Is poverty among African Americans an insurmountable societal issue?

Question

Many (not all) African Americans suffer considerably from poverty, mortality, joblessness, and a spectrum of other dynamics that seemingly holds back the race as a whole. Some manage to maneuver around obstacle and join the middle- and upper-class, though, apparently, these are a minority. Countless debilitating issues remain prevalent among the rest of the race. Though, individually, no one person is responsible, as it is a societal issue and what affects one, affects all.
What is your position?
Do you believe that, beyond principle, circumstantially individuals are responsible for their own fates, much like the minority that has managed to rise above?
Or do you feel that principle exceeds circumstance and, alone, individuals are too insignificant to undue or surmount a history of underprivilege, regardless of constantly evolving eras.

THIS QUESTION IS NOT INTENDED TO ROUSE IRRELEVANT BIAS. IIT IS NOT AN ATTACK ON AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE. IT WAS POSED TO URGE SERIOUS THOUGHT AND RALLY EDUCATED PERSPECTIVES.

Answer 1

Well, it is mostly institutional racism and a little of personal responsibility amongst black people. Institutionalized racism holds back the race because it is considerably harder for a black person to get a job than as a white person. A recent study by the Labor Department has just found out that it is easier for a white man who was an ex convict to obtain occupational status than a black man with no record, because of the racial stereotypes attributed to young black men, therefore unemployment amongst blacks will be substantially higher, which turns into poverty, mortality, and a spectrum of other dynamics that seemingly holds back the race as a whole, as you said. Then, the individually, black people who have learned to break the cycle of relying on others and laziness end up in the middle class and higher. So of course, they hold some sort of responsibility to themselves, but they have a lack of education and opportunities that whites have had for hundreds of years. You can't possibly cut off a mans legs, then give one of them back, and expect him to run in a race against you, when you have two, and have had two forever. Certainly, most won't even finish the race, a few might finish the race, but never will they win. Thats how ridiculous the black race has had it. Unfortunately, when a whole race of people have been oppressed for 400 plus years, since the inception of slavery, then it is hard to get out of that cycle. You speak of the evolving eras, but black people have been "second class" citizens in every era we've been in Amerikkka.

I read some of these posts, and its so sad to read them, the real problem is not just the past but it is mostly the education level black students get. It is a sham, education in this country is a sham. We all know "black school" dont get the same funding and support as "white schools"

Answer 2

The reason why most African Americans are in poverty, is because of the former slave trade and terrible racial discrimination throughout the late 18th, 19th centuries, plus the 20's 30's 40's 50's 60's, until civil rights movement, gave some leeway in regards to providing more opportunities to African Americans. It is also to do with the reason that during this time many blacks who were affected by the slave trade, were barred from generating any sort of economy, such as being able to set up businesses and also entering professional level jobs such as, doctor, dentist, lawyer although this is changing now (I hope!). The blacks who were around during the decades mentioned, mainly performed service type jobs for example, maid services, factory and manual jobs. Jobs which could be easily replaced and were often low paid.

The people that performed these jobs went on to have children, but because of the long working hours and low wages paid, it is most probable that the children suffered to the extent, that mom and dad, could not be there for them to guide them through school and also provide materialistic comforts experienced by their white counterparts. This leads the children to do less well at school, grow up without getting the qualifications and skills needed to enter the job market. So then the poverty cycle continues and affects their children. It is also due to the fact that even though blacks have suffered slavery and discrimination, there has been no compensation to make up, for problems of poverty in the black community today, which would correct most the problems which occur.

What you have to remember and what most people do not realize or want to realize, is that a lot of money was made out of slavery and built many western countries up. Blacks have been consistenly used by white society, to fight wars, do bottom entry low paid jobs (necessary to keep the economy going) and just be general reserve army of labour, although any such attempts to move up, have always been prohibited to a certain extent.

Most people observe and say that other immigrants do well such as, the asians (chinese and indians), but the DIFFERENCE is that, they were never enslaved for 400 YEARS!!!, so they have never suffered any disruption in regards to their culture, way of living and religion, they also have decades of practice, owing their own businesses and doing professional level jobs, only open to blacks now, if they are given the opportunity or if they fight for what they want. There is also no form of black economy, stock exchange, multinational companies or banks that, would probably change many black people's financial status and standing in the world today. This is because of the repercussions of slavery, one cannot afford to ignore. That is why African Americans and West Indians should be compensated for slavery and discrimination, which has contributed to the poverty that they live in today. But I don't think that would happen because, whites don't really want the system changed and prefer to see blacks in poverty and be the underdog. That is the real truth and that is what it is all about.

Answer 3

This might not be the popular answer, but I believe in personal responsibility, even if you were born into poverty. Certain factors like access to proper education, do need to be solved. A lot of black people live in areas which have poor educational systems. These institutions need to be properly funded so that children can learn and be competitors with their wealthier peers.
Almost every time I hear a discussion of African American poverty, I hear people talking about asking for things to be handed to them. I think that is disgusting. I think that if someone is handed to, and handed to, and handed to, he/she will never learn to take care of themselves. Someone once suggested raising the scores on the tests for African American children and got furious at me when I dared to suggest that the quality of the child's education be raised instead. There HAS to be work involved. Black people have to be willing to help themselves. There's no point just "settling" for the here and now when there's a future to think about. Sacrifices have to be made and that means work, whether or not anyone wants to hear it.
Something that happened hundreds of years ago isn't going to hold me back. I'm going to get ahead, with all the other crabs trying to pull me back down into the pot. And when I get out, I'm not throwing a ladder in. I just hope everyone is willing to climb out too instead of waiting for someone else to pick them out before they're cooked.

Answer 4

Blacks will always be behind so long as they refuse to be educated, have no interest in working for a living, figure crime and drug peddling is far better than an honest job.
Many blacks are super-rich, showing it can be done. Many from Asia come over knowing no English, they know nothing of our costoms and beliefs, but are number one students. Before long they have Americans, both white and black working for them.
For blacks, it's too easy, " My great great grandfather was a slave so I shouldn't have to lift a finger to be rich ".
If the blacks really want to pitch in and be somebody, they should listen to Uncle Bill Cosby,

Answer 5

The key is not what we face in this country, (if that were the problem, we would never have been able to make as much progress as we have toward equality) because by focusing on the history we dwell in the past.

Everything begins with education. Regardless of what building the students enter, Black parents send their children to a completely different school system than white parents... We as Blacks are set up to fail. One can't attempt to say that the public school system is even half of what it should be when barely half of us graduate and many of the other 50% are not prepared for college.

It's all in the mind. Asian immigrants are not succeeding in schools because they are smarter than us; this happens because of how their parents teach them and how their households function. Too many parents in general are so quick to try and make sure their children are happy... (they won't spank because they can't bear to see their children cry [white parents] or they won't ground them, because "one failing grade isn't so bad..." and "as long as you promise to do better next 6weeks, you can go to the party."

Parenting in this country in general needs to be completely torn down and rebuilt from the ground up, and so does education. But we can't worry about what white people are doing... that doesn't concern us. I followthe philosophy of Malcolm X:
What we need is to instill a greater sense of community in our children and to strive for excellence as individuals and as a people.

email me anytime: [e-mail]

Answer 6

It's really funny..
Most of blacks in America are poor
Most of blacks in Europe are poor
90% of blacks in Africa are poor

GENERALLY they're always the poorest ones!