Parallel Between Race and Class in America

Although it represents “Out of many, one” (E. Pluribus Unum), America continues

to struggle with race relations and has had an imbalanced social class; a problem which

still exists today. With the system placed upon them, blacks have had education,

income, and housing deficits. Said system favors Caucasians, which mostly compose

the upper class, and blacks, the lower class.

Prior to 1965, racism was at its peak as Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial

segregation, were enforced in most southern states. By these laws, black and white

children were not allowed to attend school together. Unlike the black schools, the white

schools had updated essential learning tools. Because of this, whites were more likely

to graduate high school at a rate of about 44%, compared to blacks at an alarming rate

of 20% (Heckman and LaFontaine 2010). In the 2010s, both percentages have

dramatically increased. According to the NCES (2016), the percentage of high school

graduates is approximately 87% for whites and 73% for blacks. Though the percentages

have raised, it doesn’t necessarily mean things are perfect. Blacks are more likely to

attend high-poverty schools, educating advanced scholars with an outdated or less

rigorous curriculum (Powell 2011).

The racial wealth gap has always been an issue in America. In the 1960s, black

households earned on average 59% less than white households (Path 2015). Why?,one

may ask. The education systems under racist and segregated laws have disserviced the

black community by restricting them to a lacking array of educational opportunities.

Though the education system is far better off today, the employment rate for blacks is

double that of whites. The median income for a black families has significantly caught
up to a white families’; with the median income, in 2010, reaching $35,000 (Woodruff

2013).

The homeownership rate in America has been fairly constant in the last half

century. In the 1960s nearly 30% of blacks owned homes, compared to 45% of whites.

In 2010, the percentage of black ownerships increased to 45%, whilst whites increased

to 72% (Gopal 2016). Buying a nice home as an African American can be a bit of a

hassle for some. Blacks usually encounter racism in the housing market. African

Americans tend to be looked up upon as “working class”, regardless of what their actual

status is. Therefore, the real estate industry does not sell them as many houses as they

do Caucasians. A study by CBS news (2010) shows that blacks are shown about 17%

fewer homes than whites. When blacks aren't shown the “best” homes, they might miss

out on a chance to live in a good neighborhood with good schools.

The parallel between class and race has not been steady and upflowing .

Caucasians are treated better than blacks under a system that prides itself in equality.

Though blacks are better off today than they were in the 1960s, they still fall under

whites in education, income, and homeownership. That gap can narrow if legislators

attack these problems by passing legislation that focuses on a better educational

system, fairer housing laws, and improving the wage gap.

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