Ain't That A Fact

"Approximately 3% of working women in eighteenth-century New England were African slaves. Northern slaveholders tended to have small numbers of slaves, one or two, and to buy and sell them frequently in response to labor demands, making it difficult for slaves to form families. Most northern slaves lived in the cities, where they worked as domestic servants and contributed to the leisure of their white mistresses, usually the wives of merchants, professionals, and craftsman. For these prosperous women and their daughters, increased free time contributed to changes in their daily lives. Some picked up activities like fancy needlework that demonstrated their genteel feminine skills. Well-to-do women increasingly bought what they needed instead of making it themselves, and imported goods were especially popular."

*Beginning in 18th century New England

Reading this made me think of the young black rappers who were vilified as crass, gaudy, and common for being materialistic.  I can imagine generations of watching whites have so much and thus wanting to throw their wealth in the face of their (perceived(?)) enemies. I've never felt this way, but reading this for school, I am confronted with understanding and seeing how poor minorities coming into new monies would feel the need to flaunt their wealth and prove their worth. Unfortunately, for someone with "black" skin and wooly hair, being respected and accepted, regardless of the amount of money one has in the bank is inconsequential and meaningless. Al Roker still will not be able to get a cab. Ain't that a fact...