The veteran American television and movie actress, Taraji P. Henson recently went viral on social media for her emotional outbursts during the press tour for her work in the recent movie musical, THE COLOR PURPLE. Henson, became a household name recently for her turn as Cookie Lyon in the Fox hit musical drama, EMPIRE. So it was quite shocking when she was seen in tears talking about one of the most tragic facets of American work life. Being underpaid. While that was a sentiment most working people could relate to it was surprising and somewhat disappointing to hear that from someone perceived to be of the upper class. Especially, as the main part of her complaint was the challenge in paying for the services she needed to keep herself in flow.
This outburst prompted a great deal of commentary. There were supporters and dissenters alike. Some people (mostly supporters) questioned her association with media mogul and billionaire, Oprah Winfrey who was the producer on the movie. Oprah is not without controversy when it comes to her association with black actors in Hollywood since she faced allegations from Oscar-winning actress and comedienne Monique. However, Oprah Winfrey’s success as an entertainer and businesswoman is one for the ages and her story is one of true American resilience. Among the dissenters were people who accused Ms. Henson of being out of touch. As a woman and person of the upper class who would be considered part of the top one percent, her tearful outburst was supposedly misleading. There was another group, however, that added this to the growing sentiment that Hollywood or celebrity life may not be as glorious as it seems as evidenced by the rise in popularity of the term HOLLYWEIRD.
While the above perspectives are valid, there is one glaring aspect in my estimation. There seems to be a poorly organized or albeit absent Black American Upper class community/sector. Despite the infamy of the term “upper class”, it is safe to say a moderately responsible upper class can secure generations of loyal and well-intentioned working and middle class populations. Hence the vulnerability of the black upper class poses a problem for the future of black economic opportunity. Class mobility is something that is often highly spoken of in American society, especially, among creatives or the gifted. There are several black celebrities in music, movies and sports who are the first in their families to be millionaires. Often times, they skip through several rungs in the social ladder thus avoid several trappings of working class and middle class life. While this is a heavy blessing it sometimes turns into a curse when they realize they are ill-prepared to manage such a financial leap. One of the major features of the middle and upper-middle class which some nouveau-riche may not be accustomed to is exclusivity.
Exclusivity is often frowned upon especially when it involves keeping away the working class. In the United States, social mobility is one of our virtues where a display of affluence is meant to be an act of inspiration. Hence the trope of starting from the bottom or making it out of the mud or lifting oneself by their bootstraps (ironically). However, what is not often discussed is that social exclusivity is key in gaining access to the upper class but also in keeping access. The gates that keep people out also keep people in. Movies and novels will tell you it is about hiding their obsessions and kinks but Wall Street reveals it also protects their interests. American senator Bernie Sanders is known for saying “Capitalism for the poor, socialism for the rich.” A truer statement could not have been made. Exclusivity keeps them richer while also warding off the curse of poverty and its distress.
Another way in which the exclusivity of the upper class is preserved is with a highly-skilled middle class. The upper class is responsible for upholding the businesses of highly skilled professions in healthcare, education, finance, media/communications and politics. Often they create a great decoy for themselves when they secure exclusive sectors of the middle class onto themselves in the above fields. This is sometimes evident when some of these sectors of the middle class start to take on elements of exclusivity. This ranges in expression from illusions of grandeur to super-achievement. This often an effort to create a wide enough gap between themselves and the working class so that the truly rich or wealthy remain obscure. The middle class while acting as a barrier are also premium consumers of the products funded by the upper class thus feeding the economic cycle and absorbing the toll of exclusivity. Thus a large middle class is essential to a vibrant upper class. What happens when there is a lackluster middle class underneath a porous upper class?
Here is where the economics of black celebrities come in. Taraji P. Henson is a very prolific American actress who despite being underpaid should have been able to acquire buy-in to an upper class circle that would protect her affordability for middle class services like education for her kids, financial services for her businesses and advanced healthcare. If her wealth or money cannot afford her such exclusivity it creates a huge hole in her ability to optimize her wealth. A subpar education will not prepare her children for a tenacious world view. Poor financial services will cause her to lose money in frivolous ways such as bad investments and excess charity. And, inept health services could put her life in danger and cut the whole process short. Thus unfortunately, someone in her position is either part of a porous upper class or under the illusion of being in the upper class.
Chris Rock, in his comedy special “Never Scared”, talked about the difference between he and his white neighbor, a dentist and his black neighbors, The Carters (Jay-Z & Beyonce), Mary J. Blige and Eddie Murphy. While the white neighbor had a profession typical of the skilled upper middle class, he and his black counterparts were among the best in their fields. To which he famously said “The black man has to fly to what the white can just walk to.” But the question could also be asked: Are black celebrities part of the upper class or are they part of the middle class that supports an obscure upper class?
by Julian Michael Yong.
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