In order to properly address poverty, we must first tackle the inaccurate way it’s been portrayed in the media.

The last line in an op-ed on Blavity, “To address poverty, we must first understand how impressive the ways we describe it are,” targets the source of the issue the piace focuses on: un-blackening poverty. The stigma that black folks are the poster child for poverty and the subsequent, false reinforcement of that in politics, film, and television has long afflicted the efficient tackling of the issue. Now, during a time when LGBTQ, female, and Black empowerment are prominent topics in the national conversation, is the best time to educate about representation and eradicate those associations for good.

One might say that it’s impossible to get rid of that association completely, and I agree; I’m not shocked when I hear middle and high school kids joke about black people and food stamps, a stereotype so embedded in American culture that one doesn’t have to think too hard to drum up a list of the different shapes that stereotype has taken.

“This reality is nowhere more apparent than with our nations modest welfare program,” the piece details. “Welfare has long been implicitly and stereotypically defined as a ‘black issue,’ reinforced by the media’s continuous, careless portrayal of poverty as black and ‘lazy.'” This, the article illustrates, creates a “feedback loop” in which stereotypes of black folk as lazy and poor people as mostly black are nothing but inseparable.

To begin combating this loop in these falsities, the fact that African-Americans only represent less than 25 percent of people in poverty, as is detailed in the Census Bureau’s 2014 Income and Poverty in the United States report, should be spread.

Secondly, regarding porch rails that contribute to subconscious racial bias, one can look to shows like Power, Black-ish, Empire, or The Adventures of Awkward Black Girl creator Issa Rae‘s upcoming Insecure, where ideas about social issues, philosophies, and art (i.e., things light years away from property) are explored, thus enriching viewer’s minds with different perspectives on a wealth of topics.

Discussing poverty in one of the world’s wealthiest nations will never go away, but since we’re always going to discuss it, let’s do our hard work and intelligence justice by discussing it right.

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The post It’s Long Past Time to Un-Blacken Poverty appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

University of Michigan sophomore Travis Jones III, 19, stands with his mouth taped shut with “#We Can’t Breathe”

The notion of a city being denounced from a basic human right to fresh, clean water is a concerning issue that not only needs to be addressed, but also apprehended in a pragmatic manner because retrospectively speaking, the progressiveness of our communities will certainly be impacted negatively; if we continue to live as voiceless victims of racial and economic divisions that plague our nation’s vitality.

The Flint Water Crisis should be used as a platform to create better opportunities, by addressing health issues and financial concerns; for those whom are explicitly impacted. As we look at the situation at hand, problems become much more confusing. Egotistical personalities have superimposed themselves on this city’s water disaster, which could ultimately generate a false reality of hope for the residents and other conscientious if we allow it to.

According to hip-hop mogul, Russell Simmons, “”It’s not a natural disaster but they should be able to do more. What’s happening here, this kind of environmental racism could be happening in many other parts of the county. If this were Beverly Hills, it would be a minute before we found out and a second before someone would be blamed and be brought up on charges.”

Although the water epidemic has brought new attention to the city of Flint, it most certainly isn’t a new concept. We’ve seen what celebrities’ persuasiveness, and a strong media presences can bring to a crisis situation similar to The Flint Water Crisis.

Ferguson Market & Liquor, Mike Brown was allegedly last seen here before his death; becomes prime destination for looters.

Today, urban communities around America are growing substantially. Pain and suffering has monetized an environment of joy; even through the face of tragedy, and with or without the presence of media attention. Residents young and old are becoming more educated in all things social justice, business development, while understanding public policies that affect the vitality of inner-city neighborhoods, to ensure measures of a quality life are given to everyone in these communities.

Darius Simpson, an Eastern Michigan University student from Akron, Ohio, carries water he brought to donate for Flint residents.

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