Blacks and Socioeconomic Inequalities

Social issues Housing Family structure Education Health Crime Chemical abuse

Economic issues Income levels including welfare Unemployment rates Promotion Welfare

Blacks and socioeconomic inequality Despite major improvement in the last 40 Years there is still much to achieve. Money is not equally distributed. There now exists a large Black middle class and a large underclass stuck in the inner-city ghettos. Black middle/professional class still heavily discriminated against. White doctors and lawyers earn on average 62% more than Black equivalents. Blacks are still much worse off in relation to Whites and also Hispanics.

Cycle of Poverty

Housing Residential segregation “White flight” Latinos and APIs more able to integrate “Redlining” 1970s renewal placed Blacks in ‘projects’. Have since become ghettoes.

Family Life Ghetto experience puts pressure on families 2/3 of Black mothers are single (1/4 White) Break-ups often beginning of welfare dependency and downward spiral Families lose central position as gangs offer more ‘protection’ Mothers struggle to retain respect, particularly from young males. Few male role models

Unemployment Very high in recent years (11% compared to 5% for Whites) Blacks suffer as unskilled labour jobs decrease Competition with immigrants for base-level jobs Young Blacks particularly badly affected (3 times as many 16-19 year olds unemployed as Whites.

Poverty levels Poverty levels in the USA by race and ethnicity (%) GENERAL POPULATION CHILDREN 1990 2001 1990 2001 White 9.4 7.8 12.3 9.5 Black 31.9 22.7 44.8 30.2 Hispanic 28.1 21.4 38.4 28.0 API 12.2 10.2 17.6 11.5

Poverty facts 37 million Americans (of all races) are officially poor. This figure has grown in the last 6 consecutive years 1 in 4 blacks are poor compared to 1 in 12 of whites 33% of black children are poor compared to 10% of white children America’s average wage is £17,874 - In Mississippi it is £13,370

Health and Education Black life expectancy is 6 years lower than Whites. Black life expectancy lower now than in 1985. Young Black males have a lower life expectancy than Bangladesh. Military surgeons practice in South-Central LA. Many Black women do not see a doctor until late in their pregnancy. Black infant mortality is almost 3 times that of Whites. 6 million Blacks have no health insurance Ghetto schools have less equipment and often struggle to staff classes. Studying is regarded as ‘White’ Low expectations. 21% of Black males drop out of high school. (12% White) Street crime seen to be a faster way to make money. 17% of Blacks have University degrees compared to 29% of Whites. Up to 30% of Blacks regarded as ‘functionally illiterate’.

Crime and Punishment 44% of prison population are Black (12% of U.S. pop) 1 in 10 Black males aged 25-29 in jail. 6 times more likely to be murdered than Whites. 7 times more likely to kill than Whites. 94% of murder victims killed by their own race. ¼ of Black males will go to jail. 1980s saw high unemployment/welfare cuts/arrival of crack cocaine simultaneously. Community never recovered. Far greater chance of receiving the death penalty/harsh penalties

Progress There now exists a large Black middle class. Gap between Black and White earnings has narrowed. Enrolment in College/University has increased dramatically. Overt racism significantly reduced. A Black man has become President.

Government initiatives Affirmative Action ‘No Child Left Behind’ TANF: Temporary Aid for Need Families (social and economic programme)

Unfortunately, there are many out there who see the socioeconomic predicament of African-Americans as entirely their own fault or undeserving of any sympathy