Is this a mean thing to say?

I just finish watching Frontline's two american families. It was Frontline following two American families(duh) from 1991 to 2013. One family was white. Another was black.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/two-american-families/

I'm not going to lie to you. I thought the black family was going to do worse given the stuff against black people in the USA. However, the white family did worse.

The comment that got me is that a guy said something similar to they didn't do the right thing. They didn't go to college and then do the rest. My thing is this. Is he right? I felt bad for both families. I felt worse for the black family because they continue to have false hope through religion where I felt that god would not interfere in their time of need. I felt sadden that the white family had broken up. I was simply surprised at the turn of events. The white family had at one time been made more than they had been making at the the start of the show but 12 years later they crumbled.I don't know why that divorce happened but it did. I feel it might have been the husband's fault since he mentioned it before but I don't know.
The problem is that was this commentator right? were the results of their own doing by not going after a degree that would place a high learning curve against the rest of the population?
I ask this to those who are in the 40 to 60 age range though any one can answer. It is targeted towards that age group because I believe that the husband and wife of the two families are in that age group. I also ask becasue I believe that the people on the boards in that age group are on opposite sides for the most part. Had they gotten degrees would they be in such a mess? I understand a degree is not a promise but it does give you a better chance at life.

 

So damn heartbreaking I couldn't get through the whole thing. I don't even know what to say.

 

After watching this program and seeing these two families, I couldn't help but to look back at my life. I sometimes look at the mistakes I made on my journey. I found myself blaming myself for those mistakes and sometimes blaming my family because they believe it is better to work in a place where you have the safety and security of family around. I should've have been more determined back then and lived on my own. I have an AS degree. But, it seems like it is not enough for most employers. I look back to when I graduated from high school and worked as a dishwasher at two restaurants. I had big dreams(I wanted to be an actor). After all these years, only one dream came into fruition; writing a book. That is, so far, my greatest achievement third to my health(physical and mental)and staying out of trouble and just being myself. My faith in God in is now tested. But, I am doing my damnedest to hold on like these two families.