11 Justifications for Class Discrimination: Dispelling the Myth
From the whispers of alleyways to the resounding debates of boardrooms, through voices echoing from the streets to quite cell blocks, we…
From the whispers of alleyways to the resounding debates of boardrooms, through voices echoing from the streets to quite cell blocks, we have the persistent specter of class discrimination. Class discrimination (classism), haunting society’s every corner, has its defenders (both conscious and unconscious).
I run into variations of these justifications on a daily basis and thought a short list of common motifs would be useful for people to be able to recognize and dispel them. We need to pull back the curtain on these justifications, revealing them for what they are. Let’s debunk some myths.
From the Margins to the Mainstream
It’s clear that the justifications for class discrimination aren’t merely academic. They are lived and experienced. From the single mother in North Philly navigating the maze of systemic poverty to the unemployed steelworker in Pittsburgh, the weight of these justifications bears heavily.
A Closer Look at Incentive
One justification that stands out prominently is the argument that wealth acts as a motivator for hard work and innovation. But think of jazz, born from the underbelly of New Orleans, where musicians innovated with every note, not for wealth but out of sheer passion and necessity. They were driven by communal spirit, resistance, and the need to articulate their lived experiences.
This underscores an essential truth: Humanity’s drive to create, innovate, and excel isn’t tied solely to material gain. Often, it’s the intangible rewards — recognition, love, community respect, and the urge to resist oppressive systems — that fuel the fire of innovation.
The Weight of History
Another deeply entrenched argument is historical precedence — that the system has always favored the wealthy and always will. But history, especially the parts often suppressed or forgotten, tells us of uprisings, revolts, and movements where ordinary people stood up against the might and domination of the wealthy elite. From the Haitian Revolution to the Black Panthers’ community programs, history is replete with instances where the status quo was challenged, and new paths were forged.
Hoarding Wealth in a Broken System
Lastly, the idea that the monetary system rewards hoarding wealth is a reflection of a system in dire need of restructuring. Money, when stagnant, doesn’t serve its true purpose. Instead of a tool for communal upliftment, it becomes a chain that binds many to perpetual poverty. Grassroots economics speaks to this, urging a circulation of individual and community identified wealth and resources that benefits all, not just an elite few.
Echoing the words of Mumia Abu-Jamal in Have Black Lives Ever Mattered pg. 80, “One is forced to conclude that Black America suffers maladies similar to those faced by continental African nations: a segregated neocolonialist system in which a political class gives the appearance of freedom and independence while perpetuating racial oppression and financial exploitation.”
As we dissect and dismantle these justifications for domination, we arm ourselves with the truth, aiming to reshape a society that truly values all its members.