Exercise 3 Annotated Graphs

8/14/2019 Exercise 3 Annotated Graphs

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White, Asian, Hispanic 1

Running Head: AMERICANS BELOW POVERTY LINE

White, Asian, Hispanic, and Black Americans Below the United States Poverty Line

Exercise #3 Annotated Graphs

Artisha Floyd

SOWK 300-01

Jacqueline McArthur

Feb 5th, 2010






Scope of the Problem- Figure 2

Descriptive Discussion - Those who are Black and from the Midwest region of the United States had the

highest number of those below the poverty line- 25.5% .The next closest are Hispanic Americans from

the Northeast. Following the same trend as before, there are many more African Americans and

Hispanic Americans from the West, Northeast, Midwest, and South who were below the poverty line.

And within the same pattern, there is a higher percentage of poor Black and Hispanic people than poor

White and Asian American people.

Interpretive Discussion – We see here that this problem- poverty- has an influence on any region in the

country. It seems that the region in which an individual resides does influence one’s economic status.

We also see that white Americans and Asian Americans in any given region seem to fare better than

Black and Hispanic Americans in any given region. Why? Blacks and Hispanics alike are more likely to be

poor because it is culturally acceptable.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

White Black Asian Hispanic

P e r c e n t

Race/Ethnicity

Figure 2:

Percent Below Poverty Level by Region

Northeast

Midwest

South

West

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports , P60-235 (published August 2008).




Changes in the Problem- Figure 3

Descriptive Discussion - The total number of male householders below the poverty line has increased by

a little more than double- moving from 13% in 2005 to 28.3% in 2007. In those two years, we’ve seen

the number of White American, Asian American, and Hispanic American male householders double. In

Black Americans, the number did not double, although it did increase. Black Americans went from 21.1%

male householders being below the poverty line in 2005 to 37.3% in 2007.

Interpretive Discussion – Now this is an eye catcher. We can see that across the board- no matter what

ethnicity- the number of male householders under the poverty line has greatly increased from 2005 to

2007. It’s true that times are changing. With that, so are family structures. Divorce rates are up, and

single parent homes, including single father homes, have become more prevalent. This issue of single

fathers falling below the poverty line must be addressed.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

AllWhite

BlackAsian

Hispanic

1311.2

21.1

8.3

15.9

28.3

24.7

37.3

16.1

38.4

P e r c e n t

Ethnicity

Figure 3:

Single Fathers Below Poverty: 2005-2007

2005

2007

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports




Disparities in the Problem: Figure 4

Descriptive Discussion – This graph shows us the percentage of householders in America who are below

the U.S. poverty line. It breaks the ages up into intervals, as you can see. The most distinguishable

characteristic is the difference between the number of Black and Hispanic householders below poverty

compared with the number of White and Asian.

Interpretive Discussion – There are typically more Black Americans and Hispanic Americans in poverty

than Asian Americans and White Americans. Why is that? Concerning blacks: In past decades, systems

were set up in order to keep African Americans poor. Since the abolishment of those systems (legally)

many Blacks have risen above the cycle of poverty. Many others, however, have not. We must change

the mistaken beliefs of many black communities that says poverty is all there is. There is so much more.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

15 to24 yrs-

old

25-34

yrs-old35-44

yrs-old45-54

yrs-old55-64

yrs-old65 and

up

P e r c e n t

Age

Age of Householders Below Poverty Line

White

Black

Asian

Hispanic

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports , P60-235 (published August 2008).




Summary and Conclusion

The tables presented above prove that a part of our American people live in poverty. One can clearly see

the distinction of who the ones in poverty are. Impoverished Hispanic Americans and African Americans

from all wakes of life consistently outnumber the number of impoverished White and Asian Americans

in these graphs. Poverty is definitely a problem that has an impact on the survival of African Americans,

which will be my focus. In this present time, I would have to say that I firmly believe that the majority of

the inner workings of this problem are influenced by societal norms.

Across the board, no matter what variable is being analyzed, there is a greater amount of African

Americans below the poverty line. Now why would that be? At one point, an extremely high percentage

of African Americans were below the poverty line due to racism and discrimination. Racism and

discrimination do still exist today, but they do not have nearly as great an affect as they have had on

African Americans in past years. In past eras, most African Americans were kept from social justices such

as purchasing land, making investments, buying businesses, and getting jobs. Although it is still true that

African Americans are kept from social justices today, the number of those who are has greatly

decreased.

So why do African American families trump the other ethnicities in numbers below the poverty line? As

mentioned before, African American families are influenced by societal norms. Poverty ran rampant in

the black communities during the civil rights movement and shortly thereafter. Since then, many have

been able to rise up from that. Unfortunately, generations later, some have not. In many African

American homes, poverty is normal- even expected. It is these African American families (most likely

due to the communities in which they reside) who are bogged down by cultural conditioning through

socialization. (Socialization- the passing down of thoughts, behaviors, beliefs, and norms from one

generation to the next)




African Americans have been conditioned- been taught over and over again through repeated instances-

into believing that poverty is not only normal, but in some cases, impossible to get out of. Think- when a

child grows up in a less advantaged environment, and so has everyone he knows, that is all he knows.

Because this is all he knows, he accepts it (no matter how reluctantly), grows up, and eventually starts

his own family. It has been like this for generations- a crippling cycle that must be broken.

Of course there are other factors that determine why more African Americans are below the poverty

line. One example is the flashy culture that many African Americans take on. Although there certainly

are other factors contributing to the reasons why African Americans have less, I believe it is mainly due

to a victimized mindset. That mindset is not all the African American people’s fault - they have been

conditioned into living in that mindset. Just as anyone else is, African Americans in this situation are

product of their environment.

What can we do to alleviate this issue? Well, this first starts on the most basic level of all- individuals.

Those who are able must realize that although there is a glass ceiling above the African American

people, it is certainly not impenetrable. And those who see that must go and tell others.



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Exercise 3 Annotated Graphs