Study finds median wealth for single black women at $5

[Number23]

I almost have no words. If this isn't the impetus for every single black person to be calling Congress, the White House, their great-uncle Larry or SOMEBODY to get health insurance reform passed in this country, I don't know what is.

We need to GET THIS DONE.

"Study finds median wealth for single black women at $5"

"Women of all races bring home less income and own fewer assets, on average, than men of the same race, but for single black women the disparities are so overwhelmingly great that even in their prime working years their median wealth amounts to only $5."

...Black women, in general, were more likely to have participated in the subprime loan crisis with upper-income black women being five times more likely to have received a high-cost mortgage than upper-income white men.

"The popular image is they spend too much, which is the reason they are running up credit card and consumer debt, but the cost of living has risen faster than income, and they need to go into debt for basic daily necessities," Ms. Lui said. "It's compounded because unemployment is twice as high in the black community than it is in the white community."

"In Pittsburgh and across the country, the financial burdens of single parenthood fall mostly on women, but black women are more likely to endure the work and responsibility of raising children on their own."

Money Quote: "They also are more likely to be employed in jobs and industries -- such as service occupations -- with lower pay and less access to health insurance."

I repeat -- We need to GET THIS DONE. The time for arguing and playing and bullshitting with folks' lives should be over, particularly those of our sisters.