"Poor Black Kid" Responds To Forbes Author

“Poor Black Kid” Responds To Forbes Author

Baratunde Thurston, a writer and comedian and one of the founders of the African American news site, Jack And Jill Politics has responded to Gene Marks article in Forbes Magazine, entitled “If I Were A Poor Black Kid.

Thurston uses humor to negate several of Marks points and critique his article in a blog on CNN.

I took more of your advice. I got “technical.” I had no idea I could get technical. I learned software!

From there it was just a quick hop to a top college, marketable skills and an immediate job offer from a businessman starved for talent. Did someone say recession? I can’t see it!

The amazing part is that I did all of this in two days! All thanks to your article!

I didn’t know any of these opportunities existed. My parents and I were too tired. We were all ignorant, and quite frankly, I could have figured it out sooner on my own if I’d had the brains to do so. Your article provided those brains. It wasn’t about my parents or ways to improve the school system or how to empower the community. It had nothing to do with history or accumulated privilege or social psychology. No, I simply needed to want success more and combine that with technology. You taught me that I can do all this by myself, and I have!