The Story We Tell About Poverty Isn't True | Mia Birdsong | TED Talks

As a global community, we all want to end poverty. Mia Birdsong suggests a great place to start: Let's honor the skills, drive and initiative that poor people bring to the struggle every day. She asks us to look again at people in poverty: They may be broke - but they're not broken.
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more.
Find closed captions and translated subtitles in many languages at www.ted.com/translate
Follow TED news on Twitter: / tednews
Like TED on Facebook: / ted
Subscribe to our channel: / tedtalksdirector

[@TheTalitaDione]

"I'm tired of the story we tell ourselves that hard work leads to success". finally someone said it. sometimes, it's just not enough!

[@tamsinthai]

+Tali Dione Tue dat. Sometimes one needs to re prioritise and, think outside of the box.

[@benji1025]

+Tali Dione It is if you are working hard in the right areas. If you work hard and just know how to combine widget a and widget b on the assembly line you could work 24 hours a day and you will go no where. But if you put that hard work towards studying, learning a new skill or learning a new language you will most likely get somewhere.

[@TheTalitaDione]

+Ben Modica how about hard work towards only one goal for three years and fail anyway because u were never at the right time, in the right place, despite all efforts? see.. u need a lil luck too

[@bisacool7339]

+Tali Dione I think there is something wrong with her reasoning, I am not convince

[@TheTalitaDione]

+Orie E I can introduce u to about hundreds of people who live the life she describes , if "you're not convinced". hard work is not everything.

[@johnscarlett5754]

In Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers" he talks about people like Bill Gates. Gates found something he loved to do and then all the ducks fell into a row for him. He is viewed as a self made man but if any one of those ducks like wealthy parents, being in the correct city, or his age at the time' was different, those ducks may not have lined up for him. He is a product of his own personal qualities and dozens of variables in his environment over which he had no control. It seems poor people just don't have a lot of ducks working for them. The drive and passions are still there but there is quite a bit missing preventing them from breaking through on a consistent basis. It is time we looked hard at these systemic limits. We are wasting human potential.

[@Baku69895]

1. stop having children. We have enough humans. 2. don't charge people to go to school for fucks sake. That's absolutely ridiculous. 3. have actual consequences for corporations and politicians who lie about public matters or create disasters.

[@EagleZtoTheGrave]

+Allmywhat I don't have a problem paying for school... If I could realistically pay it off like back in the day.

[@Baku69895]

EagleZtoTheGrave Eh. You're right to some extent, but really. Why should we pay for school? There's so much funding (us speaking) that goes to waste in the military or corp subs that we could be better off fueling a better future for the USA. If anything should be free, it should be the opportunity to excel at your strengths and push innovation forward. Education.

[@wobeah]

+Allmywhat I think his idea is the same as your. He said don't charge not "charge" for education

[@samanthawoldu6856]

So in other words vote Bernie Sanders for president 2016 #feelthebern

[@murrayvonmises]

+Allmywhat you do realize that the terrible public schools are a part of the problem for the poor-.- Maybe bring some open competition to the market AKA. no public schools. Instead micro-investment in the poor students.

[@PQCoachCAL]

Just as relevant TODAY as it was 7 years ago. THANK YOU Ms. Birdsong!!

[@Nat-rv3cp]

"A lot of the time we spend our energy trying to demand change for systems that were not made for us". The sad and cold truth. Coming from a woman of color, it is infuriating to have to endure sexism, racism, discrimination, and be expected to just take it and take it. But she's right... with a strong and positive support system it can be a little more bearable.

[@LenoraForest]

BRAVO!!!!! Working collectively is the answer. Together we have incredible power.

[@coralofyt]

With more jobs being automated its only a matter of time before people will need a GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME! It Should Be A Human Right! A Basic Right To Live! You Need Money To Live! Why should the 000.1% have all the wealth!

