In a country that is 12 percent black, nearly a quarter of all African Americans are poor and it appears that this issue has been prevalent for decades. “Poverty has always been in America, however, Hurricane Katrina has forced this country to open its eyes and face it,” commented graduate assistant Elvira White. Although many would claim they never knew poverty was this common among African Americans, senior Yanique Nelson stated, ” I knew it exists because it is very obvious.” However, what makes poverty among African Americans so obvious? Nelson stated, “I believe that poverty exists due to the lack of education and poor money management of African Americans.” In concurring with Nelson, White offers another reason: “Poverty is present because our system is based on capitalism in which the largest percent of wealth i.e. education and job opportunities is not given to the least amount of people. Because of this, African Americans will always be at the lower end and poverty will always be an issue.” Jonathan Alter, a writer for Newsweek, suggests, “Poverty is caused by a tangle of financial and personal pain that often goes beyond insufficient resources and lack of training, wage stagnation, social isolation, and a more subtle form of class-based racism.”
Contrary to belief, everyone is to blame for poverty. White suggests, “It is our responsibility to lift up those in poverty.” Yet, Nelson argues, “Those in poverty should do their part and utilize the programs offered in their community.” This suggestion seems to be in the back of many Americans’ minds but questions rise as to the effectiveness of programs. Student Ester Coronado offers affirmation, “After my divorce, I was making minimum wage and although it took me seven years to get my situation together, the system’s programs helped me.” Nonetheless, the system is a very controversial issue when it pertains to assisting African Americans and their needs. Alter stated, “President Bush’s main involvement with poverty issues has been on education, where he sharply increased aid to poor schools as a part of his No Child Left Behind Initiative.” Not to say that others in office aren’t doing their part and community programs aren’t effective, but more needs to be done.
Poverty among African Americans is nothing new. Poverty among Americans is nothing new. According to Adler, we live in a country where “9 percent of American whites are poor, 22 percent of Hispanics are poor and a nearly a quarter of African Americans are poor.”
Sen. Barack Obama said, “I hope we realize that the people of New Orleans weren’t just abandoned during the hurricane. They were abandoned long ago- to murder and mayhem in the streets, to substandard schools, to dilapidated housing, to inadequate health care, to a pervasive sense of hopelessness.”
This is why poverty in America exists especially among African Americans. This shouldn’t, however, be a major issue among our people, success should.