Reverend Barber II and the myths of poverty

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I hope to get and read this book through the library system. It feels very timely and needed. Has anyone read this yet? Thoughts?


www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/rev-barber-s-new-book-demystifies-poverty-black-people-are-not-the-problem/ar-BB1qPsVR?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=12b0a3e44b794ab8fb0e6267c545b33c&ei=21


“The history of America, like the history of the world,” Barber writes, “is filled with stories of powerful people who’ve stolen from the poor and used their power to pit poor people against one another so the masses would not rise up against them.”



As an example, he notes how Republican politicians have portrayed government programs such as welfare benefits as handouts from hard-working white people to poor Blacks, even though more whites benefit from those programs than Blacks. Attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion programs are another recent example experts point to as conservatives trying to use racial resentment to undermine class solidarity.

As he outlines in his new book, written with Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, who is white, it’s time for poor Blacks, whites and other minorities to unite and fight for better living conditions.



In “White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy,” Barber and Wilson-Hartgrove urge an end to the political ploys that set poor Blacks against poor whites.