Week 10 Blog How I feel about it

Some of the main concepts and issues that leave me with convictions are issues of income inequality, poverty, racism, and housing discrimination. Poverty is one of the most difficult issues to resolve because we live in a capitalist society where the rich get richer and the poor remain poor. Through social stratification society has been  arranged in social hierarchy based on access to wealth, power, and prestige. Because we live in a society that is highly segregated, class social class and socioeconomic status are important.
Prior to taking this class I knew that inequality in america was a big problem but i never thought about how housing discrimination affected minority groups. After watching America Divided, I was amazed and ashamed to realize that  tenants and landlords racial discriminate against people of color, gentrification hurts minority communities, and redlining is  a racist housing policy.   Also as the semester went on I gained insight to where I personally sit in the American Class System. Although my family is considered high income because of my dads job and accumulation of my mom and sister's income,I know the reality of it is the expensive of life makes my family the working class. I consider myself in the lower class because I'm a college student who is broke. Because of my life experiences and knowing how hard it it to move up in society, I have gained better understanding of inequality.
To me social inequality in america is the effect of unequal opportunities, based on status, wealth, power, racism, and prejudice. Social Inequality affects gender , education, and life chances. Understanding social inequality will help give one perspective and can help in resolving societal conflict, and in explaining various phenomena

Week 9: America Divided

Environmental Justice

Two National Organizations - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Wildlife Federation (NWF)

-The EPA is an agency of the Federal Government that has enforced environmental regulations based on laws passed by congress

-The NWF has addressed environmental justice by seeking balanced, common-sense solutions to environmental problems that work for wildlife and people."

Two Local (Statewide) organizations - Sierra Club- Maryland Chapter & Howard County Conservancy  

- The Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club focuses on protecting the state's natural and wildlife resources, monitoring legislation, sponsoring outings, and educating the public about pressing environmental issues. They are addressing environmental justice by coordinating conservation campaigns

-The Conservancy, originally founded in 1990 as a private, nonprofit land trust, today has a dual mission of preserving land in Howard County MD and provides educational programs to educate children and adults about our natural world, preserve the land and its legacy for future generations and model responsible stewardship of our environment. 

Racism 

Two National Organizations: YWCA & ColorofChange.org 

-YWCA  is a national organization that has fought against racism, works to bring racial justice and raises awareness about the negative impact of institutional and structural racism in communities. Their campaign has attracted over 250,000 participants and has earned the endorsements of five U.S. Governors

- ColorofCHange,org has empowered members, allies and black Americans to make government more responsive to the concerns  of Black Americans and bring about positive political and social change for everyone.

Two Local (Statewide) organizations: Black Lives Matter Organization & Baltimore United for Change (BUC)

- #BlackLivesMatter Organization- This organization has started an online forum to build connections between Black people and allies to fight anti-black racism and to facilitate the types of connection necessary to encourage social action and engagement. They have organized protests in local communities and have brought awareness to police brutality.

- (BUC) is a coalition of organizations and activists in Baltimore that have a record of working for social justice. They came together three days after the murder of Freddie Gray, and have trained communities about their legal rights in civil disobedience training. Also, they have raised money to bail out individuals raising over $100,000 for jail support.

Week 3 Income Calculator

Based on my household income and the number of people in my household, I am in the MIDDLE income tier, along with 51% of adults in BALTIMORE-COLUMBIA-TOWSON Maryland. My results compared to others in the U.S. with my demographic profile was interesting. Among all American adults with your education, age, race or ethnicity, and marital status, 48% are LOWER income, 46% are MIDDLE income and 6% are UPPER income. In terms of global income distribution, my annual income of 100,000 US dollars for a household of 4 is equivalent to$63/day, per person in 2011 in purchasing power parity dollars,  putting me in  the HIGH INCOME group worldwide, along with 55.7% of people in United States.

Your class status influences the decisions you make in your life because your class status shapes your identity. Class status can influence religious affiliation, political participation, family life, education, and health.  Class status can both help and hinder your life goals depending on the resources you have available and the opportunity presented. A positive role model in my life is my dad and cousin. My dad has influenced me to be a man of integrity and my cousin has been a positive example in college. While in college having an older cousin, who knew the ropes of college was an advantage for me. I know I can go to these men for advice and when making life decisions. Currently, I have one old friend that I see as a negative influence. This old friend of mine has different lifestyle than me. He constantly breaks rules, he isn’t motivated, and he generally has a negative outlook on life. I have taken steps to minimize his influence on me by distancing myself from him. I realized I don’t have to put myself in unfavorable situations, so I decided to stop hanging out with him and his group on weekends.

