We earn more money today, but have we forgotten about those who still struggle to make ends meet? We are earning more than we did 50 years ago, but we are still behind what the average American earns. According to Blackdemographics.com an African-American male who gets a good job will probably earn about $37,000 a year; if he marries a woman who has skills she may earn another $32,000 a year. Between them, they may earn about $60,000 a year. That's not ideal, but it's far more than many in our community who only earn about $17,000 a year or less, with three or more children to support.

As we climb the economic ladder, we should not forget those who are struggling to get by with very little and are barely holding on.

We are better educated than we have ever been. The latest statistics show that as late as 2011 there were 1.6 million African-Americans with advance degrees: Doctorates, Masters, and legal degrees. There were 3.9 million African-Americans enrolled in college and 18% of blacks under 25 have bachelor's degrees. Yet, as we progress we must not forget the millions who still cannot read, who are dropping out of school and have not connected the dots enough to know that there is a relationship between the amount of education they receive and their personal success.

As we progress, we must not forget that we are disproportionately represented in the jails, alternative schools, juvenile facilities, and unemployment lines of America.

We must remember those who are in still in chains. Even in our own families we have been frustrated in our attempts to transform that wayward son, misguided nephew, or deviant sister-in-law. The temptation is to move on and leave them behind. We have lectured, preached, threatened, ranted and raved tirelessly, but all of our expostulations seem to fall on deaf ears. Yet, we cannot rest comfortably, knowing that there might be something we can do to help them. We must remember their chains.