http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2r3rjh

Our class discussion and reading The Hidden Cost of Being African American caused me to think of the Chris Rock video that I included above. In this video, he talks about the difference between rich and wealthy. Perhaps the most striking example that he gives is: “Shaq is rich. The white man that signs his check is wealthy”. While Chris Rock is joking since he says all of this in comedy show, it is funny because it is true. It is difficult for black people in this country to accrue wealth, stemming from when the black community had no wealth.

Chris Rock also speaks beyond the power structure of wealth by commenting on how it is enduring. He says “Wealth is passed down from generation to generation. You can’t get rid of wealth. Rich is some sh*t you can lose with a crazy summer and a drug habit”. Wealth is powerful because it is something that is long lasting. Also, wealth builds on itself and allows for future generations to amass more of it. There is a saying that “money is power”, but it may be more accurate to say that wealth is power.