preview

Inequality Is The Existence Of Unequal Opportunities? Essay

Good Essays

Inequality in America “We have made enormous progress in teaching everyone that racism is bad. Where we seem to have dropped the ball is in teaching people what racism actually is.” Racism is the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race. This mindset often causes people to find certain races inferior or superior. Racist ideologies have plagued the United States since its conception. Those racist thoughts and ideals have created inequality among African Americans. Inequality is the existence of unequal opportunities for certain social classes or groups in society. In the early days after slavery, inequality and discrimination for African Americans was much easier to detect, because of the Jim Crow Laws. The Jim Crow laws were local and state level laws that implemented institutional discrimination; examples of this discrimination included, separate bathrooms, segregated public transportation, separate schools, as well as many public places. These laws were enforced until they were overruled by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Since then, America has made significant progress; but, inequality still remains within the countries work force, police and justice system, as well as the education system. The Wage Gap/ The Workforce The poverty rate in 2015 for African Americans was 22% compared to 15% for the nation. The wage gap between white and black workers in the United States has increased since 1979. Racial wage

Get Access