She's just trying to 'earn a living'. [=to earn the money needed for food, clothing, etc.]
He will do anything to 'earn his keep'. [=to earn what is needed to support himself]
He 'earned/won his spurs' by doubling the company's profits in the past year.
(..) Yeah, but what is the prize, friend? We fight to have a seat at whatever table we want. How does it help a black man to be able to eat at a lunch counter if he doesn't earn enough to buy the burger? Or worse yet, can't even... Can't even read the menu 'cause there was no Negro school (..)2014 Selma