Some important areas in society have always been supported by a tiny group. The symphony is one. Its market is small, its requirements large. Often towns have a symphony because of the dedicated effort of a very few. But there is no conflict between the symphony supporters and the general community, just little in common.
Things may be about to change.
According to PEW Research the median net worth of white households in 2007 was $134,992. After the crash of 2008, in 2009 it was $113,149. The median net worth of black families was $12,124 in 2007 and in 2009 it was $5,677. Net worth not income; assets minus debt. As Algernon Austin said in the The Economic Policy Institute's report, "In 2009, for every dollar of wealth the average white household had, black households had two cents."
While this discrepancy implies a number of differences between the two groups, none is as important as how these two see the nation. It simply is impossible for them to see things in the same way. If your net worth is $5,677 you can not think of debt, interest rates, education costs or housing prices. More, where do you see the direction of the nation?
Obama's grassroots mobilization of this voting block was impressive. But, as a subset, the population responsible for the nation's economic and cultural growth is shrinking. And hostility towards them is apparently growing. The "1%", the racial element, "us vs. them" was very prominent.
What happens in a culture when the mainstream becomes the minority? And is disliked?
And if your constituency is made up of people who make up the majority but are not within the economic or cultural mainstream, what do you think they expect of you? And what can you do to please them?
Hopefully only symphonies and their music houses will be sacrificed.
Things may be about to change.
According to PEW Research the median net worth of white households in 2007 was $134,992. After the crash of 2008, in 2009 it was $113,149. The median net worth of black families was $12,124 in 2007 and in 2009 it was $5,677. Net worth not income; assets minus debt. As Algernon Austin said in the The Economic Policy Institute's report, "In 2009, for every dollar of wealth the average white household had, black households had two cents."
While this discrepancy implies a number of differences between the two groups, none is as important as how these two see the nation. It simply is impossible for them to see things in the same way. If your net worth is $5,677 you can not think of debt, interest rates, education costs or housing prices. More, where do you see the direction of the nation?
Obama's grassroots mobilization of this voting block was impressive. But, as a subset, the population responsible for the nation's economic and cultural growth is shrinking. And hostility towards them is apparently growing. The "1%", the racial element, "us vs. them" was very prominent.
What happens in a culture when the mainstream becomes the minority? And is disliked?
And if your constituency is made up of people who make up the majority but are not within the economic or cultural mainstream, what do you think they expect of you? And what can you do to please them?
Hopefully only symphonies and their music houses will be sacrificed.
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