2. African American Racism
For many years African Americans have been
victims of racism, whether it is something as
obvious as racial profiling, or just having struggles
socially and economically.
Statistically, African Americans fall below the
poverty line more often than White Americans.
This has created a visible class division between
African Americans and the rest of the community.
3. What is Racial Profiling?
“Racial profiling is used to describe police
organizations using race as a factor in deciding
whom to place under suspicion or surveillance”
(Racial Profiling, Schaefer).
African Americans are continually put under strict
surveillance by police officers because using race
will “cause an officer to react with suspicion”
(Schaefer).
4. The Effect of Racial Profiling
Many citizens are upset that Racial Profiling
continues to occur, and its effect on the justice
system results in higher sentences (Schaefer).
According to Schaefer, research has showed that
African Americans are looked upon more negatively
than other races such as Whites or Hispanics.
5. Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a
devastating hurricane that hit
New Orleans in 2005.
It completely destroyed the city
of New Orleans, and major
reconstruction had to occur to
restore the many homes that were
lost.
African Americans suffered after
Hurricane Katrina because they
were left in complete devastation.
6. Hurricane Katrina cont.
“After the Hurricane, African Americans were in
low-lying parts of the city, completely segregated
from the rest of the population” (Katz 55).
This clearly showed the consequences of black
inequality, because no one came to help them
(Katz 55).
7. Poverty
African Americans are mostly associated with
crime and poverty because of the well known color
line that exists in the world today.
It is truly unfair because much is not being done to
help.
According to Michael Katz, research shows there
are growing economic gaps between African
Americans and other races in the population. (Katz
52).
This gap means a lower income, and ultimately
less security for their children as they get older.
(Katz 52).
8. Poverty cont.
African Americans struggle to get higher
incomes, but their lack of formal education makes
this much harder to get a higher paying job.
(Aguirre 36).
In addition to mostly blue collar jobs, 1/5 of the
black population is living in poverty (Aguirre 36).
Blacks are two times as likely to be in poverty as
Whites or Asians (Aguirre 28).
9. Poverty Table
Race People Families
Whites 9.5% 7.1%
Asian 9.9% 7.8%
Black 22.5% 19.3%
Table 2.4
People and Families living in Poverty by Race and
Ethnicity, 2000
Table taken from Racial and Ethnic Diversity in America by Adalberto Aguirre (28).
10. Vital Statistics
“In 2000, 30% of persons under the age of 18 in the
black population were living in poverty (Aguirre 29).
“The homicide rate for 10-24 year olds is 10 times
greater than Whites and 3 times greater than Hispanics”
(Aguirre 36).
“In prisons, 60% of the inmates are under 18” (Aguirre
36).
“31% of incarcerated people in the United States are
Black men from 20-39” (Aguirre 36).
11. Bibliography
Aguirre, Adalberto. Racial and Ethnic Diversity in America:
A Reference
Handbook. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2003. Print.
Katz, Michael B., and Mark J. Stern. "African Americans Are
Disadvantaged Due to Poverty and Inequality." Is Racism a
Serious Problem? Farmington Hills:
Greenhaven, 2009. 51-62. Print.
Katz, Michael B., and Mark J. Stern. "African Americans Are
Disadvantaged Due to
Poverty and Inequality." Is Racism a Serious Problem?
Farmington Hills:
Greenhaven, 2009. 51-62. Print.
