I Can't Believe He Gone!

MJ,

Amazingly, many of our high risk folks require lower premiums. They don't smoke (cigarettes). They are young and healthy (except for Grandma). Even if the premium is higher...the pay out from OG, triple OG, Ray-Ray can change your life!

President Clinton says in one of the bills that he supports that a person that has served his or her time is free to go. The U.S. government supports its one stop centers that are filtering newly trained, trained cross-over employees and others back into mainstreams of employed life, living and life-styles to date...2008. If a person has in the way of counsel, management and employ who am I to say that that person is not worthy? "Clip wings today" is in business just like I am. My business? "I unclip wings today". Live well and prosper people! OJT Earning Opportunties. A Black In America (BIA) group hosted by Lettie (Euroclydon). 8/08.

I do know some people who have financed their lifestyles on the bad health of their families. I thought it was morbid also when I first heard it but it does make a great deal of sense.

a little mercenary aren't we doc...? I mean, on the one hand you're right... insur all these high risk folk and, boom! You're set! But... along that same vein... what makes you so sure that you won't be investigated for insuring any of these high risk folk from the git go? And as some one else has pointed out, what makes you so sure that you can insure any of these folk without their knoweldge or consent and once they have knowledge... would that change their behaviour? A of folk in the community can't afford the premiumns for life insurnace anyhow... or don't have the access to or information about insuring through their banking institutions... ( my credut union offers life insurance....but you have to be a member of the Credit union!)

For those that have a high risk lifestyle or who have medical issues, the solution is final expense insurance. It can be written in $1000 increments and depending on the age, up to $250K. No insurance carrier will insure anyone that is HIV, unless it is a particular final expense carrier. If I can be of further assistance call me at
404-396-4737 or visit our site @ www.fitchwealth.com

Feilcia,

PLEASE RE-READ the Blog,

"WIN-WIN
Either the death of our community members will create great wealth and change our children’s future…or…Ray-Ray and Grandma will get a wakeup call as they’re signing the “DEATH INSURANCE” contract. This gives our risk taking family members a choice. Stop acting the fool or put us in a position to advance when (not if) you die."

Sometime folks don't know that they are living porrly until you take steps to open thier eyes...

However I do see a point in insuring the gansta population... once a social issue starts becoming a major economic issue, things DO change. For instance, when people started suing the fast food giants for not being healthy, these companines started to change how food was prepared and served. The ability to make the changes was avaiiable all the time, but those controlling the purse strings wanted to save money. Now, if we follow your logic and started insuring gangstas' every time one died and a policy paid out, there would be more interest to stop gang violence simply because it's too expensive to insure! Just as it's simply too expensive to insure a sedentary lifestyle and poor eaeting habits! It's twisted but interesting!

My grandmother (rest her blessed soul) kept insurance on one of my cousins who was labeled a black sheep, and frankly, didn't nearly get a fair start in life. He's been in and out of jail, and he's a fundamentally good person despite all that. My grandmother promised HER mother (my great-grandmother) that he would always be covered. (Of course, it would've have mattered if he was good or bad; the promose what to cover him no matter what).

Anyway, my grandmother passed away some years ago (rest her blessed soul), so it passed on to my mother. If he passes, he's covered. (If something should happen to her, it passes to me). It's like a debt inheritance! LOL. But it's cool. That's what Big Mama wanted.

-Blessings...

I am saddened to see that "some" of you all appear to want to remain in our current state. We (I) didn't invent Life Insurance. These policies sole function are not meant make gains off the death of your loved one.
Life insurance policies provide for the missed income...you would have gotten had Ray-Ray lived..and contributed. Why do we as a people shy away from financial insurance? But we play the lottery religiously!


Our people have the lowest rates of insurance of any other ethnic groups. And your view of death may be part of this problem. Do you feel that the living have a requirements to provide the financial burden of death?
Is it Black taboo to profit from death?

MJ,

If by taking out a policy on Lil Rodney...you get him to wake-up/ staighen-up... is that zealously pursue something to make his life better? And if he doesn't change...could his passing change the behaviors of someone else?

Dee,


My Grandma also had a Whole Life policy on a person that wasn't worth the paper it was printed on when he died. I recommend term life insure for many of the healthy young folks who qualify.