[@HiAdrian]

*+kimxxxyyy* Yes, we should be pursuing robotics and AI with 50 times the rigor we do today. Especially aging populations such as Japan and much of Europe need to reach a state of greater automation fast. I find it ridiculous that politicians seriously argue that we need population growth to shoulder the burden of retirement and health care for the elderly, as if this "new generation" doesn't end up creating the same problem (only magnified) a few decades later. How can people be so short sighted? It must be deliberate!

[@hungrymusicwolf]

+Adrian Dear just so you know they aren't that short sighted, politicians know all too well how that works and even the few who don't are if they were interested in the topic they would quickly understand. BUT they are not interested in future problems, problems further then 8 years away will have no impact on them BECAUSE THEY ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE SELECTED THEN, THEY ARE OUT OF POLITICS BY THEN so they work NOT for the future but TO WIN THE FAVOR OF THE PEOPLE IN THE NOW and that will always be the problem in a representative democracy, republic or anything that doesn't have it's main incentive to work to the future instead of gain the favor of the people in the now.

[@HiAdrian]

***** Yes you're right, many appear to be thinking until the next election cycle only. That's why I suggested it must be deliberate; nobody can be this blind!

[@hungrymusicwolf]

Well of course it is deliberate and everyone supporting this system are themselves an incentive to keep it this way, not blaming anyone but right now it is the reality of it is that we who vote for the people who only work towards the next election are the incentive for them to keep doing what they're doing. Until either that or the system changes it will stay that way.

[@toomaskotkas4467]

+kimxxxyyy What are you a communist?

[@lindaboyer2923]

Ms Birdsong is telling us the truth, I have felt what she speaks of but could never articulate it the way she does here. We can all heed her call by opening our minds and our hearts.

[@tippysouthcloud7991]

one of the best things I have ever seen on the internet, ever.

[@allybee74]

Thank you, Mia for sharing your story. It was inspiring and heartfelt.

[@S.BloomsCrafting]

such a tribute, I've listened to ted talks all day, most were awesome but yours touched a deeper place.

[@jeancarlosrodriguesbezerra6830]

Palestra muito instrutiva! A senhora é uma mulher incrível!

[@justcausereason155]

finally someone who puts the spotlight on poverty, does not ignoring everyone that is not black or female, who recognises luck and her on privilege and does not directly promote some corrupt organisation.

[@maysimpson8184]

I think her talk was absolutely marvelous! There are points that need to be questioned, but I think her emphasis on the significance of circumstance and luck is spot on. Innovation and accomplishments at the poverty level by those in poverty compared to world affecting plans at Silicon Valley by those who are well-off both require similar character assets (hard work, ideas, drive). There's only so much you can know and can do at the poverty level, but nevertheless the people there are making the best out of it to help the community, which I'm sure innovators of Silicon Valley are doing the same for the world with new ideas. The circumstances are different but everyone is doing what they can. Perhaps if those in poverty were born into families with better condition...well who knows.

[@guiller2371]

American history is full of random intents of rising that had simply been sanked. But, you bring a great point, organizing and sharing common experience as a form of empowerment. Great speech!

[@jacquiroche6507]

one of the BEST talks ever - thank you for speaking truth

[@WadeYoungerSpeaksLive]

This is a great TED talk! Thank you, I enjoyed this delivery!!

[@RSpence777]

It has to be apparent that what has been attempted to fix the issue is not working! So it seems the fortunate ones have a choice Continue to waste money, or try something different and Mrs.Birdsong's advice its a good as any I've heard. 5 star talk young lady.!

[@finfan7]

So... What is actually being suggested here? Specifically? I can hear echoes of 'finance small business' and 'treat people like people' but I don't hear a strong specific suggestion.

[@rickylorenzo8363]

Jus like the black lives matter movement

[@kenxu4824]

That is the whole point. It is totally pointless. Perfect job to fool people by playing emotion.

