50 years ago this evening...

[hfojvt]

18. wasn't that part of the dream though?

Now instead of all of them just being "negroes" (as MLK would say it), they can be judged by the content of their character.

They can join the white middle class in believing that their success is a result of their character - hard work, good choices, etc. and that the poverty of the poor is a result of their lack of character.

One other thing about poverty though, is perhaps shown in the 2002 census. 21.2% of households in the lowest quintile of income had over $100,000 in net worth. 8.6% of those in the highest income quintile had less than $5,000 in net worth.

Some of that may be a function of age, higher income people who are younger and just starting out (and have very little wealth) and higher income people who are retired (and thus now have a lower income, and yet more wealth). Still, wealth accumulation is not all about income - choices (and luck) do have an impact. I am an old man in the bottom quintile who has over $100,000 in net worth.