Having just celebrated the 234th anniversary of the birth of the republic I reflect on its present state--- the status of its promise.
Just over two generations ago when the 36th president of the republic gave the commencement speech at Howard University conditions for minorities in general and blacks in particular were grim. Forty-five (45) years later I have to wonder whether things are ever going to get better. Based on what we see today---maybe not.
Given the state of the union today (presidents’ blowing sunshine up the collective’s anus---just to watch eyes glitter notwithstanding) it is far more likely that any progeny of today’s generation are more apt to find themselves in bondage (the slavery kind) or the sex trade than better off than their parents.
For those too busy yesterday shopping, barbecuing or watching fireworks to notice I provide the following bits of information that speak to the status of the promise of the founders, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution and the future of America.
African-Americans have been a part of this hemisphere since at least 1607. Those we term Hispanic have been part of this hemisphere at least partly since their ancestors settled these lands 1000’s of years ago---and under Anglo-European-“American” occupation for five centuries.
For all those centuries and about 150 years since the Emancipation Proclamation and Civil War minorities (African-Americans, Mexican-Americans and women) have only enjoyed the freedoms “guaranteed” by the Bill of Rights and the Constitution for four decades---well at least on paper.
For homosexuals, those who are transgendered and anyone else different---there is still little of equality, freedom or fairness even today.
The Urban Institute recently (June 2010) released these findings.
Urban Institute
• Sixty-three percent of children enter adulthood without experiencing poverty, but 10 percent of children are persistently poor, spending at least half their childhoods living in poverty.
• Black children are roughly 2.5 times more likely than white children to ever experience poverty and 7 times more likely to be persistently poor.
• Children who experience poverty tend to cycle into and out of poverty, and most persistently poor children spend intermittent years living above the poverty threshold.
• Being poor at birth is a strong predictor of future poverty status. Thirty-one percent of white children and 69 percent of black children who are poor at birth go on to spend at least half their childhoods living in poverty.
• Children who are born into poverty and spend multiple years living in poor families have worse adult outcomes than their counterparts in higher-income families.
Additionally:
“WASHINGTON, D.C., June 30, 2010 — Already off to a tough start in life, 49 percent of American babies born into poor families will be poor for at least half their childhoods, a new Urban Institute study finds. Among children who are not poor at birth, only 4 percent will be "persistently" poor as children.
Fallout from persistent childhood poverty is evident during young adulthood, say Caroline Ratcliffe and Signe-Mary McKernan, the authors of "Childhood Poverty Persistence: Facts and Consequences," http://www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=412126 the first study connecting poverty status at birth, poverty persistence, and adult outcomes. Those poor at birth are more likely to be poor between ages 25 and 30, drop out of high school, have a teen nonmarital birth, and have patchy employment records than those not poor at birth.
For instance, while 4 percent of individuals in nonpoor families at birth go on to spend at least half their early adult years in poverty, the share jumps to 21 percent for individuals born poor. The difference for blacks is 24 percentage points; for whites, it is almost zero.
In general, the longer a child is poor, the worse his or her adult outcomes. Only 1 percent of never-poor children spend half their early adult years living in poverty, compared with 32 percent of persistently poor children. The likelihood that an individual drops out of high school, has a teen nonmarital birth, or has a spotty work record generally increases with the number of years poor as a child.
An estimated 14.1 million Americans under age 18 are poor. Approximately 4.2 million children are born annually.
"Because poverty status at birth is linked to worse adult outcomes, targeting resources to children born into poverty and their families would help particularly vulnerable people," Ratcliffe and McKernan observe. They say education, training, and work supports (such as child care subsidies) for parents could brighten children's prospects by providing needy families with economic security and stability. Other supports for parents, such as home-visiting programs, could help children by improving family functioning and the home environment.
Other Findings
• 13 percent of all children (40 percent of black children and 8 percent of white children) are born poor.
• 37 percent of children live in poverty for at least a year before reaching age 18.
• 10 percent of children spend at least half their childhood years (9 years or longer) in poverty.
• Black children are 9 times more likely than white children to be poor for at least three-quarters of their childhoods — 18 percent versus 2 percent.
• 69 percent of black children and 31 percent of white children who are poor at birth stay poor for least half their childhoods.
Childhood poverty rates, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, have ranged between 15 and 23 percent over the past four decades. In 2009, a family with two adults and two children was considered poor if its income was below $21,756.”
http://www.urban.org/
This is not what anyone listening to President Lyndon Baines Johnson’s commencement speech at Howard University would have expected. However, the backlash of Anglo-America to the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act was far more intense than expected but it shouldn’t have been.
Next time; the Moynihan Report---45 years later.
Hasta Siempre,
More:
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-18764-San-Antonio-Public-Policy-Examiner~y2010m7d5-The-Republic-1776--to-2010-a-mixed-bag
The Diane Rehm Show
James Patterson: "Freedom Is Not Enough"
A renowned historian examines the origins of the Moynihan Report. Released 45 years ago, it described the deterioration of black family life in America's cities. He explores the report's aftermath and the impact of its arguments on modern welfare and family policies.
Guests
James Patterson
a professor of history emeritus at Brown University and the author of "Restless Giant," "Brown v. Board of Education" and the Bancroft Prize-winning "Grand Expectations."
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-07-05/james-patterson-freedom-not-enough-rebroadcast
The Moynihan Report (1965)
http://www.blackpast.org/?q=primary/moynihan-report-1965
Remarks at the Howard University Commencement (June 4, 1965)
Lyndon Baines Johnson
http://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/speeches/detail/3387
Howard University Commencement Address, June 4, 1965
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/36_l_johnson/psources/ra_howard.html
President Lyndon B. Johnson's Commencement Address at Howard University: "To Fulfill These Rights" June 4, 1965
http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/johnson/archives.hom/speeches.hom/650604.asp
President Lyndon Johnson - Remarks on Signing the Civil Rights Bill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKfoJJA5xWM
Commencement Remarks--Julian Bond
http://www.gwu.edu/explore/aboutgw/eventscalendars/gwcommencement/commencementremarksjulianbond
Tavis Smiley interviews Michelle Alexander
There are more African-American men in prison in America today (30 April 2010) than were enslaved in 1850.
http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/201003/20100319.html
No comments:
Post a Comment