Disparities in the distribution of social benefits such as education, healthcare, and employment are among the dominant stories in the United States (US). Racism has been part of dominant American stories whenever told, presenting the dominance of the whites and inequality against people of color. Socioeconomic status (SES) is determined by an individual’s self-perception, educational attainment, job stability, and financial stability. A person’s SES can affect their quality of life and chances, resulting in many types of emotional and physical stress, which are proxies for poverty. Throughout a person’s life, their SES remains a consistent and reliable predictor of their health and social standing. In the US, racism has been a component of life for many citizens, especially people of color, impacting the quality of life they lead.
The individual’s racial background and SES are inextricably linked as a population’s racial and ethnic composition can infer its socioeconomic status. Low SES is a risk factor for various serious societal issues, including poverty and inequality. For example, there are significant and long-lasting disparities in health status among people from different socioeconomic backgrounds. These health disparities are a microcosm of societies’ larger socioeconomic divides in the US. The poverty among people of color in the US emphasizes this point, which is why most conversations and interactions will lead to microaggressions (Limbong, 2020). The population lives in poor environments, with their poverty levels incomparable to that of poor whites. As a result of their low SES, the government has rarely implemented significant projects to improve their living standards. The government may not consider implementing worthy projects in these areas because there is no promise of returns or added value. Their purchasing power is low, capable of purchasing some of their basic needs. Additionally, they rarely have similar opportunities like employment, education, and access to healthcare.
The vast majority of those who experience racism in the region are members of communities or individuals within those communities who have different identities based on ethnicity, culture, nation, language, or territory. All these communities and individuals have one thing in common, based on the dominant racism story in America. They are distinct from the norm, commonly understood as one’s national identity. While these groups of citizens are also Americans, they belong to a different class from that of other citizens. According to Scalzi (2005), these people cannot afford the cars, toys, or food that other citizens buy without struggling. The groups comprise black people, especially Africa Americans.
Racial inequality has persisted in the US for centuries because white institutions and individuals took black people’s labor, wealth, and resources. It is critical to remember the fundamental role that harmful and discriminatory policies have played in perpetuating this issue since the founding of the US. Namely, slavery’s role in developing the early and modern American economy and unofficial policies that enforced racial segregation (Badger, 2015). Millions of African Americans fled for the North and West to avoid the policies and laws, but they encountered racism in every aspect of their lives. Their rights were revoked, and communities dispersed, taking away growth opportunities (CANY, 2019). As a result, they have grown among the poorest in the US, unable to live by the standards of other Americans. Their race can be considered inferior by some whites and leaders, explaining the large wealth gap between the two races.
Conclusively, race in America has defined the SES of different groups of citizens in the US. While the white communities have high standards of living, the people of colour have in history lived poor lives. Dominant stories revolve around racism, with some blacks wishing for the lives of the whites because they have no means of equalizing with the middle and upper classes. Securing classy employment, educational, and even healthcare services remains a dream for the population. The US should increase efforts for equality to close the wealth gaps and increase the economic capabilities of people of color and other associated communities.
References
Badger, E. (2015). Black poverty differs from white poverty. The Washington Post.
CANY (Citizen Action of New York). (2019). Reversing runaway inequality: Racial capitalism [Video]. YouTube.
Limbong, A. (2020). Microaggressions are a big deal: How to talk them out and when to walk away. National Public Radio.
Scalzi, J. (2005). Being poor.