A few people have commented on the lack of Black people who volunteer at programs which benefit Black people.But the simple reason is that most Blacks don't understand the value of leaving a good tip.
Do Blacks get poor service because they don't tip - or do they fail to tip because they receive poor service?
"They need to get a better job" is the common response by those who fail to tip.
But think about it: If one group of people paid you a little extra for doing what you already do, and another group didn't - who would you prefer to work for?
To whom would you respond when a request was made?
It's not really being racist, it's just a predictive judgement based on passed demographic trends.
But what does one get from being a good tipper?
If one goes to Vegas, most of the tipped employees will direct any promotional deals your way.
Free rooms, free food, free drinks, free golf and free tickets to shows (all worth more than the amount tipped) can be had by the good tippers.
It isn't the amount you spend, but the amount you tip.
(The only exception is the fool (a"Whale") who loses ridiculously large sums of money and their only compensation are perks that are worth less than they've lost. But who wants to be that guy?)
The ability to render a good tip ensures more value for less money.
Now think about who volunteers.
Most of the people are people of means.
These people feel little inclination of charging for their knowledge or skill when a deserving situation arises.
Since a lower-class person will usually meet higher-class people by doing volunteer work - their pool of connections expand beyond that of "Pookie an dem".
Since these people are inclined to help people at no cost, they are more likely to help a poor person who helps other people.
A few hours of free work by a poor person (worth what they'd make at their everyday job) could be worth a few hours of work by a highly skilled and highly paid person.
They (the poor person) would get more than they gave.
They too would receive more value for their (lack of) money.
Look you can't tell people who need and value money to do something for free because it feels good. Their whole day to day life is trying to get enough scratch to live well.
ReplyDeleteSo to quote DJ Quik "If it don't make Dollars it don't make Sense"
This is the disconnect that most people can't figure out. They think why can't they see it would benefit them enormously to be in a different environment. Welp when you are able to get them to realize that you will win the Nobel Peace Prize!
Some guys I'm working with asked me when one should be able to tell that a group has gone from "Ghetto with a good job" to being solidly middle-class.
ReplyDeleteI thought and told them when we see enough Blacks who understand the value of tipping and doing volunteer work.
When they realize that it isn't only about themselves.
But the "Me First" mantra is spread by centuries of having to do without, by the Black church and other Black institutions.
If a brotha' can't even help another brotha' (without being jealous of the otha' brotha's success) then we will never win even a single battle.
@UBJ - The sign for me is when I stopped stealing. I mean more like coming up. If someone left their window down I snatched shit. Then one day I kind of thought it was messed up but I still see suckers everyday.
ReplyDeleteThere's just no reason to help. See we need a cause that really changes the minds. Otherwise we have to provide opportunity for people to get to your changing point. Either way we need a new approach because feeling good is not a good reason unless its sex.