[@ev6564]

I don't know if there's meant to be a strong specific suggestion other than place more faith in the lower income and support their talent and don't fall into the mindset that hard work, but I think that's a good enough start as someone whose a lower income college kid myself. I definitely don't think that it's totally pointless (same with the Black Lives Matter Movement which has put attention to police brutality). Anyway, it's interesting to read these comments (more the positive and negative like these) and see the different opinions of the audience. Def helps with the essay I'm writing on this Ted Talk. Edit: both not more

[@alicedesai5090]

This is a must hear.

[@pamjenkins9102]

She gave and gave and gave. Thank you

[@OfficialDanHalo]

Well said

[@franklinryan7495]

Brilliant!

[@oliviermosimann6931]

Very nice talk.

[@ClockinLoot]

I feel stupid.....what exactly was she proposing?

[@derciolichucha5864]

She Didn't give ONE solution, it was more of an inspirational thing. She was simply pointing out the supposed fact that we HAVE the power to stop poverty but are just going about it the wrong way. One evidence she brought up was that at Silicon Valley they throw huge sums of money to random guys with great ideas but no one does anything for the poorer people- in the end how much more different are they from Mark Zukerberg. She wasn't just giving responsibility to everyone else but she also said that poor people themselves should learn to band together because that's when real things will get done (she believes). All in all she was saying 'this is Plan A, go about it like this' but it was more... A point to the right direction (so she believes).

[@tamsinthai]

+Dércio Lichucha 'Poor people band together', nice idea ..

[@kenxu4824]

Answer is: nothing. Just playing emotion.

[@james5206]

"I'm tired of the story we tell ourselves that hard work leads to success because that story allows those of us who make it to believe we deserve it, and by implication, those who don't make it don't deserve it." commenting for my english assignment :P

[@davidrodriguez-mellin6160]

Lol I'm gonna use this for my sociology assignment

[@Floccini]

That is something I observed when I worked in Restaurants, single mothers trading off on childcare and I have wondered why more of that does not go on.

[@angelines7409]

This deserves more attention

[@ednasawyer511]

We are our best keep secrets. We must work to find ways to rduce poverty in our communicties. Support eachothers efforts to do better for ourselves.

[@markoszouganelis5755]

🎵🎶We are the world, 🎶🎶🎵 we are the children!

[@TheTalitaDione]

yes. luck and hardwork!!!

[@andrewolgin876]

Rochester New York， my city

[@lady33357]

This is the best TEd Talk ,I have ever watched. engaging and Informative. Most importantly, it was enlightening which told the truth.

[@ivandate9972]

15 minutes without any single word about IQ

[@Arcus2658]

That necklace is amazing and extremely distracting.

[@adamgottlieb5818]

+john smith and her brain is just above it. glad you came to a TED Talk

[@adamgottlieb5818]

+john smith If I did, I would

[@Taha-fo3sv]

great. so osam

[@angellachimombo9783]

I'm inspired ✊✊✊

[@squish7073]

Sometimes I wonder that trying to solve this problem, all the money that is thrown into think tanks and books deals, building nonprofits …while useful is literally wasting money that could’ve gone directly to help these people get out of poverty directly. Sometimes all they need is resources or access to them.

[@glennsimonsen8421]

Time and time again I see the refugee community from Myanmar/Burma (as well as other countries) buying houses and going from destitute and under-educated to the middle class and sometimes higher. How do they do it? Hard work and drive. More often than not, hard work produces great outcomes in the USA. Ms. Birdsong may need to "look again" at the many success stories that are plain to see.

[@ShadowFanE102]

(intense applauding)

[@nidheeshg7736]

❤

[@nicethugbert]

If the government would pick one PEACEFUL priority such as health or education and fund that directly, bypassing the central bank, then people would get paid to do valuable work, valuable work would be guaranteed ot get done, and the money would have real value.

[@vickierogers5431]

Don't you just love our people!!!