I think life insurance it necessary in everyone household. Not matter what the situation of person's life may be. However, so many times people are not in the reposibility of taking care of business like this. It's not always about being a beneficiary, it's about not having a burden to carry should they pass away, by natural or unatural causes of death like murder. I have to review my own business to take steps to insure my own. I love my family, and taking out life insurance can also reflect on how much I do by preparing to give them a proper funeral and even my own self own so that my family will have less "hassle" in seeing that I was covered so they wouldn't need to scrap up funds to bury me. I believe it is an "eye opener!" Many are aware of this, still we lag on doing business of taking care of the other part of life, and that's dying.

Felicia,

I take it from your responses that you would suggest doing nothing????


Please note: The current status quo isn't working. Black males are dying at alarming rates, while we do the same old thing!


To change a behavior you must first get the person(s) to realize that the current behaviors are not acceptable (Unfreeze). Sometimes, others are more affected (unfrozen) by the actions of others than themselves....i.e...Ray-Ray's family just received a check when he passed. "Hey...my brother has a policy just like Ray-Ray's policy on ME...Do they think that I am too far gone too".

I don't suggest that we got looking for folks to insure. There are people close to you (family) that need a wake-up and/or help change the future of the next generation. Or we can continue to pass a hat and WISH things would get better.

I am not the wishing type…I prefer action…

Dr. Glover, I appreciate the comment, but our situations are *not* quite the same. What they have in common is a life insurance policy.

But my cousin IS worth the paper his policy is printed on...AND THEN SOME. He's a good person who didn't get a fair start in life. He was born and then (dot dot dot). However, despite that and his many visits to jail, he has had long-term improvement in his later years...he is saved...he attends church regularly...he stays away from the elements that have pulled him in time and time again (or at least he TRIES)...and he hopes for better.

So he is worth something. I do get your point though.

Blessings..

Dee,

When I introduced this idea in to OG's in South Central LA, Gang deaths went WAAAAAAYYYYY down! Folks started to see the value in their life....ie. "Ya'll aren't going to get paid off of me".

Sometimes, just telling a person..."we think you need life insurance"...can change them for the better.

I appreciate the scenario and the info. I believe that if Black people in America began to take these kinds of steps, then we would only be doing what other races have already been doing which gives the next generations advancement.
That is a great idea that deserves consideration because the results would be empowerment.
Power to build our neighborhoods, power to create businesses and jobs, most of all the Power of influence in a Nation that only respects the Almighty Dollar.

Thank you Dr. Glover

Felicia et al.,

I still didn't get an answer about death as a Black Taboo. Why are we so afraid of making money from death? Yet we applaud Anne Nicole Smith for the exact same thing. We see images daily for other groups getting ahead due to death and insurance.
But for us this is seen as morbid...assassins. Why is getting a check when Ray-Ray dies any different from getting a check when your sky diving son dies (absent the some illegal activity)?

What are we so afraid of? Is there some religious reason?

This is so true, and it has had to have happended to at least one of us on this forum...... Keep It real Dr Glover.....

MJ,

I pray that one day we have financial planner rather than undercover agents and people looking for a free meals attending Black funerals. Maybe, we can make our own future and have money planner value our futures rather than falling into the mental mind traps that fold us at status quo.

I write Gut Checks to challenge us to think…and if you have to get mad at me to critically explore a subject…so be it.

I still love ya’ll! Always have, alaways will :0)

Felicia,

I agree...try all means to save our people: see any one of my other Blogs. But sometimes, saving folks means keeping it real.

We (I) don't live in a world where talks, churches, mosques, or LOVE is keeping horrible things from happening daily. As well, we live in a world that requires money to take care of dead folks affairs. Moreover, every time a person dies and does not contribute financially, your group (our group) falls further behind other ethnic groups in America. We can’t build schools, or buy books, or effect meaningful change in our communities because we lack the funds.

Death is a multi-dollar industry in America…and our unreasoned fear hold us back from available resources.

The ideas I suggest are the same programs offered by the US Military. Because the military expects to take losses, members are "REQUIRED – by law" to take out term life policies (these policy’s use to be called Widow’s Insurance). This is done for two reasons: 1) Death takes an earner out of the home. The policy makes up for that by providing MONEY to those left behind. 2) The policies allow the family (or friends) to be secure as a result of the military person's death do to voluntary high risk activity (war). And I don’t mean a little secure. The average policy is $500,000 for an 18-year old. Is that profiteering?

