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Never Too Rich for Racism: 10 Ways Racism Still Impacts Wealthy Blacks

Posted byBy Taylor Gordon | Published on: CommentsComments (6)

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The Commodification of Black Culture

Aspects of Black culture are picked up by mainstream media and treated as a commodity, but many times there is one key element of the Black culture that’s removed – the Black people. Consider the way magazines called TV personality Kendall Jenner’s cornrows “epic” and “new” despite the fact that Black women had been rocking the style for years, the way the big butt movement didn’t hit mainstream media until we were all met with the likes of rapper Iggy Azalea and the fact that to this day mainstream media outlets still consider singer Miley Cyrus the founder of the twerk movement. Meanwhile, rapper Nicki Minaj and singer Beyonce have been criticized for their “trashy” twerk-filled performances, and critics slammed singer Solange Knowles for her natural hairstyles on the red carpet. When it comes down to it, even wealthy Blacks can’t escape the repurposing of their own culture for the benefit of their white counterparts.

 

Work

Black Titleholders Are Still Considered Disposable

Many times, companies hesitate to let go of executive directors, associate managers or vice administrators. It’s not so hard to let go when those titleholders are Black. Black people in positions of power tend to be considered disposable and will likely get the boot at the sign of their first major slip-up while their white counterparts are quickly forgiven or get by with a slap on the wrist.

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