It’s always good to examine how statistics are being interpreted. Two points inform my understanding: 1. “But Mr. Brooks says that if measuring by the percentage of income given, conservatives are more generous than liberals even to secular causes.” This comports with my understanding of the research.

2. Those in lower income brackets give more to charity (including private gifts to needy friends and family members, I believe) than those in higher income brackets. I’m not sure that the research teases out why this is. I suspect it is due to proximity to the need which stimulates greater empathy. And how privilege confers a sense of entitlement (I deserve this wealth because of all my hard work.) Similarly studies show that people in expensive cars drive with less concern for others (making way for pedestrians, etc.) than those in less expensive cars do. I don’t know how this breaks down by demographic, but I think it’s unlikely that your point about African Americans is accurate. I suspect the data on “giving as a percentage of income” applies to African Americans as well. But I get (what may be) your point in relation to my article: the sentence “Put your liberal bleeding heart where you mouth is” would apply to above-average-income-liberals. Like liberals in my hometown, Ann Arbor, who have above average income.(And not to below-average-income groups, including African Americans.) I’ll clarify that in an edit. PS thanks for the atlantic link.