What’s Wrong with Dating a Bus Driver?
Classism in Black Society
About a week or so ago, Eboni Williams, on-air personality of The Grio, was in a discussion with famed therapist, Iyana Vanzant. During their discussion, Vanzant posed a question to Williams, “Would she date a bus driver?” You can hear her response in the video below:
Now, in this country, the possibility for Black women to marry “up” is very low. Successful Black men (men making 6 figures or more) are few and far between. Plus, those men are on every woman’s radar. Competition is fierce.
Now I agree with Sunni that Black people need to build generational wealth. But there’s an assumption that you already need to have money in order to pass it on. A Black couple could put away small amounts from their paychecks into an investment account. They could also do some trading in the stock market.
The bottom line is, our parents and grandparents saved when they were working in low-paying jobs due to racial oppression. They bought homes, sent their children to college, and passed on their values and traditions. Every aspect of these things makes up a part of generational wealth.
Now the real question Black women should consider is, “Would you date a man who just wants to be a bus driver or would you date a man who is striving to become a bus owner?”
In today’s world, there are people who are ambitious, they are the go-getters, the hustlers who are making multiple streams of income. They’re up at 5 a.m. and don’t go to sleep until midnight. They’re reading, following the trends, and connecting with like-minded individuals.
Now, there are two kinds of people in the world — the dos and the don’ts. And these roles can switch for a variety of reasons. Circumstances can change a doer into a don’t. And vice versa.
In the Black community, we see Hip Hop artists and movie stars making big bucks, starting businesses, and promoting high-end brands. All of that loot makes many people in the community seek that lifestyle — by any means necessary. Some ways are not legal.
We spend too much on the material and not on the wealth building. A bus driver might have saved 10,000 dollars in the bank for a home. He or she might be studying management or business. We can’t assume a person isn’t striving for something more in their life.
So, get to know someone before you assume. People move at their own pace. That bus driver might own the bus company in five years. That waitress might open up her own restaurant. The construction worker might become an architect. People change. Love deserves patience.
