No one can deny the failure of the political leadership (whether Democrat or Republican.) But the point I would like to make is it is not because they are “black areas” that they are troubled. They are troubled because the resources required to improve the living conditions have been misdirected, squandered, stolen, and misappropriated by people taking advantage of populations that are not able to wield the political and social power they need to dig themselves out.

You and I are very much in agreement, but what I am suggesting is the issues are far more complicated than the standard narratives of welfare dependence, unemployed youth, gang violence, and violent crime — all very real problems, but each directly tied to the public policies you just read about.

Also, black Americans are not monolithic. Yes, 26% of black Americans live below the poverty level. But that means that 74% of black Americans are living above the poverty level (and many well above it.) The view that the majority of black Americans (and other minorities) live in “poor communities” is dead wrong. But you’d never know that from what’s portrayed in the current national discourse.