Over the past years, we have witnessed much improvement in the African- American community, specifically their income. Starting at a low of $26, 798 as their money income (based on 2003 dollars) since 1980, they have jumped to a impressive high of $34, 369. AA have improved increasingly, and continue to do so everyday.
Although AA have improved in their own communitites, unfortuneatly, compared to other ethnicities they fail to be the best. Since the 1980's, the gap has grown twice as big. Compared to the average white male ($28, 181) in the 1980's, an AA male ($16, 935) is no competition. This still holds true in current data! In a poll shown, AA males in 2003 have a median income of $21, 986 compared to a white male with $30, 732. But that's no the only ethnicity "beating" AA in their median income. The list also includes Asian Americans and White non-Hispanics. AA have passed Hispanics in recent years, but in 2003 they seem to be equals. Yet that's not the only disturbing information, AA have set the "highs" in poverty rates. They seem to have poverty rates up to 30-40%, compared to whites who only make up 13-17%, Asian and Pacific Islanders who make up 11-22%, and Hispanics who make up 29-41%. AA have the highest poverty rates also amongst their children. As a whole they make up 25.6% of the poor population, compared to Whites with only an 8.8% population. Something must be done.
To help improve the income of AA, and lower their poverty rates several accomplishments must be made. First, we have to help them finicially. The only way to help them stand-up on their own two feet is to give them a foundation on which they can grow. Without government help, there would be nobody else to help them, therefore I believe we must raise government spending in that area. Another possible solution would be to make sure that not only AA, but Hispanics as well get the same education as others, whether it be in elementary school or college, everyone should get the same education, or at least better education if they don't already have it. This would increase the number of minorities in higher paying jobs, which would lead to an increase in their median income. Small changes we can make in our everyday lives, can make a big difference.