Government Shutdowns Are a Black-Ass Problem
Welcome to the 32nd installment of This Black-Ass Life! This week, we’re talking about yet another record-breaking achievement from Anaranjado Adolph. We’re not talking about his record low ratings or his record high catering to the 1%. Nope! Sunkist Stalin has now officially seen us through to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. We’re here to tell you why that’s a Black-Ass issue.
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l. The Facts
A significant amount of Black professionals have employment tied to the federal government: Black people make up 12% of the population and more than 18% of the federal workforce.
This is because private enterprises have long been discriminatory to Black people and legislative gains post-civil rights movements forced federal government agencies to be held more accountable to anti-discrimination laws.
In the DMV particularly, the competitive pay scales of federal government jobs lifted generations of Black people into the middle class.
The reason why Prince George's County has the highest concentration of middle-class Black Americans in the country, is due to public sector employment.
This is not to say that all those with employment tied to the federal government are in the middle class. Many contracted workers, like those who provide custodial services for federal parks or serve food at museums, are also furloughed. Unlike federal workers, contracted workers, many of whom make minimum wage, will probably not be issued any back pay.
Why is this important?
First, the obvious: Lack of funds for furloughed workers means fewer dollars for rent, mortgage, or car payments; gas; childcare; food and other groceries; medicine; utilities; and other essentials.
Black people are served by important federal functions that impacts all aspects of our lives. Here are some examples of key services that are at risk:
Staffing at Department of Agriculture has been cut by 95 percent, meaning programs families rely on, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), may no longer be accessible.
While Black people are not the majority of SNAP recipients, food insecurity is higher in our communities. In a typical month in 2016, SNAP helped 13 million Black people put food on the table. SNAP also brought 2.1 million Black people, including 1 million children, above the poverty line in 2016.
Because of the shutdown and because funding beyond January has also not been approved, SNAP will literally not have funding in February. Put simply, people will go hungry.
Most of HUD’s routine enforcement activities have been suspended, including mandatory health and safety inspections of housing for low-income families, the elderly and people with disabilities. Rental assistance, especially for low-income seniors, is also at risk.
The shutdown has also halted food and safety inspections, and FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb reported 31% percent of the FDA's inventory of domestic inspections are considered high-risk.
What Can My Black Ass Do?
Here are food banks and emergency funds you can contribute to.
From helping with donated goods to contacting your representatives, here’s how you can help parents affected by the shutdown.
You can also help national parks and combat litter using this guide.
ll. Other Things
Dedicated to the Reginas.
The powerful documentary series “Surviving R. Kelly” has reignited prosecutors’ interest in the monster. Praying for the day he goes to jail for forever.
Stacey Abrams might run for Senate! However, I (Jumoke) am really holding out for a O’Rourke/Abrams ticket.
I (Mitu) dare you to find a video with a funnier ending than this one.
Give Angela Yvonne Davis her things, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute!
Throwback: What an honor to have Oprah name a wig after you.
When we grow up we want to be like the Reginas. Y’all. This speech!
Regina King and Billy Porter were also best dressed at the Golden Globes and I (Mitu) am prepared to fight over this.
Our Black-Ass song of the week (Mitu):
I recently pledged to take a workout class with a friend 6x/week. While that’s been miserable, a high point is the class consistently plays Queen Janet Jackson’s Made For Now, a JAM.
Things we are looking forward to / things we are not looking forward to:
Back to the Reginas, I (Jumoke) am looking forward to Regina King winning an Oscar even though I haven’t seen If Beale Street Could Talk because I just can’t handle that level of sad right now. But I do know that Regina King deserves everything.
I (Mitu) look forward to watching the Marsai Martin-helmed and created Little featuring Regina Hall and Issa Rae. Marsai is the youngest executive producer in Hollywood history and I cannot wait to hand her my coins.
lll. Text from a Black-Ass Mama
My (Jumoke) mama is not here for over 12-hour gaps between conversations. To the people who talk to their parents on a monthly, nay, weekly basis, how does that work?
Stay Black, thrive, call your person every 10-11 hours, and we’ll hit your inbox next on January 28.