By Jay Anderson on Sep 22nd 2010 1:20PM
Filed under: News, The Economy
Living vicariously through someone else's success makes many people happy. We cheer for our favorite teams and celebrate when they come through with a win in the clutch. We take pride as a race in watching other black people rise to the top of professions like academics, science and entertainment. I've even seen two brothers come to blows over whether Jay-Z or 50 Cent made more money in a 2008. Again, by-proxy success is a very real thing.
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Recent Obama Photos
U.S. President Barack Obama talks with Gail O'Brian from New Hampshire who is receiving treatment for cancer as he answers questions about the Health Care Plan with a group in the backyard of the home of Paul and Frances Brayshaw September 22, 2010 in Falls Church, Virginia. In his talk he highlighted provisions beginning to take effect, including new regulations for insurance companies, requirements to let young adults stay on their parents? plans, and a bar on coverage being denied to children with preexisting conditions.
Photo by Dennis Brack-Pool/Getty Images
AFP
BlackVoices.com
Recent Obama Photos
U.S. President Barack Obama talks with Gail O'Brian from New Hampshire who is receiving treatment for cancer as he answers questions about the Health Care Plan with a group in the backyard of the home of Paul and Frances Brayshaw September 22, 2010 in Falls Church, Virginia. In his talk he highlighted provisions beginning to take effect, including new regulations for insurance companies, requirements to let young adults stay on their parents? plans, and a bar on coverage being denied to children with preexisting conditions.
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama walk to the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010, for a ceremony to present the Medal of Honor posthumously to the sons of Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. Etchberger, in . Etchberger received the honor for his heroic actions in combat in Laos on March 11, 1968, after deliberately exposing himself to enemy fire in order to put his wounded comrades in rescue slings permitting them to be airlifted to safety.
Recent Obama Photos
U.S. President Barack Obama answers questions about the Health Care Plan with a group in the backyard of the home of Paul and Frances Brayshaw September 22, 2010 in Falls Church, Virginia. In his talk he highlighted provisions beginning to take effect, including new regulations for insurance companies, requirements to let young adults stay on their parents? plans, and a bar on coverage being denied to children with preexisting conditions.
Recent Obama Photos
US President Barack Obama walks to board Air Force One on September 20, 2010 at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. The president is on his way to Philadelphia, PA for fund rasing events.
Recent Obama Photos
Richard Etchberger, third from left, receives the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry on behalf of his late father, U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Richard L. Etchberger, from President Barack Obama as his brothers Cory, second from left, and Steve Wilson look on during an East Room ceremony, Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at the White House in Washington, D.C.
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrive at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc.'s Annual Legislative Conference Phoenix Awards Dinner at the Washington Convention Center, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, in Washington.
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama kisses first lady Michelle Obama on stage at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's annual Legislative Conference Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010.
Recent Obama Photos
Frist lady Michelle Obama, Malia Obama, Sasha Obama, and U.S. President Barack Obama walk across LaFayette Park to St. John's Episcopal Church on September 19, 2010 in Washington, DC. The President has no public events scheduled for today.
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama is hugged by Celine Childs of Whitemarsh Township, Pa., during a fundraiser for Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate, Rep. Joe Sestak, in Philadelphia, Monday, Sept. 20, 2010. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Recent Obama Photos
In this handout photo provided by NBC Universal, U.S. President Barack Obama answers a question as he sits with moderator John Harwood during a town hall discussion on jobs and the economy hosted by CNBC at the Newseum September 20, 2010 in Washington, DC. Obama was quoted saying that the economic recession remains "very real" for those Americans still out of work.
Recent Obama Photos
Still, I wonder if watching someone else succeed from a distance really has any lasting psychological effect on our overall happiness.
A new study seems to suggest it does -- especially considering noted gains in happiness for African Americans over recent decades. The New York Times reports:
Set aside some prominent success stories, like the current occupant of the White House, and the last few decades have not been great ones for African-American progress.
But now a new study has found that there is one big realm in which black Americans have made major progress: happiness. The happiness gains for black women have been a bit bigger than for black men, who are still more satisfied than they were in the 1970s, but less so than a decade ago.
The share of blacks saying they are not too happy has dropped noticeably, to about 20 percent in surveys over the last decade, from 24 percent in the 1970s. [Researchers] call the changes to blacks' answers, "one of the most dramatic gains in the happiness data that you'll see."
The new study is part of a deluge of happiness research by economists, who are discovering what the rest of us have long known: money isn't everything.
Read the rest on The New York Times:
For Blacks, Progress in Happiness
This "study" doesn't draw any solid conclusions for these "all-time high" happiness ratings for black folks, but just below the surface is the assertion that the election of a black President is a contributing factor -- otherwise, why bring Obama up? With black unemployment in the high teens, and a President who's increasingly squeamish about any issue related to race (just as
Shirley Sherrod), you sorta wonder if this perceived bump in happiness is really because of who's occupying 1600 Penn. Ave., or is merely a media creation.
Related:
+Black Woman Tells Obama, 'I'm Exhausted of Defending You & Disappointed'
: Should We All Be?
