William Joseph Barber II: These are who the oligarchs of the country fear the most. Black poor and low wage people -- which is 26 million people -- 60 percent of Black people. And poor and low wage White people -- which is 66 million people, or 30 percent of our White brothers and sisters. We need to unite with indigenous, Asian and Latino people in this country and vote their strength -- 87 million potential votes. (Thom Hartmann program, 6/21/2024).
Copilot: Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II is a leading advocate for the rights of the poor and is often referred to as "the closest person we have to Dr. King" by Cornel West [1]. He recently co-authored a groundbreaking book titled “White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy" with Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. Here are some key points about the book...
• Myth of Black Poverty: Despite there being forty million more poor white people than Black people in the United States, the association of Black skin with poverty persists. Barber challenges this myth and explores its historical causes.
• Neglected White Poverty: Barber addresses white poverty as a neglected subject. He argues that understanding the struggles of poor white families is essential for mitigating racism and uniting working-class and impoverished Americans.
• Economic Realities: The book discusses how housing, healthcare, and education costs have skyrocketed while wages have stagnated for most Americans. It emphasizes that there should be no shame in being poor. Moral Fusion Movement: Barber calls for a new "moral fusion movement" that unites people across racial and economic lines to combat poverty and systemic injustice. [2]
Additionally, Dr. Barber is a key figure in the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. This campaign aims to challenge systemic racism, poverty, the war economy, ecological devastation, and distorted morality. It unites tens of thousands of people across the country in pursuit of justice and equality. [3]
"We need to make them hear us" says Barber.
Copilot: Here are additional key points from "White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy"...
Moral Framework: Dr. Barber emphasizes the need for a moral framework that transcends partisan politics. He argues that addressing poverty and inequality is not just an economic issue but a moral imperative.
• Intersectionality: The book delves into the intersectionality of poverty, racism, and systemic injustice. It highlights how these issues are interconnected and affect marginalized communities disproportionately.
• Historical Context: Dr. Barber provides historical context, tracing the roots of poverty and racial disparities in America. He challenges prevailing narratives and encourages readers to critically examine societal myths.
• Coalition Building: The book calls for coalition building across racial lines. Dr. Barber advocates for a movement that unites people of all backgrounds to fight for economic justice and human rights.
Remember, these points are just a glimpse of the book's rich content. Dr. Barber's work invites readers to engage deeply with the complexities of poverty and race, fostering dialogue and action toward a more just society.
Video: Jun 17, 2024. Protestant minister, social activist, and Yale Divinity School professor Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss his latest book, "White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy". Barber talks about the staggering statistics of poverty in America which have long been misrepresented, the need for politicians to pay attention to this huge portion of the population and mobilizing poor and low wage people of every race to vote, and leading the June 29th Mass Poor People's & Low-Wage Workers' Assembly and Moral March on Washington DC. #DailyShow #RevDrWilliamBarber #JonStewart
William Barber: Some people cite the scripture where Jesus says, "The poor you always have with you" to argue that poverty is inevitable, and that trying to end it is a hopeless cause.
Every time they say that, they are misquoting Jesus. Because that’s not what Jesus meant or said. He was saying, yeah, the poor are going to be with you always, because he was quoting from Deuteronomy [15:11]. The rest of that scripture says the poor will always be with you because of your greed -- I'm paraphrasing it, but that’s the meaning of it. The poor will always be with you is a critique of our unwillingness to address poverty.
To have this level of inequality existing is a violation of our deepest moral, constitutional and religious values. It's morally inconsistent, morally indefensible, and economically insane. Why would you not want to lift 55 to 60 million people out of poverty if you could by paying them a basic living wage? Why would you not want that amount of resources coming to people and then coming back into the economy? (excerpted from a 1/21/2023 CNN article).
According to Moody's Analytics:
• Every dollar spent on unemployment benefits generates $1.61 in economic growth.
• Every dollar spent on food stamps generates $1.74 in economic growth.
• But every dollar spent on rolling tax rates back to Bush-era levels only creates $0.32 in economic growth -- that's a 68-cent loss on investment :(
DSD #69
