This article captures, with empirical evidence, critical elements of two debates often ignored or misunderstood. Issues of race and socio-economics cover and color each other overwhelmingly.

The defense of capitalism often conflates what is relative with what is absolute. The relative change and progress from the low and high point of one’s economic life may be staggering; such as being born into homelessness only to become a VP in a Fortune 500 company. Despite such a remarkable, sometimes even superhuman change in social standing, their ultimate high watermark on the scale of absolute economic strength may still be relatively low.

Cross-applying this idea of relative change (appreciation in the ratio of social and economic standing), versus absolute economic power and the influence that extends and multiplies from it, is critical in addressing racial inequality. Significant barriers to a consistent and far reaching improvement of the historically underprivileged continue to exist, and will continue under the current system.

In my case, it is a system from which I have benefitted due to my middle class foundation, but also one which to some extent also limits my attendance in the highest strata. I straddle the fence (or at least a fence) between racial and economic worlds, often in a grey zone like many of my peers, which only makes this article all the more fascinating.