+Studies on Gender, Wealth & Happiness Don't Scratch the Surface of
Economic Impact on Blacks
On the other hand, increased salaries and wealth (because of increased opportunities) certainly would be contributing factors in the perceived increase in black happiness, but I wonder just how much. Study after study over the years has proven that
once you eclipse the $75,000 a year mark your overall happiness is a wash. Simply put, money doesn't seem to make your life any better once it's no longer really a factor.
I personally don't know what to make of all this. While November 4th, 2008 was a great day in the annals of black history, Obama's election hasn't necessarily made my life dramatically better or worse and a well-paying corporate gig sure didn't signal the end of my money woes. Happiness is ultimately about being around folks whom you love and who love you back, money or President aside.
Then again, that's just me. What do you think?
Questions: How do you explain the results of this study? Did the election of President Obama make you happier overall? What salary would make you content? Are YOU 'happier'?
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Comments: (21)
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By: Tek_Knowledge on 9/22/2010 1:47PM
Goodness, black people sure are dumb...The lowest social class in the world, and we're HAPPY about it..
ignorance is bliss i guess =(...
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By: Nathan on 9/22/2010 2:39PM
I completely agree! No, black people aren't dumb, they're way beyond that! It's more like they're continually "stuck on stupid"! Most still only want to complain about what white people aren't doing for them, but won't get off their butts and do for themselves! This is nothing the same old, tired story from the black community for years now. Always want to play the victims, and apparently now are enjoying it!
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By: Nathan on 9/22/2010 2:38PM
I completely agree! No, black people aren't dumb, they're way beyond that! It's more like they're continually "stuck on stupid"! Most still only want to complain about what white people aren't doing for them, but won't get off their butts and do for themselves! This is nothing the same old, tired story from the black community for years now. Always want to play the victims, and apparently now are enjoying it!
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By: Greg on 9/22/2010 2:52PM
I'm more than sure that there are black people(more than we want to believe)that want to see the President fail! Sad to say that, but black people don't seem to have a problem with seeing one of their own fail! that's black people's primary issue, "self hatred"! If, you want to blame somebody, then take a look in the mirror! How long is it going to take for black folks to finally wake up, and start being producers, not for records, or movies, but for themselves, and for the black community at large! The Hispanics are kicking black peole butts all over the place, and black people are doing just as they usually can be found doing, that's only wanting to party all the time, get hhigh, and make more OOW that they can't take care of, or even try. Then it becomes ..again the burden of the taxpayer! Happy, when you're the lowest, and continue to be the lowest rung on the ladder? That's black folks for you! This is simply just madness!
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By: Ike on 9/22/2010 8:53PM
American Blacks are not in the lowest social class in the world! What insulting comments! I'm happy because I'm an American senior citizen who lives in the USA. I respect my President and his wife. Did you really expect a major upturn the American economy two after Obama became our leader? You need to pull your head out of that mound of sand. It's going to take at least another 2 years. I don't think any republican or democrat in congress could do a better job than President Obama.
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By: gichaya on 9/24/2010 1:06AM
Greg, Nathan, Tek and all your other aliens, GET A JOB my man. You have absolutely to much time on your hand. You are here all day, every day. Do you work work for BV? That would answer the questions as to why you're always here. So I take it your job here at BV is to annoy all others. Well Greg, you are not annoying, just pathetic
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By: socaholic78 on 9/22/2010 2:52PM
We are happy because sitting there and sulking doesnt help anything. We have a black president for the first time and other people keep trying to dumb that down. We werent happy with Bush, but he was in office for 8 years. And with unemployment at its highest because of Bush, for some reason people keep forgetting that.
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By: Greg on 9/22/2010 3:20PM
I will agree with part of your commentary. That under Bush his policies did in fact benefit the rich, and widen the divide between the poor. But, the real problem with black people is that they continue to have the same ongoing issues! Such as failing to embrace education, high dropout rates, lacking marketable job skill sets, can't pass a background check, or a drug screen, and have no steady work history! Nothing new there to report! But, we unlike other races of people don't create enough businesses in our communities, as do others. Hell, we can't even keep our communities either clean, or safe! If, black people want jobs they always have to leave their communities to get one! That's on black people for their continuing ongoing failure to ..as usual, and again work together! Finally, I have to disagree with you about black people being so happy! Come, on now any people that are happy during this economic meltdown must be absolutely crazy, and stupid! "We're Happy"? Do, you have any idea how that comment only makes black people look? It's sad as hell to have to read nonsense like this, but at the end of the day perhaps that's the real truth about black folks! I guess that better explains why black people are ..again being left behind! So, much for all this supposedly black leadership, and solidarity!
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By: Ike on 9/25/2010 9:44AM
I totally agree with you!
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By: mahogany honey on 9/22/2010 3:00PM
when speaking to some of my elders, i learned that they didn't feel The Great Depression the same way white folks felt it. they were living in a great depression well before it had a name and they made a way out of no way. they manage to find work, even if not so glamorous; they worked hard; they saved; and they invested wisely (in their children, land and property). albeit, this is not the only story, but it is one of the stories for some Black folks and history probably repeats itself today. with every challenge, there is opportunity. when you have been battle worn with challenges, you are uniquely positioned to find and exploit the opportunity.
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