Posts Tagged ‘social justice’

It’s Time To Talk About Your Rich Kid Guilt

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

Young people from wealthy families in Washington, D.C. take comfort in talking to their peers about the mixed feelings and guilt they experience because of their societal privilege and wealth.

  • Resource Generation, a national membership organization, brings wealthy young people together who want to use their money for progressive change.
  • The organization’s meetings provide members with a place to discuss personal issues that accompany being young, wealthy and committed social justice.
  • Many members feel their inheritance and the accompanying privilege they enjoy perpetuates the injustices they work hard to fight against and change.

Facts & Figures

  • A Boston College study concluded that about $50 trillion will be passed from one generation to the next over the first five decades of this century.
  • The number of children of millionaires decreased from 26 million in 2007 to 19 million 2009, according to the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College.
  • There are a little more than 250,000 millionaire households in which the head of household is 35 or younger.

Best Quote

“I definitely feel like I am at war between my desires instilled in me to eat out at nice restaurants and my better sense and principles. If I make different choices when I am older, I hope to God they’re coming out of principles. Everyone changes. My great-grandmother was a communist in her 20s and a total conservative in her 90s. I won’t rule out anything.” – Janelle Treibitz, 28, Part-Time Waitress