Race and Privilege · Social Justice

Inequality and Health

This past week during one of my workouts I listened to a teaching by Rob Bell at Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids, MI.  He taught about Acts 2: 42-47 (see http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%202:42-47&version=CEV for the Bible verses and http://marshill.org/teaching/2011/10/09/how-it-works-in-our-house-acts-2v42-47/ for the sermon). In his teaching, Bell made mention of the Social and Health Index that uses… Continue reading Inequality and Health

Race and Privilege · Social Justice

The Bootstrap Myth

The myth goes that someone who is “down on their luck” but with enough determination and proper choices can “pull themselves up by their own bootstraps”. We each have a unique genealogy that we have inherited.  Our bloodline determines our genetic makeup that subsequently influences our physical and mental strengths and weaknesses.  So, for instance,… Continue reading The Bootstrap Myth

Race and Privilege · Social Justice

Racial Wealth Gap Increases Four-Fold

A May 2010 report by the Institute on Assets and Social Policy at Brandeis University indicates that the wealth disparity between whites and blacks continue to grow. Especially noteworthy is that the growth cannot be explained by income alone, as high-income blacks have seen steady or declining wealth, while both middle- and especially upper-income whites… Continue reading Racial Wealth Gap Increases Four-Fold