Not yet Corey...we have got to keep talking about what's real and how to effect meaningful change...then I'll talk about yo momma again:0)


NOTE: Folks don't have to agree with me! But please present a solution, suggestion, something that helps!

Please, don't misunderstand me either. Insuring my cousin has passed through the generations, and it will pass on to me at some point unless he dies before then.

But don't get it twisted. I'm not insuring anyone else outside my immediate family-- myself, my children, my husband. That's IT. Everyone else pays their own insurance policy and if all the encouragement in the world won't get them to do it, SO BE IT.

I don't mean to sound unsympathetic, but I'm not footing the bill to insure:

a. someone outside of my immediate family
b. someone living a knowingly dangerous lifestyle
c. someone who just doesn't want to pay for insurance
d. someone who thinks that either he/she or THEIR immediate family members in need of insurance will live forever.

Nope...nope...nope. The 1 possibly inherited debt I have is more than enough for me.

Blessings...

Here's a solution: teach people about insuring themselves and what it means to have coverage. Encourage them to take out a policy so they don't leave their family behind to make payment arrangements with the funeral home.

-OR-

Encourage them to purchase a PRE-PAID BURIAL plan where they can purchase the plot and pay for the entire funeral at TODAY'S COSTS by making monthly payments until it's paid off!!!!

If they choose to do neither, it's their bad. (Tell them to picture themselves being buried in a wooden box...that might shake 'em up! LOL!)

I can believe he gone and I can also believe that he left his mama financially strapped to pay off the rest of that funeral bill! Who wants to donate their hard-earned money to a gang-banger, etc.? I remember in my own family, at an outing, one of my cousins remarked about her ivy-league street kid (uh-hm) that as long as his homies bury him and kept the lights on in the house, she could care less. It showed, trust me.

So when "crip" caught his last bullet serving street time (he really was better off locked up), the rest of us were not trying to drop money in the hat. "Where are his homies?" Now, Crip was just hard-headed, but he got it honestly. His mother had no morals or values and it was too easy for him to fall into the trap of street-living as grandma called it. Mind you, grandma ain't care 'bout her "suga," but she had years of earning the love and adoration of folks who would have dropped a week's pay in a hat if needed (grandma did keep her policy up to date).

Win-Win -- it ain't a bad idea and it is actually a smart one. The problem I have off the surface is if those inheriting the "loot" aren't educated about money and wealth and using it properly (purchasing a home, not an escalade, while living in subsidized housing), than they might as well be penniless. When you consider that wealthy white people will insure their dogs, well ...

Insurance companies becoming more active in correcting the ills of a poor and violent community, I don't think so! What will more than likely happen is that insurance companies will begin to underwrite more stipulations paramount to "profiling."

Morbid -- well, I did laugh a few times and nodded my head, too, at times. Yeah, it was a "shock-jock" but heck, I attended a street-liver's funeral one time and the preacher told all his homies to finance an upcoming program. I thought I would fall off the pew! The first thing that went through my mind was how many more thugs would be robbed or killed in order for the "homies" to cover the cost of the program. (I no longer attend street-liver funerals regardless of their relationship to me).

Agnes ~ Too Wise Not To Praise Him!

This is real, hard, morbid, but so real! Maybe, when we teach our children that we love them and will use them as the prize we need to overcome their behavior, they will recognize that they do have a choice to go either way,, the right one, or the wrong one: proper by choice, or be the one to provide prosperity!!! Funny, hard, but so true!

Thanks doc!

Felicia,

I respect your position...but I whole hearted disagree. I think there is some fear that there that we are not addressing. Maybe its the fear that by insuring a high rise person...you are saying you don't love or care about them?

I say that because we insure the aging because..."Well hey, their gonna die anyway, so we might as well get paid" ...

This is a part of the American (and western world) way of life.

No Irma…it wasn’t a scam (sometimes),

In the 40s and 50s we used insurance to advance our people. Back then, most Blacks used Whole Life policies. We paid $2000 over 20 years to get $2500 worth of coverage. And by the time the person died, the $2000 investment was only worth $500 (Net Present Value)....and that's if the insurer agreed to pay out (topic for another Blog).


Many folks put their first down payment on a house, or bought their first car as a result of someone passing. Today however…we are terrified of using insurance to move ahead. I’d really like to understand why?

