Liberate the Other Half: Empowering the “Back Row” of America

“Rather than cracking down on higher-income Americans, it is past time to liberate the other half.”

The recent protests spurred by the killing of George Floyd have renewed efforts to understand and improve the conditions faced by residents of our nation’s poorer communities, particularly when it comes to interactions with law enforcement.

Former Wall Street trader-turned-author and photographer Chris Arnade has spent more time than most traveling into communities across the country to interview and photograph the places and people that have been largely forgotten or ignored. Recently, Arnade wrote about the contrast between the freedom enjoyed by those with higher incomes and the strict and seemingly arbitrary rules endured by those further down the income ladder.

Arnade’s point is well taken. The rules that govern everyday life are different for front- and back-row Americans (his terms, not mine). Addressing problems in law enforcement is a fine place to start, but it is not nearly enough. Ending—or significantly curtailing—qualified immunity, reforming or eliminating police unions, and stopping police militarization are concrete steps that could begin the process of restoring communities’ trust in the officers that are supposed to be there to protect and serve them.

But the disparities go far beyond interactions with law enforcement. Rather than cracking down on higher-income Americans, it is past time to liberate the other half.

For the front row, the path to achieving economic stability and success is relatively straightforward. A college degree—and the attendant circle of professional contacts—grants access to non-paying (or low-paying) internships that eventually purchase access to wealthy neighborhoods with desirable job opportunities and good schools. Education—or rather, the credentials that come with formal education—are the keys that open these doors.