Runner_style posted... She doesn't mention black people at all though, people are assuming she's referring to black people so it is those people making assumptions that's in the wrong, not her.
I fully agree with what she's saying, if you're on welfare and somehow able to afford luxury goods like that there's something that's definitely broken since the average person working their backsides off can't even afford to make those purchases.
She does not mention black people that is true.
However, she is talking about privilege as her main point and all over the news we hear about "white privilege"
Her mention of marching and protesting is also directly linked with the subject matter.
It would be incredibly naive to accept that she is not talking about "black privilege" from her twisted perspective.
Of note in the story is the fact that there ARE many people who game the system and should in fact not receive any money assistance from the government at all, of maybe just food stamps.
The majority of people who are on welfare though would most likely rather just have a job instead (or be able to work, in cases of disabilities.) Since they don't get enough to make a comfortable living.
As far as having $300 beats headphones, even someone on welfare, (without supplemental income from other sources) could afford one pair if they save money over time, assuming that this is the one luxury item they have and not "one of many". Regular people with jobs can save to buy a cruise, or a trip to Europe, or a swimming pool, etc... which cost several thousand dollars each.
Saving a few dollars here and there by making smart choices and being thrifty can save enough money to a music lover to afford expensive headphones.
A person with a job and no passion for music might think it's a ridiculous amount for headphones and exclaim "Even I can't afford something like this with a good paying job! HOW the hell can a welfare person afford these?!?" It sounds logical but, didn't you do to Disney at a $2500 price tag last year?
(Or get a new gaming PC, or buy a Gibson Les Paul, or "insert your own thing that you did but, conveniently forget about in order to be offended right now.")
Of course, maybe that $300 dollars could have been better used to enroll in a class to learn a craft that might get them a job more easily, or something to that effect but, it's not that outrageous when you think about it.
I went on about the headphones more, as I find it harder to explain expensive sneakers but, if that person runs a lot and also happens to not have a car, it might be more useful to them than we'd initially think? I don't know.
Also, there is the obvious fact that she is a teacher and might be talking about kids who's parents are on welfare but show up at school with these items. Maybe the kid works at the gas station after school, gives some money to their mom to help her stay on top of bills and saves the rest to buy cool gadgets because their a teenager and they actually deserve something nice for helping out. Maybe?
It is really easy to make judgement calls when viewing it solely from your own perspective and without having all the information.
I just did it myself, I know it and I did it on purpose to show the following point: We have become a people that often just assume the worst and quickly judge others in the harshest ways, without even considering that there might be reasons to explain things. It's everywhere these days and it sucks.
Yes, there are plenty of people who are dumb and nasty and are not worth the waste of oxygen they breathe but, we cannot lash out at everyone who does things differently than our own selves just because we think otherwise, it's so counter-productive.
Anyway, I've typed too much and no one will read any of it now, but it was fun and I'll just finish writing the rest of my book some other time.
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