[@user-kp5ps7gj8b]

Who says poor people are problem and not poverty.. this is bullshit.. I have never met a person who says that.. stop playing victim.. come on.. Society will have upper and lower class. it is inevitable... Its not good.. but don't blame on people who have go it.

[@KP-hi1om]

Hard work helps but its no gurantee for success. I believe that the person that makes $17/hr works just as hard as the person that makes $60/hr.

[@ikigai3232]

💞💕

[@Pebleymeoon_N]

their more beautifully complex stories.

[@womenencouragewomen9310]

We ARE Magic 💪🏽

[@ghostBoy-fy2jv]

Sorry this is just for a hw assignment 1:20:resource 5:50 impacts 6:50 her childhood

[@pisbpublications4295]

I think this talk provides an important lesson re: the insidiousness of anti-poor people propaganda. Mrs. Birdsong begins on the right track regarding dispelling the myth that poor people of color are poor because of a lack of hard work, agency, hustle and innovation. Then, at the 12:30 mark, she tells the mostly white audience that she needs to speak to "her people" before launching into the nonsense of "we can't wait on other people to get it right", completely disregarding the fact that she just spent the first ten minutes of her talk talking about people who are NOT "waiting on other people to get it right". People she just said are the "rule" and not the exception. So, in spite of her telling the audience to think of a new way to see people in poverty, she is showing herself as embracing the same myth she spoke out against...

[@IDislikeTheNewYoutube]

Like most problems, it's largely socio-economic and education based. There you go.

[@rickylorenzo8363]

Free college and make arrest for corruption for ounce, also lobbying should be illegal, and corperation should be able to fund politic campains unless there a non profit org

[@IDislikeTheNewYoutube]

That disjointed thought is not related to anything valuable or that you need to repeat again, just stop there.

[@EnriqueLopez-lf8qm]

Hard work leads to success, but if not, there must be some problem with the system

[@seddikmeddah4308]

in Islam when you reach a certain degree of wealth you have to give a part of your money(2.5%) to poor people one time a year and this is 1of the 5 basics of the religion of God.

[@Gnug215]

+seddik meddah Do you personally think 2.5% is enough, or even close to an amount that will have any kind of impact? And what is a "certain degree of wealth"?

[@seddikmeddah4308]

+Harakashi God has sent this rules for all the humanity and it works for all , if you َapply them you get benifits if you dont you are responsible of the results and you are free ...and the believers are more likely to do it !

[@seddikmeddah4308]

+Gnug215 the certain degree of wealth depends on the wealth you ,have any way it is well described in islamic books if you are interested it is called Zakat ...enough or not i guess it so complicated question for me to answer , any way we think that God knows better .

[@Gnug215]

Fair enough. It just seems to me that the 2.5% is quite low. I would point to the Christian "counterpart" of tithing, giving 10%, but that is to go to the Church, which, while Churches usually do help the poor, it's safe to say that a lot of the money coming is is used on... other things. I would also point to the "secular counterpart", as in, paying taxes, a part of which goes to welfare, but that calculation would be a bit complicated. Plus, it depends on which society you're in.

[@tamsinthai]

+seddik meddah To all Islam's detractors, and there are rightly many in my view, this part is true. We have a local mosque here in Thailand who holds fundraising events for the poor. The same cannot be said for the many Buddhist temples who only seek 'merit' on their own behalves.

[@nathanbarnard7896]

I live in the U.K so forgive me if this doesn't apply to the U.S situation. I would fundamentally disagree to the idea that hard work, certainly in school, doesn't lead out of poverty. In my school there's a very broad range of both attainment and this correlates very closely to the amount of work put in. Higher academic achievement generally leads to a higher salary a therefore not being in poverty. There is a divide between rich and poor pupils attainment however, looking within the same school and discounting private schools, I don't believe that there's structural bias against pupils from a low socio-economic background and and therefore I believe it's in the the value placed upon education within their community. Many pupils from immigrant backgrounds are poorer than the average Brit however due to the value their community's place on education and therefore the work they put into it they outperform many of their peers. Essentially working harder in school makes your life better and this is true regardless of socio-economic status and so, for greater social mobility the culture around school must change so people work harder.

