In his classic special “Never Scared,” Chris Rock explains the difference between being rich and being wealthy, especially when looking at the difference between races.
“Shaq is rich. The white man that signs his check is wealthy,” said Rock. “I ain’t talking about Oprah; I’m talking about Bill Gates, ok? If Bill Gates woke up tomorrow with Oprah’s money, he’d jump out a f**cking window.”
“Wealth is passed down from generation to generation. You can’t get rid of wealth. Rich is some sh*t you can lose with a crazy summer and a drug habit.”
Rock also points out that because they are wealthy, the old, white, one percent get to make the rules.
“One of the number one rules when it comes to acquiring wealth goes like this: The rule is, only the white man can profit from pain. White man makes alcohol, tastes great, I love it, you love it, we all love it. Kills motherf**kers every day, ok? … White man makes cigarettes. Cigarettes are the most dangerous product known to man. Kills motherf**kers every day. Cigarettes are so dangerous, it kills motherf**ckers that don’t smoke … But it’s all right ‘cuz it’s all white.”
Even though this video is almost a decade old, Rock’s points on economic inequality still ring true today.
Watch Rock’s full bit (NSFW language).
