snip
"The [Kerner Commission] report also concludes that a massive redistribution
of income had to take place to remedy this problem [of racial discord and
urban unrest]. It also suggests the addition of 1 million government-created
jobs, the institution of a higher minimum wage, significantly increasing
welfare benefits, spending more money on education and housing, and so on."
snip
In a contra positive way, and one that was never intended by the
commission, the Kerner report was proven correct.

The massive redistribution of real income in America over the
last generation has resulted in a significant change in social
stability. Unfortunately, that massive redistribution of income
was from the pockets of the people actually doing any useful
work, and into the bank accounts of the few with an angle to work
or a corner to cut. The resulting significant changes in social
stability have not favorable.

Ginning up massive federal programs seems to be counter
productive, but Johnson's "war on poverty" did appear to reduce
the fraction of Americans living in poverty, although this could
have been a statistical anomaly or "cooked" data.

I don't know what the answer is, but the status quo and "business
as usual" is not it. New Orleans was a preview and a warning of
what occurs with a large and growing permanent underclass in
large urban areas.

FWIW - Kerner was a rabid advocate of gun control. A review of
the history of US gun control advocates from Sullivan [NYC]
forward indicates that a disproportionate number have been
convicted of felonies and have done time. Many more should have
been. When your main source of your income is theft from the
public, I can understand why you might be a advocate for the
abolition of guns in the hands of the citizens.