The Conflicts of the Black Race: Delayed Economic and Educational Progress :: essays research papers

The Conflicts of the Black Race Delayed Economic and Educational ProgressIn the 1960s, faints, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., fought for their complaisantrights and equal opportunities. Although they had only been out of slavery forless than a century, they felt the time was way past due for them to receive thesame treatment as other American citizens. Our people struggled to receivedecent education programs for their youth for the right to earn a decent living,and to receive respect from other racial groups. Fortunately for our generation,their fight ended in victory. However, 30 years later, despite the progressmade then, our community does not seem to rent kept up with our ancestors rateof self-improvement. Not only are blacks still disrespected by other races,problems similarly plague us such as poverty, drugs, and miseducation. To makematters even worse, we also have a serious lack of unity. Some of us feel asthough it is not our responsibility to help other blacks when they are in need.Another major problem is the existence of racism. This negative attitude leadsto many physical and psychological problems within the black community.Therefore, lack of unity within the black community and the effects of racismare two major factors when contribute to the slow progress of black people.Before the genteel Rights movement racism was so blatant that not knowing itexisted would have been difficult. Presently, it is so subtle that some arguewe cannot blame racism for our problems. Unfortunately, they are wrong. Theeffects of racism can be seen in the segregation of our neighborhoods and in ourhigh unemployment rates. White people want to keep their contact with us to aminimum. In 1991, USA Today report that the 1990 census "concluded that themajority of the nations 30 million black people are as segregated now as theywere . . . in the 60s " (Smith 104). This proves that although some blacksincomes have increased, they do not always live in neighbo rhoods they can affordbecause the area is usually predominately white. The U.S. Department of Housingand Urban Development found that anti-black inequality was widespread in thehousing industry in 1992 (Smith 105). This practice can be found in theworkplace. Ed Smith, Ph.D. found that "blacks with college degrees had a 13 part unemployment rate in 1987 compared to five percent for whites" (Smith112). Many studies exist that prove that college-educated blacks are not muchbetter off than high-school graduates. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rightsadmitted that "lack of education is not the reason for high minority