by Tierra Bonds
“Black people are lazy! They are financially irresponsible and buy things they can’t afford, like jewelry and nice cars. They even have kids they can’t afford. They don’t educate themselves on finances, and when they pursue higher education, they often don’t get degrees that make enough money.” — said by a large portion of society using stereotypes to justify the lesser economic state of Black Americans and, in some cases, justify their privilege.
Hearing these types of statements as a Black teenage girl 15 years ago led me to work two jobs while in high school and in college. I did this to make ends meet, break these stereotypes, and avoid being labeled as a lazy, poor, or dumb Black girl. Imagine how much weight this was.
Continue reading OPINION: Credit Programs for BIPOC Communities Can Reduce the Racial Wealth Gap