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Poverty Causes Of Native Americans

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Throughout our public-school education, we have all learned about the many corrupt things that Native Americans have had to endure at the hands of the U.S government. These lessons keep the plight of the American Indians in the past. It is common place to hear people up in arms over sports mascots or appropriating a head dress at a music festival. Issues like these are the least of the Native American problems. Were you aware that Indians have the highest poverty level of any racial group in North America, almost two times the national average? (Macartney, Bishaw, & Fontenot, 2013) The United States is the richest country in the world, yet we have the creation of third world countries within our boarders. The poverty level seems to contribute to many other factors such as: alcoholism, gang membership, higher rates of suicide, and sexual abuse. (Riley, 2016)
Alcoholism is more likely in the Native American population than any other racial groups. Suicide is the number one cause of death among Native males ages 10-14, and the suicide rate for ages 15-24 is 57% more than the non-native population. (Center for Native American Youth) Native Americans have a higher rate of gang involvement than African Americans or Latinos. Sexual abuse and child abuse is twice as high as the national average for the general population. (Riley, 2016)
In today’s society, we commonly hear that it is easy for the wealthy to ignore the troubles of the inner city. If that is true how much easier is it

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