Why Black people are poor, broke, and experiencing lack

by Nomalanga Mhlauli-Moses

The small rumbling that has now turned into a very significant voice argues that President Obama does not care about Black people

Lately, there has been a lot of talk about how much the Obama administration cares about Black people; whether it be here in the US or in the country of his father’s birth and it’s surrounding countries, in Africa. It’s hard to deny that when a sitting President makes decisions about policy, what he does affects his country and it’s also hard to deny that when a sitting U.S. president makes decisions, those decisions not only affect his country but also many countries across the world.
The small rumbling that has now turned into a very significant voice argues that President Obama does not care about Black people when he sits at his “decision making chair”, but instead seems to only care about them when it could benefit him, like at election time. While many perceive this as a negative thing, which is certainly understandable, I see it as an opportunity to get a very clear message across to, not just Black people, but anyone who is listening. The message is that in order to have financial freedom, each man and woman has to stand up and do something…anything.
Does the Obama administration have to be held accountable for the reversal of the many systems, that have been strategically put in place over the course of hundreds of years, and are now negatively affecting minorities, women and other vulnerable groups? Of course! That having been said though, it is important to recognize that holding any administration accountable has to be done along with other actions that people take by themselves, for themselves.
There are many ways to overcome, poverty and lack and one place that we can all start is with our mindsets. It’s important to speak up and hold the powers that be to what they said they would do and what they are supposed to do but we also have to stop thinking that is all we have to do. A mindset of blaming others for our circumstances puts us in a state of victim-hood that then encourages us to do nothing but complain about what should be happening but is not. It is more important to take charge of ourselves and our mindsets.
Think about it, how many times have you heard(or said) the following phrases?
Money doesn’t grow on trees.
Rich people are crooks.
I don’t want to have money and be a snob or think that I’m better than everyone else.
Rich people are greedy
Money goes out faster than it comes in
Money is evil (*For those that quote the scriptures, it is actually the LOVE of money that is evil, not the money.)
How we experience riches is very closely tied to what we think of ourselves. If you believe that you do not deserve money (usually tied to a low self esteem), you will continue to experience lack, no matter how much money you make. If you think about it, there are many people who have a modest income and yet seem to have everything that they need and are joyful and living peaceful lives. Then there are those who have a lot of money and eventually end up up to their eyeballs  in debt or have the money but still feel like it is not enough; they still experience lack. It still comes back to mindset.
If, at this moment in time, you feel broke, poor or are experiencing lack, you have to ask yourself what you believe about yourself and what you believe about money. Unless and until you change your thinking; your mindset, President Obama could change all the policies to favor you and what ever group you most identify with but that won’t help you as long as your mindset is set at “broke, poor and lacking” or “I’m a victim”.
Not everyone has the right to hold their leaders accountable or responsible; you can not ask someone to do something for you that you are not willing to do for yourself. If you really want to change your life and your financial well-being, start with your mindset. What have YOU done, today, to move your life and your finances forward? Unless you can have a favorable answer to this question on a consistent basis, you need to sit down and be quiet. If you’re feeling offended, you are probably the very person that needs to sit down and be quiet.
YNaija.com