America 1982-Chapter 327 - 22: The Era Is Calling Me_4
"We need to harness the influence of television, secure the support of the lower-class Black population, and then through them, conquer more television stations, creating a mutually reinforcing cycle,"
"The Three Major Black Organizations probably won’t give me much support because slogans like these have been chanted by numerous organizations, big and small. Moreover, the lower-class Blacks are nearly numb to these slogans; they consider them to be empty promises." Earl shook his head, believing Tommy’s approach was too simplistic, and offered a contrary opinion.
"Self-reliance, education, voting rights, civil rights movements, promoting employment..." Tommy was evidently well-versed in these slogans, rattling off a list of them, but then he suddenly stopped:
"Because those who come up with these slogans are all damn elites, not the lower-class Blacks. Why are they numb to these slogans? Because they’ve been shouted for decades to no avail, and the lower-class Blacks don’t see the point in reading and education!"
"So, you understand what the lower-class Blacks want? You, a white man, understand better than me?"
"Yes, this organization, opposing President Reagan’s workfare initiative, all the lower-class Blacks will support you," Tommy said, his gaze intense as he looked at Earl and delivered this line.
Earl had just been about to light up a cigarette, but at Tommy’s words, the cigarette fell from his mouth and burned a small hole in his trousers!
He didn’t even bother to check his clothes, just brushed off the cigarette and looked up at Tommy: "I know all the lower-class Blacks will support me, but I will forever lose the trust of the elite Black community. You’re pushing me into an abyss."
The workfare initiative, a program championed by the Republican party, was, as its name implied, a government plan that conditioned social welfare on contributions to society. For instance, if a lower-class Black single mother wanted to collect weekly welfare, she would need to partake in a fixed number of hours of community service to qualify.
This initiative was advocated not just by the Republican party, but also quietly promoted by the Black elite, as they wanted to overturn the stereotype of lower-class Blacks as lazy, cunning, welfare-dependent parasites and encourage a work ethic among them.
Of course, lower-class Blacks didn’t want this government program to spread. Consider that previously, without doing anything, they could collect welfare or subsidies every week; now, suddenly, they had to perform physical labor for multiple hours a week to receive the same benefits. No wonder they disagreed.
Therefore, if this organization put forth a banner to campaign amongst the lower-class Blacks against the workfare initiative, Earl believed undoubtedly the lower-class Blacks would support him. However, that was of little use because he had lost the support of the more important Black elite community.
The Black elite didn’t want the lower-class Blacks to continue degenerating. They fought for their right to education, searched for various employment opportunities, all to minimize the impact of workfare on them, to encourage them to live by labor rather than to exploit the social welfare system of the United States every week and tarnish the Black community’s image. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦
"If a Black person came up with this idea, the elite Black community would shun him because he is a traitor to their group. But what if it were a kind-hearted white person? Or even a kind-hearted white woman? She’s full of maternal compassion, not wanting those lower-class Black single mothers, who already care for five or six children, to also have to work hard for many hours a week just to receive their welfare. What if she were to initiate this organization? What do you think? But for all her efforts, the reward cannot go to a white person; there must be a Black person to reap the benefits." Tommy’s eyes were sharp as he looked at Earl Rash:
"Do you still think there’s an abyss ahead?"
"The New World Foundation... you want me to marry a Black woman..." Earl Rash replied to Tommy, speaking softly.
Tommy nodded, "Marry a single mother from the lower-classes, stand beside my fiancée, and then wait to inherit that sweet fruit."
"I understand now, you’re right, Mr. Hawk..." Earl Rash exhaled deeply: "The times are calling me."
