Dancing with Strippers
Actor, Director Kevin Costner depicted a civil war soldier’s relationship with the LaKota People in a movie “Dances With Wolves.” Dr. Clarrissa Pinkola Estes wrote A psychological narrative entitled Women who Run with Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype (1995). This is concerning the term “Minnesota Nice.”
Minnesota the state of many diversities, religious components and wealthy fortune 500 citizens. Plush suburban neighbors fit for growing family’s walking paths and parks, the term “land of many lakes.” Numerous people spanning the downtown malls, outside eateries, entire families at either Twins or US Bank stadiums. Yes, money to made. In fact there is so much money it appears leisure time is the only essential element. If only you had money…. than race and color doesn’t matter here.
According to the MN House Select Committee on Racial Justice (12/22/2020): Minnesota has a “Racial wealth Gap,” “Wage Gap,” because of “loss of income,” “Housing Disparities,” “$24 billion loss in home ownership,” stemming from “$22 billion loss of income… and $67 billion loss in business revenue and “MN has one of the largest renter populations in the upper Midwest.” “77% of White families own their homes, 57% of Asians, 46% Native American, 45% Latinos and 24% of Blacks…”
“Educational disparities… MN ranks 50… in the nation when it comes to education opportunity gaps between Blacks and Whites…” Why?
The reasons are not that complicated. Remembering “The Long Walk to Freedom,” by former President Nelson Mandela (1994) giving the autobiographical growth of Apartheid in South Africa or “Kaffir Boy” by: Mark Mathabane, (1986) the progeny of Apartheid while ANC was imprisoned for 20 plus years. They “Afrikaners” intended discrimination and segregation, planned and purposefully implemented the self-perpetuating structure of systemic racism and in their own words, “to implement a more perfect union…” A system that strips individuals of opportunities for upward economic growth or advancement within the larger societal systems.
“Minnesota Nice” by any other name is still racism or “Dancing with Strippers.” From economic policymaking, to outreach programs, internships and educational processes; from owning a home to gaining viable employment is perniciously interwoven together. Despite “tenant’s rights policies” pre-pandemic eviction rates were at “59 per 100 (2016) … peaked in 2004 (11,272) and 2007 (10,686) fallen to 3,377 in 2016.” (Evictions Lab) leaving a growing homeless population of “as of 2019… estimated 7,977 experiencing homelessness on any given day…” (Minnesota Homelessness Statistics (HUD). The “76% renters” are paying “market rate” rent equal to that of the “77%” homeowner’s mortgages. The report by the MN legislative “Select Committee” makes this a fact.
In Minnesota, the tier system is centered around the economic tools of success. This so-called multicultural and diverse population is pouring everything it has elite family’s homes. Now the How? If you are not one of members of the “perfect” societal group. Yes, there are “perfect” people in the World. I call the top 5 reasons Jesus of Nazareth would have difficulty being employed or find affordable housing:
- They have a credit score above 700,
- income 2.5 times the rent,
- good rental history including no UD’s,
- 1 year plus employment, references of course
- and no felonies.
Jesus Christ was “perfect” but his friends were less than (Luke 9:3) so references would not work in Minnesota. His earthly father, Joseph was a member of the Carpenters Union Local 1, but he himself was homeless (Luke 9:58) and an unemployed Rabbi and it took 12 disciples to pay for the pass over meal. But there is no humor in forced or compliancy to poverty.
Local firms conduct screening, the process, whether it’s for employment or housing are not mutually exclusive. These are not state agencies. The individual’s “records” or verified and checked with a disclaimer of course. However, the information provided in the hands of the landlord or the temporary employment firm decides whether you’ll be a candidate or a discarded person. Human Resource managers under the direction of corporate executives “outsource these functions to “temporary employment agencies” or local businesses (agency falsely implies a governmental entity). A lack of employment history, poor credit score, unfamiliar references and no “Second Chance Act” provisions for housing is less than “perfect.” Proper state issued identification or documentation leads to a world of paradox. This process decides who receives “fair housing” or “viable employment” or leaves the “conditional” hiring process from “temp-to-hire.”
Many “minorities” find themselves in these “temporary positions” where little or no skills are required or allowed. According to the “Select Committee” “the median Black family income in the Twin-cities earns $38,000.00 annually,” which I call “attempt to hire… but” in a “Right to Work state.” Outside the MN State Fair in 2019, a sign on a Metro Bus read, “Minnesota is the Worst State for the Education of Minorities…” Internship and outreach programs from Eagan to Woodbury are shuttled in places like 3M and Minnetronix to encourage development in engineering and biosciences…
Social policy combined exacerbates homelessness and increases the “wealth gap” between minorities and whites, rich and poor. Rental properties are afforded to those with good rental, credit history along with incomes 2.5 the rent and clear or no other adjudicated history via background checks. When the average minority are “temporary employees” without medical or retirement benefits averaging an income between $9 to $12/hour over 33% of income is paid in rent basic math prevails. Average rental properties were set between $1,050 and up with an increasing vacancy rate 2.9% to 3.75.% (Marquette Advisor 2016). These trends target economically disenfranchised persons in the direction of homelessness when apartment owners began excluding “section 8 or subsidies.” Meaning the “low-wage earner” can only afford $640–680 month rent based upon 2.5 times the rent rule and only $960 month rent if your at $15 an hour….
If “Minnesota Nice” were a Book it would be called, “Dancing with Strippers.”
25 February 2021
