The concept of equal opportunity for all people in America is a lie and Afromerica will prove it. The class system that fuels American capitalism cannot work productively based on the so-called claim to equality because capitalism is based on a formula that depends on the labors of the many to increase the riches of the few, and Black America suffers the most.

Introduction
More of our Black intellectuals, scholars and moral leaders have succumbed to pressures of mainstream ideology where it pertains to placing blame of Black America's problems on the personal endeavors of Black Americans themselves, and the mainstream will gladly promote and publicized these analyses to refuel such critics, recycling and multiplying the ideology ad infinitum.

The more we accept these problems as those of our own creation, which becomes inevitable by reoccurrence, we subconsciously ascribe to dysfunctions and disapproval of ourselves thus fulfilling a prophesy set forth by false prophets. The anxious attempt of white America to wish away the effects of slavery, discrimination, and continued oppression upon Black America contradicts the ideology itself, which is accepting responsibility for one's faults.

The following study captures the realities of living in a society economically structured on class basis, proving that certain opportunities, resources and services are specifically designed for a certain group thus making the claim of equal opportunity null and void. In addition, proving that Blacks in America are generally slotted into a second, even third-class position behind those for which some select opportunity is predetermined.

To substantiate this theory, we take an in-depth look at the following, 1) Family wage income against cost-of-living 2) How the federal government measures poverty, 3) The structure of the alternative financial sector, i.e., check-cashing, payday lenders, and tax refund anticipation lenders. These 3 factors contribute to legal class separation giving strength to the capitalist structure.

Finally, we will offer solutions to Black America and all those subject to this form of ingenious oppression, which will alleviate hardships and assist in overcoming despite apparent inequality. The series is 3 parts and begins with a summary of each area being addressed.

Family Wage Income Against Cost-Of-Living
Within the past 5 years, the cost of living has increased while wages have remained stagnant or slightly fallen, meaning, working people and families are not making enough money to keep up with what it cost to live a decent life.

In addition to the normal factors in cost of living, such as federal, state and local tax increases, value of the dollar, and the consumer price indexes, which measures the inflation/deflation rate in goods purchased directly by consumers, there are hidden factors that contribute to a higher cost of living the government does not factor in that mainly stem from private companies such as utility companies, banking fees, and other necessities of life the public has become accustom to and in need of using, such as cable television, addictions, hobbies, and the cost of dining out.

Though the latter are not essential necessities, they define standards of lifestyle that are taken into consideration even in certain legal cases, such as alimony and civil lawsuits, thus they are relevant in considering how people are use to living and able to fair financially in life.

How the Federal Government Measures Poverty
A family is considered "poor" if they make under $17,050 annually according to the 2000 Census Bureau poverty threshold. Whereas, the majority of Americans say a family needs at least $35,000 a year to get by, almost twice the current poverty line. Based on American class structure, an estimated 53% of American families make under $35,000 annually with 25% living below the poverty line. This means 1 quarter of Americans is poor (Discovering Sociology: Stockard, 2000).

The original poverty thresholds were developed in the early 1960s by Molly Orshansky, an employee of the Social Security Administration, which was based on how much a family spent on food. In 1955, families of three or more persons (all such families, not just low-income families) spent about one-third of their after-tax money income on food.

Over time, the relative prices of the items that families consume have changed considerably. For example, families spend more of their income on housing, health care, and transportation than they used to, and less on food. In addition, families now spend more on certain items, like childcare, due to the increased number of women in the labor force.

Due to these changes, families now spend less than one-fifth of their income on food. These official poverty thresholds are made even more out of date because they have not been adjusted to reflect improvements in standards of living. The failure to increase the poverty thresholds as incomes (adjusted for inflation) have grown means those who fall below the poverty line are worse off relative to the typical (median) family now than they were 30 years ago. (http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/issueguides_poverty_povertyfaq).

The Black community faces a greater challenge to overcoming poverty because Blacks face limited opportunities rooted in race discrimination as compared to whites. It makes it relatively easier for whites to get the opportunities that will launch them over the poverty line. Moreover, economic opportunity only thrives where there are jobs, and most new businesses begin in white neighborhoods.

The Alternative Financial Sector
When prominent businesses leave urban areas to take root in the suburbs, of course whites are there already to fill the positions while Blacks are left to fend in economically starved urban cities. Banks favor whites and are more willing to loan to whites than they are Blacks.

Since the financial sector caters mostly to whites, this leaves second-rate financial institutions and businesses to fill the needs of urban Black areas. There is no opportunity there because there is no choice, especially for those locked in urban areas and out of the so-called American, suburbia dream.

In lieu of bank-based transaction, saving, and credit products, the unbanked and other low-income households often rely on the more costly alternative financial sector (AFS). AFS providers offer a wide range of services, including short-term loans, check cashing, bill pay- Low-income households in the United States often lack access to bank accounts and face high costs for conducting basic financial transactions through check cashers and other alternative financial service providers (Brookings Institution 2004).

As society moves further into electronic money transactions, low-income and much of Black America again are locked out of the system. Without checking accounts it becomes more difficult to adapt to mainstream trends.

This leaves basically no other alternative for urban residences that have already been subjected to low-paying jobs. With he urgency that comes with living pay-check-to-pay-check, the ability to plan for the future is harder. Thus, more Blacks are caught up in these second-rate financial institutions and are not able to save money for reason of too high interest rates and penalties these places charge.

So How Do We Live?
There is no doubt that millions of Black families live below the $35,000 annual line, not to mention the many who are below the actual poverty line, the problem is how do we secure a solid economic base for Black America under a system that has designed life this way purposefully, and covertly intentionally toward Blacks.

We will go deeper into this phenomenon during the series, challenging the ways of American capitalism by way of natural logic and true justice and equality. White America knows its faults but refuse to own up to them, a concept they constantly push down the throats of Black America, personal responsibility.

© July 2005 by Afro Staff