his freedom, and used his life experiences to make the world (and his personal life) a better place.

Black pride is real! My life experiences with black people have all been positive. I see the news, but have never experienced in real life what is portrayed there. I also realize black people have interests that expand beyond sports and rap music. If you don’t know it, there are really good blogs by black people too.

Barack Obama is our first black President and I think he was a good one. He could have accomplished much more if he didn’t face a Congress whose sole goal was to obstruct anything he did. I was always uncomfortable with clients who expressed their sole goal in life was to hold Obama to a single term. The black community should be proud of the President they produced. In time I think President Obama will be considered a good President and looked upon with favor.

The black community can also be proud of their work in entertainment. Our society, including white society, would be fundamentally different if black people were not a part of our great nation. To avoid the risk of stereotyping I will let the work of the great black entertainers and athletes speak for themselves.

Personal finance, early retirement, and financial independence are of interest to all. My perspective comes from my experiences. It is important to absorb perspectives from a wide variety of sources. If you didn’t know it, there are some really good personal finance and lifestyle blogs written by a black people. Here are a few you will find valuable:

Not Just a Girl in a Dress: Charell Star talks about beauty and fashion; she also talks about business and personal finance. Charell focuses on successful black business leaders. There are more than you think. We can all learn a lot from their stories.

The Frugal Feminista: Her byline is: BE HAPPY. BE WEALTHY. BE BRAVE. Kara is all those things and more. Living a good life is the goal and Kara nails it. Her writing is inviting and easy to read with loads of useful information. If you enjoy the Wealthy Accountant, you will love The Frugal Feminista.

My Fab Finance: Tonya’s blog won the 7^th Annual Plutus Awards: Best Personal Finance Blog for Women. Don’t let that stop you guys. Tonya focuses on: Money, professional development, entrepreneurship, and lifestyle. She has a “never quit” attitude. I love her already.

The Finance Bar: Marsha comes across more relaxed than many bloggers. There is a Member’s Area, too. You can enjoy all Marsha’s expert advice in her blog until you are ready to use her powerful program to take you to the next level.

Amazing Black Bloggers: Rather than talk too long, I have included a link to an awesome list of black bloggers in a variety of genres. My favorites are above. You might enjoy some of these other blogs, too.

One thing I noticed is the dearth of blogs by black men. Black men! Please share! Your world experiences are needed. At the risk of sounding like a dick, channel your white-guy. Plenty of white guys write blogs. [Note to my black male friends: writing a blog is a chick magnet. I’m telling ya. The ladies think it is so hot when a man exposes himself, ah, wrong choice of words. The ladies love a man who shares his thoughts. Back to our regular programming.]

The Biggest Dick

Yes, I am playing a stereotype with words. My concern is black people will be turned off before they read this far. I hope not. I know I am coming across as a white prick. If I knew how to say this in a more appropriate way, I would.

The message is pure. The information solid. Black people must engage regardless the disadvantages. As bad as it is, there are many black people finding a way to move up. White privilege breeds arrogance; black pride does not. Your community has so much to offer; so do you. As a nation, as a people, we need you to step forward into the light. There are plenty of challenges. Nothing I say or do will change that. You still have to do it. Racism and violence will not end without effort.

Any community that can produce a Martin Luther King Jr. has a lot to be proud of. Don’t let the dream die.

Please set the record straight in the comments below. If I hit the nail square, let me know. Where I am wrong, equally let me know. Personal finance and the good life are not exclusive to whites. I have no problem with an integrated personal finance community. Segregation died in the 1960’s (kind of). Please do not engage a self-inflicted segregation in this vital area of living. Share. Thank you.