[@flossietube2065]

We live in a system that values money more than people. So long as we have an Economy and a Government that values money and power more than people, you will NEVER fix the problem of poverty. We live in the wealthiest and most powerful Country the history of the World! Poverty is something we could have ended before I was born in 1973. World peace is something we could have achieved way before I was born! We have the ability. We just don't have the will.

[@johnniiee146]

the tragic truth of poverty is being unable to know the luxury of artisan peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.. with brick oven roasted peanuts lightly salted from the dead sea, and jelly strictly made from fruit grown in local farms watered with navajo tears..

[@MrXtrodinaire]

Those people don't look poor to me. Heck, they have better clothes than I do.

[@cameronmarcum4673]

maybe your poor

[@K_i_t_t_y84]

+Guru Dex Thereby implying that if they're not dressed in rags, they must not fit your arbitrary definition of "poor enough". Dude, c'mon. Have a little compassion instead of dismissing what she's saying because those people "don't look poor"!

[@schnellerfuchs13]

+Megan Rivera exactly!

[@rickylorenzo8363]

Gangster arent poor, if they make 15k a month, but moms and teens who are not selling drugs are poor and usually dont have exspensive clothes

[@SexualPotatoes]

You people do understand that marginalizing rich people is just as stupid as marginalizing poor people, right? There's complexity to everything. You can't just blame everything on one group.

[@MeGusta868]

+Sexual Potatoes Her approach is simply externalizing the problems of the impoverished by shifting the blame onto those who are not. It fails to acknowledge that the reality is a spectrum, a combination of bad policies, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and social flaws.

[@vic365]

So what does she actually suggest? I've had enough of people with vague ideas lacking concrete solutions.

[@eternitynaut]

Sounds like revolution.

[@MaZe741]

"Mia Birdsong" is a pseudonym, right? There's no way that name is real! NO WAY

[@franklinfalco9069]

There's a link between hard work and success but poverty is as much of a social problem as an individual one.

[@alexboston343]

These people seem successful; it would be nice if they linked a document showing these peoples income.

[@johnhook4946]

Hmm...

[@fireeconomicswithjt6521]

We cannot wait for somebody else to get it right 👏👏👏

[@disarmyouwitha]

She seems fiercely Anarchist. =]

[@richbright540]

Yes after working 40 years and having a nice planned retirement. Some lose it all. They figure why me? It's not always their fault. Some just give up If you have the time or the conviction. Take a ride to any city you know!! Park in a safe spot!! Dress the part of the homeless you'll see. Fit right in and you to will be. When you live outside without all your stuff!! Surely find out this life is freakin rough!!! Don't bring cash whatever you do!! Cause a conscious has been given to you!! Drag a bag filled with all lifes treasure!! It will soon be light as a feather!! You will need to eat!! Wear some comfortable worn out shoes on your feet!! No jewelry please they take that for sure!! Sleep in the park do not snore!! Wonder and Ponder what happened to we!! You worked all your life!! Nothing for Free!! If you smoke!! But hunting you'll go!! Praying not for rain or snow!! Do not try this on holidays! Traffic, stores, library and most buildings are. closed no getaway!! People home with their families!! I Used to Be! Try it for a week!! No change of clothes!! You will be stinking along with all those!! Others Bum's some call us!! Right now you will want to get away from it all!Police and Security CHASING US still!! LOST IT ALL?? Didn't Pay (a) Bill!! DON'T WANT TO THINK!!! WHAT THE HECK!! LET'S FIND A DRINK!!! HIDE IN A BOTTLE A PIPE OR A PILL!!! SEE I TO LIVED ON TOP OF THAT HILL!! DO NOT JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER!!

