“There was no sign of piano, organ, hymn-books, church programs-the familiar ecclesiastical impedimenta we saw every Sunday.” (Lee 159)
At this time in the book, Scout is going to an African American church, First Purchase, with Calpurnia and Jem. She is amazed that this church doesn’t have all the usual items (hymn-books, for example). This is an example of white privilege.
There are no hymn-books in First Purchase because nobody can afford them. While everyone works, they are paid little to nothing. This is because they are black. They are not offered good education, which prevents them from getting good jobs, making their pay less. Since when is the paycheck of a person decided by the color of their skin?
I decided to research this topic further, as it drove me crazy. It turns out that the “wage gap” still exists today. The median yearly income is almost two-thirds as much for whites than blacks. During the time of TKAM (1960s), it was closer to one-half.
For the worshippers at First Purchase, the fact that they don’t have hymn-books does not affect their service. Hymns are sung by lining, a call-and-response type thing. These people are able to make the best of what they have. However, not all things can be made-the-best-of. Rent for a home, insurance, and food all cost money. Without a substantial income, these things are hard to come by.
When will money, or the lack thereof, not affect well-being? What will the people of all races have to do so that income equality is a reality? I hope that in the future, everyone can have hymn-books, despite the color of their skin. This might be done by making a set income, raising the minimum wage, or improving public education. The wage gap must be eliminated!
 |
| (Besides the racial wage gap, there is also a gender wage gap. Who knew white men would be so greedy?!) |
No comments:
Post a Comment