Success in America

I have been reading a motivational book by Dennis Kimbro titled “Motivations for African-American Success.”  Kimbro’s formula for African-American success is the same as the formula for Irish-American success, Polish-American success, European-American success, female-American success and on and on.  In short, the formula for American success is exactly the same regardless of your ethnicity, gender or any other of your inherited or cultural attributes.

Kimbro gives examples of African-Americans who have succeeded in spite of the obstacles. It is good reading for anyone and the advice applies to everyone.

On the other side of the issue I read an article where the writer stated black American children couldn’t be expected to succeed in a predominately white America. He said they couldn’t learn with white teachers, couldn’t be expected to obey white laws or to succeed by white standards.

Kimbro offers a path to success, the other a guarantee of failure.

Kimbro also explains that although Black America is only a small fraction of the world’s population it possesses more than 10 percent of the free world’s total income.  America is the richest country the world has ever known with the highest standard of living for the average citizen. Poverty in America is wealth in many countries.

This brings us to income inequality. As I have written many times the income equality people only want equality with those who have more than they. They never want to share what they have with those who have less.

Last month I was listening to a man who supported income equality AND a global perspective. Global equality means that those of us with a car are wealthy beyond belief. Electricity, running water and indoor plumbing are only dreams for a large part of the world’s population. 35 percent of the world’s population do not have access to clean water and adequate sanitation.

Those who complain about the successful are merely jealous. I cannot think of a single thing a rich person has taken from me. I would not want to live in a mansion with servants. I would not want my own jet. I do not like caviar or “fine” wine.

Why should I care about the “one percenters’” lifestyles? I don’t want what they have and I am happy with what I do have. Why should I be jealous of someone who has what I don’t want?