[@Flamingerudostalion]

This sounds like a generally positive endpoint (let's work together and leverage what we have, rah rah rah, yay!!!), :) and I am in full support of that idea... but it uses a lot of toxic ideas to get there, and I don't think I can support those. E.g. "Unheard voices" implies that the hearing of the voice makes it valuable, rather than its speaking. E.g. A focus on the income gap instead of the elevation of the standard of living invokes an ethos of jealousy and competition instead of happiness and satisfaction. I could go on, but I think you get my idea if you've ever looked for what I'm talking about. It seems like some of the most toxic ideologies coalesced into a single spoken suggestion for a utopian future, and while that utopia sounds really nice, I'd probably get nervous if she tried to get any more specific on how she'd like us to get there or achieve it. I have the feeling that racially motivated wealth distribution in beaurocratic disguise might be in order. Y eso no es bueno.

[@dominicroliz2891]

Moneys numerical value is discrimination.

[@alekseyalexej9665]

South Africa and Zimbabwe have already provided a lot of money, technology and knowledge. Can anyone remind me what kind of "Silicon Valley" they've become ??

[@TheVicking88]

Wow... I thought eventually she would make a good point, but aside from some successful stories which are nice to hear, I completely lost it at "How are Jobana, Sintia and Bertha really all that different from Mark Zuckerbergs of the world?". I mean seriously?? I really hope she was joking . The most appalling thing are the likes and comments on this video, the way the audience seemed to agree... Are people that easy to sway? I understand the point she makes about humans for humans and that we are all one humanity, which is beautiful. Yes, we should help each other achieve things in life. But to go ahead and say that "I'm tired of the story we tell ourselves that hard work leads to success" that is incredibly naive! Not only that but it states bluntly that just because you've worked hard and made something of yourself, doesn't mean it was the hard work and the sacrifices that got you there! This is just ridiculous! And she even points out her hard work and gives herself as an example of the struggle she's been. Unbelievable ... and people still clap.

[@gagutenerchi]

GAGUT IS THE SOLUTION FOR ALL PROBLEMS MATHEMATICALLY

[@WayneJohnsonZastil]

Everyone should get working wage not matter if don't want to work. Nobody should earn more than three times the working wage and everyone would live great lives. The bigger the gap between lowest paid to highest paid i.e. 1% we have now is un-acceptable. But people still vote in these governments. How bad does it have to get. In the UK no party offering this.

[@CartoonManWhoo]

do people @ burger joints not work hard? Yes they do. They don't get to sit down for hours and only get a break every 4 to 6 hours. Those types of jobs only net you about $6,000 a year.

[@davidaraujo6910]

This talk is partially true. There is no substitute for hard work. Economist Thomas Sowel has demonstrated this conclusively. You have provided much anecdote and very little facts.

[@kkampy4052]

She doesn't mention things like having a criminal record, having babies before you are 24 etc etc. These life choices have a direct impact on your future "wealth" and success.

[@tamarasmith859]

Systemic racism and racial disparities in the US criminal justice system are not choices. www.sentencingproject.org/publications/color-of-justice-racial-and-ethnic-disparity-in-state-prisons/

[@perrysplace8984]

She is right and wrong here!! Right in saying hard work doesn't mean you will always win. Just because you work hard doesn't mean you get more money, better house, or get the job. Very wrong in saying everyone in poverty works hard. That's one of the worse takes I have heard in a long time. You really think the younger generation or those who are in poverty are just working really hard all the time. Wrong! In America what d we look forward too is Retirement aka not working and being lazy. People don't like to work, the younger generation average at a job is less than a year or so. 20-30 year old's quitting when work gets hard or tough. People naturally are lazy! It's hard to find people who are prone to have great work ethic. I do agree with her that sometimes you can work hard in poverty and still not make a mark. Simply it isn't that there aren't many jobs its because great jobs that pay well the requirements are too un reachable for many of those in poverty. We have jobs, its because the jobs of those in poverty can only get low paying jobs that aren't sustainable long term. However to say people work hard is a take that is pure wrong. Most people don't work hard in fact most people look forward to getting home after work and relaxing. Being lazy! Constantly looking forward to the end of their work week to the weekend so they can put their feet up. Another thing I disagree on is when she of course uses race. Why talk about poverty and then just single out a certain race. She's over here talking about how everyone is in need but then just motivates one race. Showed her character a little there for me. As a social worker I see plenty of poverty and I can assure you every race is struggling. But lets make a statement to my people. So racist it makes me sick to see her only care about motivating her race. People are struggling yet you want to make it a race thing. Sad!

