In Pimps, Whores, and Welfare Brats the author discussed how the government and African Americans both have contributed to the corruption of the welfare system and the African American community. Throughout the text the author shared her point of view on the welfare system and how it came to be. In this text the author called the government the pimps, the black leaders the whores, and the recipients of welfare the welfare brats. She accused the government of being the pimps because she feels as though the government is pimping out lower class African Americans through the use of government aid. The author then goes on to explain that we as African Americans encourage this type of behavior by either promoting government aid or by abusing the system. “Plenty of black leaders, inspired by everything from a desire for change to retribution, were more than happy to join in as foot soldiers” (27).
Although, I think that the author was a little harsh throughout the text, I did agree with her on some issues. For example, when she talked about the welfare brats and their attitudes towards the system, I agreed with her. I felt that the statement she made about the welfare brats was very valid, because I know individuals who feel like the government owes them money and being on welfare is how they feel that they are being done justice. Personally, I feel that if you are not in dire need of government assistance then you should not be on welfare, because it is bringing the African American community down. It is bringing our community down because when we get on welfare we are as the author states not, “sticking by the principles of hard work and self-reliance that brought black Americans up from slavery…” (128).This essay left me with one question. When will we as African Americans stop abusing the system?
No comments:
Post a Comment