Changing the Culture

It is once again Sunday and the morning shows predictably were discussing race and class and inequality and social mobility.  I say predictably because the president made some remarks this week regarding his personal experiences with racism in the aftermath of the Zimmerman trial, and because of the Detroit bankruptcy, which has also highlighted racial issues.

Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are back to their same old song and dance, namely that the problem is that the black community is not being given enough.  David Gregory led a panel discussion of black leaders on Meet the Press, Bob Schieffer had discussions on both race and Detroit on Face The Nation, and Chris Wallace followed suit on Fox News Sunday.

In some ways it is enough to make me want to pull out what is left of my hair.  You see, I do not believe this is a problem of race but one of culture.  David Brooks made that point this morning, one of the rare times I found myself in deep agreement with him.  To be sure there is racism and bigotry and disparity in this country but it seems to me suburban educated working Americans are doing well, and urban non-educated folks are not.  Color is not the predominant factor, culture is.

Graduation rates from our inner city schools are dismal, around 50%.  Graduation rates out in the suburbs are mostly over 80%.  I do not believe this is due to skin pigmentation but culture.  Jesse Jackson was just on CNN and they cited a number of statistics concerning economic factors and race.  To summarize, blacks are less likely to invest in the stock market, less likely to have a checking account, and on average they have a much lower total net worth.  Skin pigment does not keep a person from saving money or investing.

The discussion of Detroit always gets around to how sad it is that people’s pensions will probably need to be cut.  They interview folks who are trying to figure out how they will make it between their pension and social security.  Ouch.  Not only are pension funds around the country in trouble, Social Security is broke. 

Instead of continuing to go on about how bad it is, I have decided to help out by providing a road map on how to fix the problem.  What follows is not easy or quick.  It is not original.  It is not magic, but I can guarantee it will be successful.  Yes, I will guarantee that the following plan will turn around an entire culture if followed.  And the more completely this plan is followed the more dramatic the results.

To change your culture from one that is failing to one that breeds success is not complicated but it is also not easy.  A culture in this case could refer to the attitudes in the entire city of Detroit, or in St. Louis, or, if you are inclined to think in terms of race, in the black community.  Whatever the group, the change must occur one individual, one house, one family at a time.  Take the following concepts and first apply them to yourself, then to your kids and family, and then to your street and neighborhood and schools and cities.  But mostly, demand the following from yourself and your children.

·         Sleep – Get up each day before 6 am, and go to bed each night before 10 pm.  Yes, for real.  See, simple but not necessarily easy.  Get your kids up by 6 and make them go to bed before 10.

·         School – Go to school every single day, on time, all day, until you graduate.  If every family made their kids do this one simple thing we could have dramatic change in short order.

·         Homework – Every night your kids will have homework and they should have to do it right after school before they can do anything else.  You have to check their backpack for notes, ask them about their day, and help them with their homework every school day.

·         No drugs, No alcohol – That’s right.  If you want to change the culture you make sure you, your kids, and everyone in your house avoids alcohol and drugs and tobacco.  Make it a house rule.

·         Church – I don’t care which one.  Get involved and introduce your kids to spirituality of some sort.  If you are an atheist at least spend Sunday mornings discussing Ayn Rand. Teach character.

·         Crime – Is not to be tolerated.  Do not steal or join a gang or carry a gun.  Do not let your kids steal or carry weapons or join gangs.  Guns are for hunting and self defense, and should be locked in a gun case unless you are going hunting or someone is breaking in.  If you see crime report it, do not tolerate it.  Take back your streets.  Turn on your porch light. Get involved with your community and know your neighbors.  Yes, sometimes it takes great courage.

·         Work – Get a job and keep it.  Go to work on time every day, no matter what.  When you can, look for a better job but don’t quit one until you have a new one.  If you can’t get a job start an honest business cutting grass or walking dogs or shoveling snow or shining shoes.  Set the example that everyone must work.  Work hard when you work, and do your best.

·         Keep up your house – Mow the grass.  Do the dishes.  Vacuum the carpet.  Sweep the driveway.  Paint the house.  Do the laundry. Make the kids help.  Show them how you keep things matters.

·         Dress – Clothing does not have to be expensive but it must be clean and cover your body and undergarments.  Dressing for success is a powerful concept to teach your kids.  Showing your underwear means not getting a job.

·         Bathe – Every day, take a bath or shower, wash your hair, brush your teeth, clip your nails and make sure you, your kids and your whole family does the same.  Put on deodorant.

·         Language – Pay attention to your language, and the words you use.  Do not allow cursing in your house.  Do not allow slang.  The better you speak, the more clearly you communicate, the more successful you will be.

·         Budget – Figure out a budget at the beginning of each month, with your income and expenses, and figure out where every penny is going to go, and follow the plan.  Do not spend more than you earn.  Do not borrow money if at all possible.  Do not EVER get payday loans.  No casinos. Have a checking and savings account at the local bank and write out your plan.

·         Save – Save a little from every paycheck.  Build up an emergency fund and then start investing a little bit every month in the market.  That’s right, the stock market.  Invest the same amount, however small, every month in a good conservative growth stock mutual fund and don’t touch it

·         Give – No matter how rich or poor you are it will do you good to help others.  Volunteer or chip in or do what you can to help others, and set an example for your children and community.

·         Exercise – Get some exercise every day.  Just simply going for a daily run before or after work costs nothing and helps keep you healthy.  It sets and example and gets you out in the fresh air where you can greet your neighbors.

·         Eat right – Three healthy meals a day for you and your family.  Kids will do better with vegetables than potato chips.  Set an example and try not to let them suck down cola and eat candy.  Everyone will be happier and healthier and more successful if you all eat right.

·         Learn – Read a paper every day.  Read books from the library.  Listen to the news and discuss it with your family. Video games are fine but set an example and show your family that you value learning.  If you can, go to college and get a degree.  Community colleges are fine. Keep learning.

·         Responsibility – I could go on and on about this one.  If you make a commitment, keep it.  If you get married, stay married.  If you have kids, raise them.  Pay your bills.  Be honest with people.  Own up to what is yours.  Teach your kids that they are responsible for their life, not to blame others or wait for someone to fix it.  We are all responsible for our lives, our kids, our families.  Take care of your parents when they are old.  Watch out for your neighbors and the elderly.

·         Race – Finally, do not allow yourself or others to get in the habit of racism.  Do not describe yourself or others by stereotypes or references to skin pigment.  We all have a heritage, a history handed down to us, and we should embrace that.  But allowing the n-word or cracker to be spoken in your house will continue racism and impede your success.

Like I said, these ideas are not original.  They are not easy either.  But they are not complicated.  And I promise, although they will not necessarily work quickly they will transform a culture just as surely as anything.  They will work in any culture.  And in fact, failing to do the right things will destroy any culture over time.  Yes, it is easy for me to sit here and say, “just do these things”.  I suppose that may seem a little callous and I may appear not to get it.  Perhaps I do not understand the mindset in your community.  Maybe you think what you need is simply a bailout.  I am pretty sure a bailout will not help any community that does not change the way it goes about it’s business.

None of us can change the world alone.  I am not asking anyone to change the world.  But I would ask that you start with yourself, your family, and your kids.  And then we can work together on the rest.