The opportunities in my life that may contribute to my future success could be the connections I make in college. The opportunity to get an education in college has set me up for possible future success berceuse degrees are needed to get well-paying jobs. Yet, the obstacles that can make it difficult for me to achieve success could be because of financial insecurity, discrimination I face because I am a black male. Regardless of what obstacles come, they key is to fight against oppression. 

Week 8 NJ Alice Report /Reviews on Economic Inequality in NJ

http://www.unitedwayalice.org/documents/16UW%20ALICE%20Report_NJUpdate_Lowres_12.13.16.pdf

http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/hughescenter/content/docs/Research/Economic%20Inequality%20-%20HC-2016March%20Updated.pdf

What’s relevant to the reports are that they show statistics and survey research about the poverty epidemic in New Jersey. Also, they show public opinions and trends that are useful in understanding social inequality. What’s interesting in these reports was that New Jersey residents who are struggling financially: 37 percent of households in New Jersey could not afford basic needs such as housing, child care, food, health care, and transportation in 2014. Furthermore, 66% of New Jersey residents believe the state is on the wrong track. The research article from Stockton University, “Views on Economic Inequality in the state of New Jersey” stated nearly sixty percent (58%) of New Jersey residents surveyed disapproved of the way Chris Christie was handling his job as governor.

In New Jersey, the total number of households increased by 1 percent between 2007 and 2014 to 3,194,844. But the number of ALICE and poverty households increased through the Great Recession (from 2007 to 2010) by 18 percent, and then increased another 10 percent from 2010 to 2014 (Figure 1). With the growth in population, the number of households that are struggling to meet their basic needs has grown even more.  However, according to ALICE, All age groups saw a decline in financial stability, with the exception of households 65 and older. Between 2007 and 2014, nearly each age group saw an increase in households living below the ALICE Threshold. The one exception is senior households, whose conditions started to improve after 2012. From 2012 to 2014, the proportion of households headed by someone 65 years and older in poverty remained flat, and the proportion of senior ALICE households decreased by 2 percent.

Furthermore, as compared with other Americans, the majority (82%) of New Jersey survey respondents feel they are doing better (55%) or the same (26.8%) economically as others. Only 15% percent reported doing worse than other Americans. economic vulnerability New Jersey residents are experiencing nearly seven years after the Great Recession is profound with 55% of our sample feeling as though their income is falling behind the cost of living and nearly 37% suggesting their income is just keeping pace.

The main argument in all this is; poverty rates and household income opinions will vary. What’s similar between the two findings from the articles is that the recession has caused New Jersey residents to struggle. What is different between the articles is one states, the number of ALICE and poverty households have increased significantly since the Great Recession. Yet, the other states New Jersey Residents feel they are doing better economically. Overall what is important is the differences between the two because they give perspective to a different opinion, which leads to the search for truth.

Week 7 blog: Seefeldt on Social Abandonment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tDFLNej-c4&feature=youtu.be

What were the factors Seefeldt discussed and what policy measures might help vulnerable families get ahead? – Comment on how these polices truly might be beneficial and practical for upward mobility?

Some of the factors discussed was how social abandonment is what Seefeldt describes as, “a new form of separate and unequal: separate and segregated labor and housing markets, post-secondary institutions, and financial products.” Seefeldt mentions that debt functions as modern day sharecropping. The new sharecropping system, is debt because abandonment by the safety net led to debt, also people are using credit cards to pay basic expenses.  Upward mobility contributes to the increase in debt, high interest rates and low income are preventing people from getting rid of their debt. The policy measures that might help families get ahead is a Worker Bill of Rights, Reforms to The Safety Net, and Reparations. The ability to organize and higher wages are included, to help combat social abandonment. She recommended reparations in terms of baby bonds to help women with low wage income to get ahead. These policies can be truly beneficial and practical for upward mobility because, a worker bill of rights will give employees more power and rights, and a set schedule of hours worked per week.  Reforms to the safety net will help with the filing of benefits. Furthermore, reparations will give larger bonds to those with lower wealth.  These policies will help families that have been affected by social abandonment, and could assist with upward mobility.