I have seen Black folks deny that death was coming...like not talking about it would make their loved one live longer. We have to get over this fear of death and money. AGAIN...there is a multi-billion dollar death industry in American: Insurance, plots, headstones, caskets, flowers, etc…

Death is not to be feared...it is the one that that we can all be assured of! It can be the start of a new beginning if you so choose…or it can be the continuation of burdensome debt…

Either you can insurance your family; or yourself it's your choice--but not in the purpose just so you will be gaining wealth, but as remembering the wealth of a family member's life. Life is short, and death is uncertain. I believe one should be covered, still it should not be only to get rich for a little time....Who knows you could be next to die. Well... what do I know ...mmm.

Felicia,

I'm still not hearing any suggestions? You have a lot of can'tdo ...how about some can do! What would you suggest????

P.S. Getting shot while standing your frontyard or sitting in your car (how many gang bangers die), crashing a motorcyle, or dying from an injury is not a crime: http://www.cdc.gov/men/lcod/04black.pdf

Irma,

You take care of yourself. You mentioned some ailments (cancer) in the past...I pray that you are getting better?

People who don't want insurance should at least purchase a PREPAID BURIAL PLAN to lock in today's funeral rates, which are sure to skyrocket in future years.

It's not an insurance plan. It's just a way to pay today's rates for your future funeral expenses.

Blessings...

Dee,

I agree. But just like trying to get a drug/ alcohol addict to stop...how do we get folks to see that they need insurance?
Or better yet, when times get tight...how do we ensure that make payments rather than buying Rims and gold teeth?

Dr. Glover, unfortunately, we can't MAKE people look out for their own bests interests.

All I know is that I ain't pitchin' in to cover funeral expenses of someone who should have known better.

I'd be content to let him/her be buried in a pine box. ...and yes, I'm serious.

Most of us CAN plan...we just DON'T because we know SOMEBODY will take care of it. My family members (non-immediate) KNOW it won't be me.

Blessings...

I hear you Dee...some people refuse to act right.

I've got insurance on a few folks. The day we took that mouth swop...those jokers straightened up. Cause they know I love them...dead or alive! I would hate to see them go…but if they do …their family is going to be alright!

In a perfect world....in a perfect world. Dr. Glover, your theory or idea is nice, but not realistic. Even if these people got insurance, do you honestly believe that their families would do something positive with the money for their community? The likely hood of that is slim to known. Yes, they would use the money to better their situation, but without certain knowledge, they will not stay above the poverty line for very long. The truth of the matter is, they will not seek out the knowledge/information once they've better their lives needed to maintain that lifestyle. I do agree that insurance is needed(my family has it) but money without knowledge will yield the same results as before. It's not enough to get just the insurance.

Dr. Glover, you DO know I'm not talking about insurance, right? These days, especially when some are opposed to insurance, paying for a prepaid burial plan is at least enough to make sure your family is not saddled with a huge funeral bill (at the rates applicable to the time you die). A prepaid plan is a VERY useful tool because you pay for YOUR OWN FUNERAL based on TODAY'S rates (not the rates when you actually die)..but TODAY'S rates.

That way, family can stop bugging you about insurance and you don't have to worry about various family members capitalizing on your death (or fighting over the money when you die).

You will have paid for your OWN funeral and made your OWN arrangements...all the way down to the casket.

Blessings...

I don't think that it is a complete solution to all of our problems, but it can be a great beginning. The details of the post were very really even if we don't want to accept them. We have to quit saying what we can't do and take at least 1 step towards preparation for our future.

The fact that I not only understand the logic behind this, but actually agree with it makes me wonder if I need to go back to therapy.

But seriously, why not profit off of those who are destroying themselves and the community?

Let me ask...is it okay to profit from car insurance?

If your family member is hurt/killed in a car accident...should you only get enough money to cover their current debts or should damages (penalty) be awarded? If so, what's the difference between getting paid if Lil Rodney is in a car accident versus getting paid if Ray-Ray gets shot?

P.S. Car accidents are the number one cause of death for most Americans and Car Insurance is required in most states.

Dr. Glover you are keeping it real! If the isurance companies were paying out policies on a regualar basis in the same demographic areas they may want to try to come up with a resolution which would help the community! Then again they may try to redline areas!

