Black women have roughly the same odds of escaping poverty as white women, the study found. (Photo by Hero Images)
A new Brookings Institute study has Black folks up in arms over its suggestion that Black men negatively affect the upward mobility of Black women, particularly when it comes to finances.
The report, published Thursday, March 22, is the latest in a growing body of literature that suggests race gaps in the inheritance of intergenerational poverty is largely the result of poor outcomes for African-American men. When examined along gender lines, the analysis implies Black women have roughly the same odds of escaping poverty as white women — that is, until they wed a Black man.
“Black women face a very high risk of being stuck in poverty (62 percent), surpassing even the 50 percent risk faced by Black men,” the study states. ” … The headline finding here is that, among those who grew up poor, Black women are the [only] group showing a marked difference between the risk of being in the bottom quintile of the ‘individual earnings’ distribution (for each gender), and the risk of being in the bottom quintile of the ‘family income’ distribution (for the whole age cohort).
“Black women do reasonably well on the first and very poorly on the second,” it adds. “This result is probably driven by the fact that Black women tend to create families with the black men who do poorly on both counts and thus bring down the family income results for Black women.”
The key to closing the income gap between Black and white women, the study concluded, must begin with narrowing intergenerational income gaps between Black and white men by helping the former earn more money to support their families.
Many Black men didn’t take too kindly to research’s tone, however, and accused study authors of trying to create division between Black men and women.
https://twitter.com/itweeteth/status/978467444208488448
One day, you Negroes who lavish these white people who want to divide black men/women will learn a very, very hard lesson. pic.twitter.com/eKhiu12w3u
— Jor-El (@itweeteth) March 27, 2018
The authors – @swinshi, @richardvreeves, Katie Guyot – of this plainly divisive article are the descendants of slave traders and owners.
Take heed who you allow access to your mind, black men and black women.
— Jor-El (@itweeteth) March 27, 2018
So, instead of investing more effort into regressing possible root causes affecting black male earning power that lead to poor economic mobility outcomes, the authors choose to simply take the results and pin the causes on Black Males because it’s convenient. 2/2
— John Allen Shaw (@LiberalEcon) March 27, 2018
This article is written by a racist conservative think tank. Black women on average make less than Black men so it makes no sense to say that Black men bring Black women down financially. Black couples are just poorer on average
— Black Men Don’t Cheat Consultant (@JonesKingly) March 27, 2018
#ScottWinship let’s correct your defamatory article and title of this #tweet. Due to #systemicracism, #WhiteAmerican’s fear and desire to continue #whitesupremacy for their economic development, some black males in America are economically disadvantaged.Fixed it! pic.twitter.com/ov8FHSHQML
— Dre (@TheRealRapbeat) March 27, 2018
On the flip side, there were some women who defended the study and found it to be valid and others who recognized white supremacy as the root cause.
thats tough shit! If only BW were as anti-black n color struck as way too many BM are, we wouldve been chasing others en masse but we don't yet we're the gold diggers 😂😂😂😂
— don't play ya self (@Curly_cici) March 27, 2018
Normally I would go to bat for black men. But they’ve proven to be unworthy so I’ma sit back and let the Ming Lee’s, Maria’s, Becky’s and the light skints of the world take this one.
I’ma enjoy this shit show tomorrow. Deceptacons Unite! pic.twitter.com/pQAn1lkoX0
— UglyIG_Model (@ILuhsHappoIDo) March 27, 2018
I’m not really surprised by this. But I have felt for years that this is by design. The criminal justice system targets Black men which takes them out of society or makes them unemployable. Black men don’t help themselves by murdering each other in the streets.
— Shannon (@showmeshannon) March 27, 2018
Dr. William Julius Wilson identified this same phenomenon in 1965. Structural racism hasn’t changed and neither have these statistics. Until the humanity of Black Americans is recognized and valued; my grandkids and their grandkids will face the same “problem”.
— Tankeeya Butts (@Tankbuttz) March 27, 2018
I’m happy this study was done. I’ve always gripes about how there isn’t enough data and research on socioeconomics affecting black women. No one ever bothers to invest the time or money to give us the insight we need to level up and operate accordingly
— Lil Boujee Vert (@CokeBottleNisha) March 27, 2018