[@samchapman6388]

it takes all kinds of people to make up a world, and you really need to understand that, we are human doings not beings. some people just get better, more lucrative breaks then others.

[@rathelmmc3194]

Hard work does lead to success. The issue is there's more to the Venn diagram then just hard work. Some luck goes a long way and being in the right area at the right time in history helps too. Even Warren Buffet says his talents probably wouldn't be terribly useful in Feudal Europe. So it should be hard work leads to success, but hard work doesn't always lead to success. You can't be successful without it.

[@mpking-ey7ys]

Pointless message to the poor. They are not attending TED and many don't have access to internet, even if they do they are watching something else rather than TED.

[@JaySee5]

Too long to get to the point.

[@TheShowThatSUX]

+JaySee5 The problem is she is selling capitalism to socialists and progressives. So she first has to convince them that she agrees with their ideals and goals befor she can point out they are wrong in their method

[@navidsheikh3406]

+Thị Kim Thương Nguyễn ثع

[@dominicroliz2891]

All money comes from government.humans need is to get rid of money and a replace a consumer base society with a reusable environmentally safe forms of energy and resources.A society where an individuals education is equivalent for assigning responsibility in the use of technology and the advancement of the society which its foundation rest upon positive psychology and the betterment of the human race.

[@leland61]

The most rewarded CEOs do nearly nothing for anyone but themselves and the top .01% of their companies and their economic class.

[@fluffstuffpootiebean1688]

Leland Somers umm...wrong? Wrong on every single level. A CEO is paid for his VALUE TO THE COMPANY. His value is quite a bit to the company if that company is succeeding. A drive through manager is paid for their value to company...which isn’t much. That person quits, it’s very easy to find and train someone to step into that position. Have you ever owned or ran a company? Oh you haven’t? It’s one of the most difficult and stressful things to do on this planet. Your every decision directly correlates to the success or failure of an ENTIRE COMPANY! As an owner, your company is your entire investment; it is your entire livelihood. If it fails, you become bankrupt. As a worker, if the company fails, you’re simply out of the job and are free unimpeded to find another job.

[@wolfhawkpk86]

So basically she's ignoring the awful statistics on single parenthood in impoverished areas and the african american community in general. I love her stories of the few who are trying to make a life for themselves in our great country. This explains why capitalism is the best approach. These people lifted themselves up and didn't let anyone stop them. Notice that her whole point is that she doesn't want help from charities of the govt, but for the people of the poor communities to help themselves. The reason her child is in a better situation is strongly correlated to her mother's work ethic and attitude. generational wealth (on the whole) is a good thing, and should be an incentive for people rather than something that is demonized.

[@hacker-7214]

could anyone summarize this ted talk for me pls, because ted talks these days arent as insightful as they were before. ty in advance

[@tamsinthai]

+iXbeXy After the initial very good start, it then descended into partisanship with 'and now let me address 'my people'.

[@EagleZtoTheGrave]

tamsinthai She did that for a good cause...

[@lostintashkent]

listen, understand, actively support poor people with what they need to help themselves. They probably know what they need better than you.

[@losthart]

There is no profit to be made.