I think that sometimes people see only what they want to see Dr. Glover. I get that you were saying by getting these high risk people to sign their life insurance policies that they may see them as a wake up call.
I have family members that engage in high risk activity and believe you me, I have a life insurance policy on two of them. Sometimes all the coaching and talking in the world won't change a person's mind on the choices that they chose to make. The only thing you can do is be prepared.
I see it like this: I'd rather have the policy in hand, and be ready, than for them to pass and have to be on the news asking for a hand out to help pay for their funerals. That's real talk.
My brother, as worldly as he may be, is not interested in taking classes or seminars on economic empowerment. That's just the way it is. Most people don't really have time, and only know what they've heard from friends and family, or members of their church.
My sister, bless her heart, is not interested in making any investments right now. That's why I'm making one for her. That way her daughter won't have to worry about not being able to go to any school of her choice when she graduates. If mom is no longer with us, my niece will be taken care of. It's not a matter of getting rich from people dying, it's about being responsible. Take action now so that you'll have a better reaction later.

While I do not totally subscribe to your reasons for insuring high-risk family members, I do agree that families need to deal realistically with our high-risk family members lest we find ourselves crying because they're gone and crying because we can't afford to bury them.

Dr. Glover as I told my grandchildren. You need two people to take your place to keep mankind going. I had two live births. These children of mine has so far done as I have done; made this planet a better place than we found it.It is time for me to move on and make room for others who need space on the earth to try and do the same.

I have lived a life that I have no regrets or need more time to do what I believe needs to be done by me. Besides, how am I suppose to know I am dead any way?

I am not in pain therefor emy friends and my family are not suffering.I am just fine and thank you for caring for me as you do.I have complete faith in my three doctors for any thing else I need to remain out of pain.


Again thank you Dr. Glover, The future is now in the hands of those like you and like Dr. Hines and these Black social networkings site as this one where we can talk to each other about us and what we should do in real time standing on our own two feet and not just on our knees. Do both.....then go to court...a law that can not be inforced is a lot of bull...get with it we have work to do!!!!

Lets see, I will not go to work today, not graduate from high school because it will benefit someone else besides me?Please forgive me, but I was not born into a poor family(and neither did the Rev.Jesse Jackson) nor have I ever been poor!!!Does this make me selfish?Because I do not belive that life ends at birth therefore I believe in a woman's choice to bring life into the world and disagree with war that takes the lives of innocent people,am I evil? Does this make me anti=social or any thing else, ANTI...........???????Now if I am anti-prejudice, I will agree 100000000000%!!!!

Dr.maybe you should now do a blog on the benefits of keeping someone alive. Those, child supportchecks;paying: medical bill, credit cards,morgages. One of my friends say her ex husband had better not die before she does. Their home was paid for, the children are grown but she believes that here monthly check from the divorce court is for all of those thirty years of fixing his food, doing his laundry, being his nurse, etc. My friend worked every day on a job outside of their homejust like he did before retiring from the Air Force. Her day unlike his did not end when she got home from her out side job as his did each day.

Oh and one last fact. In our part of the world at least once a year, some people believe it to be a big 'joke' to go to grave yards and just move head stones from their proper places to other places or just break them or remove the grave markers-head stones altogether.

And, Dr.One last thing.My grand mother had a steel casket. Today there is no way to even find her grave exactly. We just know the general area and will not allow housing development on what was the Black Only grave yard.(remember you said about grave stones).

I will not be put on a life support machine and I will be cremated!I am going out of this life on the cheapDr. Glover(smile)

And, Dr.Glover you are correct about that 'fear' factor.My grand children went into a state of depression when my daughter brought up she was taking our life insurance on herself for the benefit of her two daughters. It took a while for them to accept that she was not expecting to die any time soon and was trying to spare them from knowing this.

Yet my children felt guilty asking me if they could take out life insurance on me for their children.Life is the balance for death in the world/reality where I live.

My family as I grew up had insurance with a Black insurance man who came to the house to collect the payments. I have no idea what the name is of the insurance company that my family and everyone we knew had life insurence with. I had forgotten this until your blog.I do know that it could not have been a scam way back then in the 40s and 50s.

It is much easier to place blame on what "someone" else is doing/not doing than holding your own self in charge of our own life: for example, if it does not work for you then try changing it. Be it your diet or your whole life style. Get past excuses and the blame game and only complaining.