I think the quoted text doesn't disagree with anything you said, it's point is that the skin color itself and racism has nothing to do with blacks being poor. The skin color of a black man from Africa and a black man from America does not land them in jail more often, does not keep them poor, whatever racism may exist does not limit their ability to prosper. What does limit abilities to prosper is speaking a different language, not understanding the local laws, and not having any support around you, yet despite all that, an African is more likely than a black American to go to the middle class. Having known single moms with minimum wage jobs, these people claiming to be held down by the system can stick their excuses up their *ss. For one, all children get free insurance so health problems are immediately a non-issue. Secondly, low-income housing is everywhere, if you or I wanted the exact same apartment as someone making under 60% of the median wage, we have to pay approximately double for the rent. But you say , how can we go to college? Well scholorships and loans are available to everyone no matter what. You don't need good grades, you don't need to be good at sports, you just need to have the desire to go and even then if your income is low enough, you only have to pay back 50% of your loans (which also pay for housing, food, books and tuition) not the whole amount. When someone says the system is to blame, it is the most ludicrous statement. America has the best system in the world for the poor.