Walking into Summer Debt Free
5 years after graduating from Columbia and 3 years after graduating from Harvard, I am excited to announce that the PJs are walking into summer Debt Free YALL!!
According to the Education Data Initiative, 40% of Black graduates have student loan debt from graduate school while only 22% of white counterparts have the same. This heavy burden of debt continues to perpetuate the education, achievement, and wealth gap in our nation. Keeping many hard-working, intelligent, and gift folks from living out their American Dream (i.e. starting a family, going on vacation, buying a house, investing etc.)
While I have always been fiscally responsible and was able to attended college debt-free, like my mother I aspired for more. With my eyes set on the Ivy Leagues and my annual income in NYC hovering right above the poverty line. I knew I would have to go into debt to attend graduate school. I took a leap of faith and took out the debt, praying I could land a job that would give me the salary and benefits I needed to pay off my loans.Then we did it again when Henri decided to pass up a full ride to go to his dream school.
Deuteronomy 23:12–13 says, “…You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The Lord will make you the head, not the tail…” Despite what our bank account said we held fast to this promise that one day we would lend to many nations and never have to borrow.. I am finally seeing that promise manifest itself.
While the statics are stacked against Black and Brown folk, I am so grateful to say that Henri Pierre-Jacques and I have paid off our cumulative student debts and are free from this broken and inequitable system that perpetuates the myth of meritocracy. I pray that our children don’t have to put their lives on hold because of massive amounts of debt.
IDEA ALERT:
If companies really care about diversity, equity and inclusion, they could actively take a non-performative stance and help employees of color pay down their student loans. HR professionals should advocate for #EqualPayForEqualWork.
The government wanted to stimulate GDP, they could offer interest-free or low-interest loans to those who have been historically oppressed and marginalized to gain higher education.
There is more we can do to close the education, opportunity and wealth gap in America.
#FinancialFreedom #MentalHealthAwareness #DebtFree #MythofMeritocracy #WealthGap #AchievementGap #StudentDebtCrisis #Inclusion #MakeEducationFree