Well, it's blog against racism day. I'll start a series on the book The Hidden Cost of Being African American to celebrate. The Hidden Cost of Being African American is a book that needs reviewing now as the war on opportunity progresses. Not only does Shapiro give us the usual statistics that display the horror of the disparities between African Americans and Whites, he also puts it in a framework, that makes it near impossible for any sane rational person to say that the problems are because blacks are lazy scumbags. LetÂ’s take his first section on asset poverty and its effects. He notes that in 1999, fifty four percent of black families had less than $4175 in net financial assets, whereas only twenty five percent of white families did(37). He includes the fact that 54% of Hispanic families suffer in asset poverty(38), although this is a mostly black and white centered book. Be forewarnedd- this book is nothing like the lazy excuses for analysis that we are used to seeing. Shapiro actually looks up statistics, and interviews people for a more personal take on them- instead of sitting around with a beer and making up stuff like most pundits do. This review will mostly be me retyping the juicy juicy facts as I want the knowledge to flow to as many people as possible.

Shapiro points out that black people earn 54 cents for every dollar white people earn.(49). I think thatÂ’s messed up- thatÂ’s worse than the gender wage divide. They also have ten cents of wealth for every dollar of wealth that a white family has.(49) ItÂ’s at this point that his thesis emerges- the cost of the lack of vertical and horizonal wealth transfer for African Americans is a huge one. Next time- more juicy tidbits.