Luke Cage, aka Power Man? Gang member turned Hero for Hire. Blade? Born to a prostitute mother who was murdered by a vampire during childbirth, raised in the brothel his mother worked for, and joined a gang because why not, everyone else was doing it. Maybe we'll have better luck with DC's heroes? Sure, there's Cyborg, who was born to a wealthy family, had a genius-level intellect since childhood, was a gifted athlete ... and still joined a street gang and started talking in jive, for some reason.
DC Comics
This is from before laws were passed to prevent white writers from writing "black dialogue."
And don't get us started on Latinos. But the point is, there have been plenty of white superheroes who started out supposedly penniless, but how many of them have "former gangster" as part of their secret origins? Daredevil always lived an absolutely miserable existence, but he stayed on the law's good side. Spider-Man was an orphan living with his financially troubled aunt and uncle, but he didn't decide to start mugging people; he went into wrestling. That's the worst occupation they could think of for a white character before he learns about power and responsibility. Also, his version of austerity looks like a fucking paradise:
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
They're so broke that Aunt May can only afford a slutty see-through dress.
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