[@henkwaterlander3038]

Ravioli ravioli what's in the pocketoli

[@pennymac16]

After hearing her say that (9:20) she is "tired of the story [...] that hard work leads to success", I knew people wouldn't like the talk. And rightly so, in my opinion. First of all, success does not equal wealth. Now, if you don't put the effort into something, you won't get results. I would agree that for some the barriers are higher than for others, but discrediting successful people in this way is unfair, and I'm sure there will be quite a few formerly unsuccessful people who think so as well. Also, (13:34) saying that "individually we don't have a lot of wealth and power" is misleading in my view. In the realm of power you can think of the freedom of the mind, which is the most powerful tool humans have. With it you can lose touch with reality, use your imagination to achieve "unbelievable" things, or be chained by false ideals and/or beliefs. Humans - and that includes everyone - are, indeed, in a sense, very powerful, even individually. As for wealth, that is subjective. If your standards and expectations are low enough, you can be wealthy with very little. Now, is this out of touch with reality? Or are dissidents chained by false beliefs?

[@jessetekalandon]

What a shame, she has to convince people, that we are more alike, than different...Smh.

[@navidsheikh3406]

ثاهصثنتتي

[@CJusticeHappen21]

Maybe one day we will all pay a share of tax to some global entity. This same entity will take an amount of that tax for operating purposes, then redistribute that tax on an equal basis amongst all the people. This provides all with enough money to survive, and afford basic necessities. Where everyone gets enough to live, just for being born. God, that depresses me.

[@rickylorenzo8363]

Im getting real tired of police brutality being a factor to poverty, if i hear police britality over gang violence ima hus accept people dont see or care about a major domestic issues

[@erricomalatesta2557]

Poverty hasn't changed much in the last 50 years? What utter horseshit.

[@GregTom2]

As much as I agree with her, I didn't like this talk mutch. I'm sure some people are easilly swayed by personnal stories, and by human names, and such. To me they mean nothing, and only discredid the scientific validity of the argument. I would have enjoyed stats much more.

[@lukase87]

Jeah tell me another Fairytail, that hard work gets u somewhere, mostly it gets the boss of your company way further then u ever will, listen to HANS ROSLING if u rly wanna know what poverty is about Whats broken?: clearly she doesnt mention the real cause, which is kapitalism, dont forget, money=dept and and not every country can export more then they import..

[@dwhite8997]

Exactly!

[@Butterworthy]

"Racist discipline practices in their school" Huh? I've never heard about school discipline practices being racist. Someone care to give me some examples?

[@mac195000]

+Butterworthy The logic goes like this: black kids get disciplined more than others, therefore schools are racist. The question of whether or not blacks kids misbehave more may not even be considered, because that would also be racist.

[@Prokomeni]

LOL you've never heard that? Lucky

[@Butterworthy]

Ace Skyheart Do you have some examples of that you can point me to?

[@felixgonzales9786]

The kid with clock? He got arrested? Meanwhile there's a white kid building a nuclear reactor and actually received helped from the government while one Middle eastern kid is thrown in jail for a clock. A clock.

[@Butterworthy]

Felix Gonzales Don't get me started on that kid. He knew what he was doing, had a history of stunts like that at that school, and plenty of kids across the country had been arrested over bullshit zero-tolerance policies at school. Racism played no part. His personal history paired with refusal to listen to teachers who told him to put it away earlier in the day as well as zero-tolerance policies are what led to his arrest.

[@RB-ej8wk]

Okay so this is not the M.I.A song

[@fobusas]

Video doesnt really say what's the true story. And only some generic advices. Also, if chance is the reason according to her, that would imply there's not much we can do. And i don't believe it's just chance.

[@mufalmewww]

omg. lol sry, but silicone valley is high competition, high money, ideas, and only to those that work with highskills. completely different. detracts from the argument for "adding more fire", and since its poverty were talking about, what is that exactly, "money"?. so silly. fluffed up

[@burns83]

"I'm doing my best" Como on. I'm going to remember this when hitting on a girl that doesn't really want to be with me, maybe she gives me a hand job.

[@onibean]

first!!11one