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The Impact of Poverty on African American Communities
Israa Sharif
Cleveland State University
UST 202: African American Exp
Dr. Michael L. Paquet
September 18, 2021
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Abstract
The impact of poverty on African American community but more specifically in
Cleveland and how it is more than what we hear/ don’t hear and what meets the eye. Poverty is
more than issues with income or money, but it must do more with social status. Poverty is based
on a lot of aspect of your life such as: food and housing insecurity, joblessness and
unemployment, inadequate healthcare, and education. The word poverty effects are not just on
those who are living in it but also those who labor in the field of poverty such social workers and
police officers. We will explore the causes, effects, and possible solution to this problem and
mainly within the African American community. Also, the historical setting/social context within
this topic and how this is a social issue/ cultural implications.
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The impact of Poverty on African American Communities
In the African American community poverty is a becoming more of a concern to them.
The latest percentage of of African Americans living in poverty in 2018 is about 20.8 and not
just but the overall poverty has a great impact on children. I find this as a serious issue that needs
attention not just to those how cares about social justice and equality for all people but for
humanity and as humans, because this is a social issue that needs to be resolved and that we
should be concerned about one another and specially care for the children who are going through
it at a young age instead of living and enjoying life as any child should. What is the actual
history of poverty within this particle community? Also, there are a lot of types of poverty and
reasons why poverty is major problem within the African American community. The main root
causes of poverty are racism, access to quality education, low wage, access to quality healthcare,
access to affordable housing, and childhood abuse, and climate change are all the root issues that
continue to grow in the African American community that creates more problematic issues like
homelessness, hunger, addiction, violence, crime, etc. addition. we will explore more about what
are some things that can be done and the public policies that are trying to resolve this issue in
American communities, and what are the government is doing to with this issue in Cleveland and
all around the United States.
Defining Poverty
Poverty
What is poverty? Poverty refers to a condition when a group of people don’t have enough
money to maintain their fundamental necessities such as food, housing, clothing, or even
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healthcare that we as humans need to survive when unexpected health issues occur. Poverty is a
widespread issue. However, the best way that poverty can be defined as is that it “is the worst
form of violence” (-Mahatma Gandhi) ( Boma Project, Feb 1, 2013). It is referred to as violence
because it leads to many problems in an individual’s life. In 2018, there were 38.1 million people
who suffered from poverty in the US. Separately, the percentage of children in poverty was 16.2
in 2018, and if we look back to the same year there were about 23 thousand people who were
living in poverty in Cuyahoga County, according to the United Way Cleveland (n.d.). This issue
of poverty is having a big impact on children, not just finically but also mentally.
Types of Poverty
There are several approaches when determining the type of poverty all based on
economic, social, and political factors. Absolute poverty, relative poverty, situational poverty,
