African-Americans Today

Since the 1960s, African-American leaders have worked hard to increase two kinds of black power - economic and political. Of course, there is a connection between these two. More political power can lead to increased state and federal spending to meet African-Americans' greatest needs - for education, financial assistance, job training, and better housing. Many urban blacks still live in poor neighborhoods, with deterio­rating and abandoned buildings and empty lots. In these slum areas, the crime rate is high, drug dealers and addicts are common, and residents fear violent gangs.

Poverty continues to be a significant problem for blacks. African-Americans remain far behind white Americans in employment and income levels. The unemployment rate for blacks, about 8%, is about twice that of whites. The median household income for blacks is about $28,000, compared to about $44,000 for non-Hispanic whites. About 26% of blacks are poor, compared to 11 % of whites. This high poverty rate is largely because many blacks do not have skills that are needed for better-paying jobs.

Realizing that more education will help them get better jobs, blacks are staying in school longer now than in past decades. In 1960, only about 20% of young black adults finished high school. Today, the figure is about 75%. In 1980, about 42% of black high schools graduates enrolled in college. Today, about 60% do (compared to 67% of whites).

Blacks are also trying to improve their financial position by going into professions or starting their own businesses. There are now more than 600,000 black-owned compa­nies in the U.S. And blacks are more numerous than ever in the professions - as teach­ers, doctors, lawyers, judges, and ministers.

In politics, African-American gains have been impressive. Now that more blacks are voting, more are getting elected. For example, African-Americans hold positions as mayors of big cities and as members of Congress. However, blacks are still quite under­represented in government. Although making up 13% of the population, they hold only 1.5% of the nation's elected offices. In the mid- 1990s, they held about 8,000 of the 500,000 elective jobs in the U.S.

In 1952, Ralph Ellison, an African-American author, wrote a book about blacks in the U.S. called The Invisible Man. Since the I960s, blacks have become more visible on TV and in movies and magazines. Networks, filmmakers, and advertisers now realize that black consumers want to see their race represented. Today, African-Americans in signif­icant numbers work as newscasters, TV actors and actresses, and movie stars.

Despite progress in many areas, discrimination is still part of the African-American experience. Today, federal laws prohibit racial discrimination in housing and employ­ment. However, fear and distrust still hamper race relations. Police officers and airport customs officials are more likely to search an African-American (or other minority group member) than a white person. And African-American comedians often joke about being invisible to taxi drivers.

Check your comprehension.

What are three different areas in which African-Americans have made great progress?

Дата добавления: 2015-08-27