1. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. AFRICAN AMERICANS TODAY CHAPTER 8

2. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Education African Americans place special importance on acquiring education African Americans place special importance on acquiring education Racial and ethnic groups realize that formal schooling is key to social mobility Racial and ethnic groups realize that formal schooling is key to social mobility Documented inadequacy of quality and quantity of education Documented inadequacy of quality and quantity of education Educational gap between Blacks and Whites Educational gap between Blacks and Whites Always been present Always been present Gap is narrowing in recent years Gap is narrowing in recent years

3. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Many students would not drop out of school were it not for the combined inadequacies noted: Many students would not drop out of school were it not for the combined inadequacies noted: Insensitive teachers Insensitive teachers Poor counseling Poor counseling Unresponsive administrators Unresponsive administrators Overcrowded classes Overcrowded classes Irrelevant curricula Irrelevant curricula Dilapidated school facilities Dilapidated school facilities Several can be addressed with more funding but some are stalemated by disagreements over what changes lead to the best outcome Several can be addressed with more funding but some are stalemated by disagreements over what changes lead to the best outcome

4. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. School Segregation De jure patterns of segregation - according to policy or law children were assigned to schools on the basis of race De jure patterns of segregation - according to policy or law children were assigned to schools on the basis of race U.S Supreme Court decision in 1954 - Brown v. Board of Education Topeka, Kansas. U.S Supreme Court decision in 1954 - Brown v. Board of Education Topeka, Kansas. De facto Segregation De facto Segregation Results from residential patterns Results from residential patterns Apartheid Schools Apartheid Schools Refers to schools that are all Black Refers to schools that are all Black 1 of 6 of the nation’s Black students are in attendance 1 of 6 of the nation’s Black students are in attendance

5. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Tracking Tracking The practice of placing students in specific curriculum groups on the basis of test scores and other criteria The practice of placing students in specific curriculum groups on the basis of test scores and other criteria African American children disproportionately assigned to general classes and more White children placed in college preparatory classes African American children disproportionately assigned to general classes and more White children placed in college preparatory classes African American students more likely than White students to be classified as learning disabled or emotionally disturbed African American students more likely than White students to be classified as learning disabled or emotionally disturbed Integration is not one of the successes of public education Integration is not one of the successes of public education

6. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Acting White, Acting Black, or Neither “Acting White” “Acting White” Common view reason of African Americans, especially males, not succeeding in education is that they do not want to be caught “acting white” Common view reason of African Americans, especially males, not succeeding in education is that they do not want to be caught “acting white” Shifts responsibility of low school attainment from the school to the individual Shifts responsibility of low school attainment from the school to the individual Overemphasizes personal responsibility, not structural features – quality of schools, curriculum, and teachers Overemphasizes personal responsibility, not structural features – quality of schools, curriculum, and teachers

7. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Higher Education There has been an increase in African American students going to college and graduating There has been an increase in African American students going to college and graduating Upward trend to higher education has declined and in part is a function of: Upward trend to higher education has declined and in part is a function of: decline in educational financial aid decline in educational financial aid push for higher standards push for higher standards employment opportunities employment opportunities negative publicity and a decline in enforcement of affirmative action negative publicity and a decline in enforcement of affirmative action racial incidents on college campuses racial incidents on college campuses

8. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. The Economic Picture Income and Wealth Income and Wealth Two measures of overall economic situation of an individual or household Two measures of overall economic situation of an individual or household Income Income Refers to salaries, wages, and other money received Refers to salaries, wages, and other money received Wealth Wealth A more inclusive term encompassing all of a person’s material assets, including land and other types of property A more inclusive term encompassing all of a person’s material assets, including land and other types of property

9. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. In 2005 In 2005 Median income of Black families was $37,500 compared with $64,663 for White non-Hispanic households Median income of Black families was $37,500 compared with $64,663 for White non-Hispanic households Black income today resembles that of Whites more than 10 years ago Black income today resembles that of Whites more than 10 years ago 24.7% of Black people lived below poverty level compared with 8.4% of non-Hispanic Whites 24.7% of Black people lived below poverty level compared with 8.4% of non-Hispanic Whites That an African American family is three times more likely to be poor shows staggering social inequity That an African American family is three times more likely to be poor shows staggering social inequity Wealth demonstrates greater disparity Wealth demonstrates greater disparity Generations of social inequity left Blacks, as a group, unable to accumulate the wealth of Whites, as a group Generations of social inequity left Blacks, as a group, unable to accumulate the wealth of Whites, as a group

10. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Employment Even in the best of times, national unemployment rate is significantly higher for Blacks than Whites Even in the best of times, national unemployment rate is significantly higher for Blacks than Whites Factors explaining official unemployment rate of young African American males Factors explaining official unemployment rate of young African American males Many live in depressed economy of central cities Many live in depressed economy of central cities Immigrants and illegal aliens present increased competition Immigrants and illegal aliens present increased competition White middle-class women entered the labor force White middle-class women entered the labor force Illegal activities at which youth find they can make more money have become more prevalent Illegal activities at which youth find they can make more money have become more prevalent

11. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Official unemployment rate Official unemployment rate Federal government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics counts as unemployed only people actively seeking employment Federal government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics counts as unemployed only people actively seeking employment Leaves out millions of Americans, Black & White Leaves out millions of Americans, Black & White Underemployment Underemployment Refers to working at a job for which one is overqualified, involuntarily working part-time, or being employed only intermittently Refers to working at a job for which one is overqualified, involuntarily working part-time, or being employed only intermittently

12. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Family Life Challenges to Family Stability Challenges to Family Stability Female-headed household Female-headed household Economic status of African-American male has been deteriorating Economic status of African-American male has been deteriorating Extended family and augmented members as a means of emotional, social and physical support Extended family and augmented members as a means of emotional, social and physical support Sociologists attribute rapid expansion of single-parent households to shifts in the economy that keep Black men, especially in urban areas, out of work Sociologists attribute rapid expansion of single-parent households to shifts in the economy that keep Black men, especially in urban areas, out of work Phenomenon not limited to African Americans Phenomenon not limited to African Americans

13. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Strengths of African American Families Robert Hill (1999) Robert Hill (1999) 1. Strong kinship bonds 1. Strong kinship bonds 2. Strong work orientation 2. Strong work orientation 3. Adaptability of family roles 3. Adaptability of family roles 4. Strong achievement orientation 4. Strong achievement orientation 5. A strong religious orientation 5. A strong religious orientation Social scientists are learning to look at both weaknesses and strengths of African American family life Social scientists are learning to look at both weaknesses and strengths of African American family life

14. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Most consistently documented strength Most consistently documented strength Presence of an extended family household Presence of an extended family household Most common feature Most common feature Having grandparents residing in the home Having grandparents residing in the home Extended living arrangements more common among Black households than among White ones Extended living arrangements more common among Black households than among White ones Arrangements recognized as having important economic benefit of pooling limited resources Arrangements recognized as having important economic benefit of pooling limited resources

15. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. The African American Middle Class African Americans still aware of racial subordination even when that have achieved economic equality African Americans still aware of racial subordination even when that have achieved economic equality Migration of middle-class African Americans from ghetto in 1970s and 1980s left a vacuum Migration of middle-class African Americans from ghetto in 1970s and 1980s left a vacuum No longer present as role models No longer present as role models African American middle-class do not automatically accept all aspects of White middle- class African American middle-class do not automatically accept all aspects of White middle- class

16. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. W.E.B. DuBois (1952) W.E.B. DuBois (1952) When racism decreases, class issues become more important When racism decreases, class issues become more important Class Class Sociologist Max Weber Sociologist Max Weber Refer to people who share a similar level of wealth and income Refer to people who share a similar level of wealth and income Sociologist William J. Wilson Sociologist William J. Wilson The Declining Significance of Race (1980). The Declining Significance of Race (1980). “Class becomes more important than race in determining black life-chances in the modern world” (p. 150). “Class becomes more important than race in determining black life-chances in the modern world” (p. 150).

17. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Housing Plays a major role in determining quality of a person’s life Plays a major role in determining quality of a person’s life For African Americans, housing has been restricted through discrimination For African Americans, housing has been restricted through discrimination President Kennedy Executive Order President Kennedy Executive Order Government required nondiscrimination in federally assisted housing, included only 7% of the housing market Government required nondiscrimination in federally assisted housing, included only 7% of the housing market 1968 Federal Fair Housing Law (Title VII of the 1968 Civil Rights Act) and U.S. Supreme Court decision of Jones v. Mayer combined to outlaw all racial discrimination in housing 1968 Federal Fair Housing Law (Title VII of the 1968 Civil Rights Act) and U.S. Supreme Court decision of Jones v. Mayer combined to outlaw all racial discrimination in housing

18. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Residential Segregation Factors that create residential segregation in the United States Factors that create residential segregation in the United States Private prejudice and discrimination Private prejudice and discrimination Prejudicial policies of real estate companies Prejudicial policies of real estate companies Ineffective enforcement of anti-bias legislation Ineffective enforcement of anti-bias legislation Public housing policies and past construction patterns reinforce housing for the poor in inner city neighborhoods Public housing policies and past construction patterns reinforce housing for the poor in inner city neighborhoods Policies of banks and other lenders create barriers based on race to financing home purchasing Policies of banks and other lenders create barriers based on race to financing home purchasing

19. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Redlining Redlining The practice of discrimination against people trying to buy homes in minority and racially changing neighborhoods The practice of discrimination against people trying to buy homes in minority and racially changing neighborhoods Zoning Laws Zoning Laws Enacted to ensure specific standards of housing construction Enacted to ensure specific standards of housing construction Can also separate industrial and commercial enterprises from residential areas Can also separate industrial and commercial enterprises from residential areas Some appear to curb development of low and moderate- income housing Some appear to curb development of low and moderate- income housing

20. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Criminal Justice Blacks constitute: Blacks constitute: 3% of the lawyers 3% of the lawyers 14.9% of police 14.9% of police 17.6% of detectives 17.6% of detectives 29.8% of security guards 29.8% of security guards 39% of jail inmates 39% of jail inmates FBI’s Uniform Crime Report FBI’s Uniform Crime Report Black’s account for 28% of arrests even though they represent only about 13% of the nation’s population Black’s account for 28% of arrests even though they represent only about 13% of the nation’s population

21. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Conflict Theory Conflict Theory Higher arrest rate is not surprising for a group that is disproportionately poor and therefore much less able to afford private attorneys, who might prevent formal arrests from taking place Higher arrest rate is not surprising for a group that is disproportionately poor and therefore much less able to afford private attorneys, who might prevent formal arrests from taking place UCR focuses on index crimes most often committed by low- income people UCR focuses on index crimes most often committed by low- income people Victimization Surveys Victimization Surveys Annual systematic interviews of ordinary people to reveal how much crime occurs Annual systematic interviews of ordinary people to reveal how much crime occurs Show that African-Americans are 22% more likely to be victims of violent crime than Whites Show that African-Americans are 22% more likely to be victims of violent crime than Whites

22. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Differential Justice Differential Justice Whites are dealt with more leniently than are Blacks Whites are dealt with more leniently than are Blacks Whether at the time of Whether at the time of Investigation, arrest, indictment, conviction, sentencing, incarceration, or parole Investigation, arrest, indictment, conviction, sentencing, incarceration, or parole The application of differential justice to the harshest judgment that can be made in the legal system The application of differential justice to the harshest judgment that can be made in the legal system The Death Penalty The Death Penalty

23. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Health Care Black men are much more likely to fall victim to: Black men are much more likely to fall victim to: Unrelenting stress Unrelenting stress Heart disease Heart disease Cancer Cancer Compared with Whites, Blacks have higher death rates from heart disease, pneumonia, diabetes, and cancer Compared with Whites, Blacks have higher death rates from heart disease, pneumonia, diabetes, and cancer Death from strokes twice as high as Whites Death from strokes twice as high as Whites

24. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Conflict Perspective Conflict Perspective Howard Waitzkin (1986) Howard Waitzkin (1986) Racial tensions contribute to the medical problems of African Americans Racial tensions contribute to the medical problems of African Americans Stress resulting from racial prejudice and discrimination help to explain high rates of hypertension Stress resulting from racial prejudice and discrimination help to explain high rates of hypertension Blacks represent 6% of practicing physicians Blacks represent 6% of practicing physicians Of students entering medical school in fall of 2004 – only 6.5% were Black Of students entering medical school in fall of 2004 – only 6.5% were Black Issues of environmental justice Issues of environmental justice

25. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Politics Barack Obama entered the White House as president in 2009 Barack Obama entered the White House as president in 2009

26. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. Only 38 African American congressional representatives Only 38 African American congressional representatives Locally elected Black officials have difficulty jumping to statewide office Locally elected Black officials have difficulty jumping to statewide office Non-Black voters are concerned that view of Whites and non-Blacks will not be represented by an African American Non-Black voters are concerned that view of Whites and non-Blacks will not be represented by an African American Gerrymandering Gerrymandering Dated from 1810; the bizarre outlining of districts to create politically advantageous outcomes Dated from 1810; the bizarre outlining of districts to create politically advantageous outcomes

27. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. African Americans have not received an equal share of the political pie African Americans have not received an equal share of the political pie

28. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. QUESTIONS

29. To what degree have the civil rights movement initiatives in education been realized, or do they remain unmet? To what degree have the civil rights movement initiatives in education been realized, or do they remain unmet?

30. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. What challenges face the African American middle-class? What challenges face the African American middle-class?

31. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. What are the biggest assets and problems facing African American families? What are the biggest assets and problems facing African American families?

32. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. How are differential justice and victim discounting related? How are differential justice and victim discounting related?

33. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. How is race-based gerrymandering related to affirmative action? How is race-based gerrymandering related to affirmative action?

34. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. How are the problems in crime, housing, and health interrelated? How are the problems in crime, housing, and health interrelated?

35. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. What are the implications of Wilson’s assertion that class has become more important than race in determining life-chances of African Americans? Why do you agree or disagree? What are the implications of Wilson’s assertion that class has become more important than race in determining life-chances of African Americans? Why do you agree or disagree?

36. Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All rights reserved. How are the problems in crime, housing, and health interrelated? How are the problems in crime, housing, and health interrelated?