Social and Economic Inequalities among ethnic minorities - USA

Progress in inequalities existing in income and unemployment has been made.

• The average income for an African American has increased by 6% compared to Whites over the last 25 years. 

• A third of Blacks are now middle class working in professions such as law or medicine.

• In addition to this, the Black and Hispanic poverty rate has dropped significantly from 55% in 1959 - to 22% today.

• Furthermore, improvements in terms of income among APIs as the median wage for APIs is around %54,000 compared to the average $49,000 earned by Whites.

However,

• unemployment rates are still high for minorities - for example, 11% of Blacks are unemployed compared to 5%of Whites.

• The Median Wage for Blacks is as little as $30,000 compared to the average $49,000 earned by Whites as previously mentioned.

• Blacks also account for 80% of families on Workfare compared to 17% of Whites - 60% of Workfare claimants end up in low paid jobs and 40% end up unemployed without any Government help.

Crime among ethnic minorities is influenced by unemployment, street gangs and drugs.Crime is more lucrative than the low paid jobs available.

• Blacks account for half of all prisoners and 55% of all drug convictions.

• There is clear discrimination within the court system against Blacks as they are more likely to be found guilty than a White person. If A Black person is found guilty of murdering a White person - they are 15 times more likely to be executed than a White person found guilty of murdering a Black person.

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In relation to education among ethnic minorities of the USA

• in Georgia State, there is a 66% failure rate for Blacks in school.

Poor levels of education make unemployment more likely for Blacks.

There is evidence of discrimination against Blacks who, despite having the same qualifications as Whites - are more likely to be unemployed.

• For example, the unemployment rate for people who hold degrees among Blacks is around 4.5% but this figure is as low as 2.5% for Whites.

However,

to say that no progress has been made would not be true.

• Over the past decade, the difference in the percentages of Blacks and Whites who have completed high school have narrowed as Black high school graduates have improved.

Large numbers of Blacks and Hispanics live in inner city ghettos - housing and services are substandard and living conditions are very poor. Many Blacks are victims of 'redlining' where financial institutions draw a red line around an area of a town where they feel offering a loan feel is too risky and refuse to give, regardless of an individuals circumstances.

• Home-ownership figures are similar for Blacks as they were in 1959 - around 66% of Whites compared to 50% of Blacks.

However,

• it is not to be forgotten that there has been slight progress made among Blacks in regards to living standards. The Black community have a very successful middle class section which is well educated and have well paid jobs.
• They also have stable families and live in middle class areas.

• Infant mortality rate among Blacks is high - 14 in every 1000 births compared to 6/1000 Whites.

• Hispanics have higher rates of strokes, liver disease, diabetes, homicide and obesity.

• They also record some of the poorest statistics for diet, alcohol intake, smoking and lack of health screening.

• The percentages of Hispanics with no health insurance is high - 32% compared to the 10% of Whites with no health insurance.

However,

• APIs are known to live longer and have lower death rates than any other ethnic group.

• There are few births to teenage or unmarried mothers and few take drink or drugs when they are pregnant or at other times.

• The rate of APIs who have no health insurance is as little as 18% compared to the 32% of Hispanics previously mentioned.