Week 6 C-SPAN Response

https://www.c-span.org/video/?402851-4/kemp-forum-panel-3-presidential-candidates-kasichrubio

What did each Presidential Candidates discussed during the forum on reducing poverty?

 After watching this video what are your personal reactions to their plans on reducing poverty?

Each presidential candidate Ohio Governor John Kasich and Florida Senator Marco Rubio talk about the problem of poverty and possible solutions to reduce it in America. Marco Rubio briefly says the cure to poverty is getting a job. Rubio claims that we “treat” poverty with federal programs but we don’t “cure it”. Rubio believes instead of corporations overseas creating jobs in the U.S., and giving the States more flexibility on welfare reform will reduce poverty. Both candidates agreed that both parties Democrats and Republicans, need to work together for a definite solution. Some possible solutions stated included better education, and job training. Yet Governor John Kasich emphasizes that a “one size fit all” approach to fixing poverty is unrealistic. Marco Rubio implied to start we need to have people genuinely care about those in poverty. Rubio wants to have an increase in per child tax credit, he wants to reduce recidivism rates by rehabilitation in prisons. Furthermore, he argues that we have an outdated accredited system that needs to be changed. I like how he wants to put a focus on vocational schooling. Rubio wanted to start a corporate scholarship program and open pell grants to those pursuing vocational schooling. I think education and opportunity to learn a trade is essential in fixing poverty. Ohio Governor John Kasich talked about how we need to freeze all federal regulations on small businesses, or have less of them. He argued that we are losing community banks and for students K-12, we need to focus on preparing students for jobs that currently exist. I like his approach because it is realistic and could help steer many youth in the right career direction. I also agree with Marco Rubio when he says, “we shouldn’t have an international school board, states and local level should have control.” Giving states control would give more resources to fix individual school district problems. Overall I was surprised how the Republicans addressed ways to combat poverty. Although they had good points I still have my doubts because, they are politicians and sometimes politicians talk about solutions but don’t follow through with action.

Week 5: Game: Ran out of money by day 5

 http://playspent.org/

After playing the game spent, I realized how hard it was to live in poverty. In the game I decided to pay up to $800 in rent just to shorten my commute to  work expenses. After the landlord found out about my pet, I was charged $360, which left me broke by day 5. Whats sad is most people wouldn't pay the fine, and be left to give away their pets.  After reading the quiz I found it surprising that the federal minimum wage is $7.25 and after a year earning a total of $15,080, its still $1,257 below the poverty threshold of $16,337. Yet the government believes this is a livable wage for a single parent.
The statement "Behaviors of the poor are not the cause of their poverty, but as a result of their poverty" to me means, those in poverty could be in poverty because of how difficult it is to climb out of poverty. The game showed me that everything is expensive and costs money, and the most unexpected things can put you in debt. When your poor, poverty can disable you, regardless of how frugal you are with money.

Week 4 America's Middle Class is Suffering

According to the article "America's middle class has lost nearly 30% of wealth" by Quentin Fottrell the rich are getting richer and those in the middle class are getting poorer. The last 15 years have been brutal for the middle class, due to the housing market crisis and the Great Recession of 2008. Yet many politician are eager to make references about helping middle class Americans, because economically the middle class has the power to elect the President of the U.S
Whats killing the American middle class is the rise in income inequality in the U.S. Middle class families are falling into the lower class and it is shrinking.  It is urgent to save the American Middle class because they have helped shape our society. It is important to save the middle class because most people identify themselves as middle class citizens. Middle class Americans make 20 to 50% of America's income and wealth. Middle class Americans have helped define our society,  yet they are struggling to stay ahead. My family identifies with the middle class, but most of the time we feel trapped by debt and the high cost of living. In my opinion there is need for major economic and political change. A start to this would be increasing the taxes of the rich and creating more well paying jobs for working class and middle class Americans.

Employers can now Legally Discriminate against People with Deadlocks!

                       

Last year in 2016, a federal appeals court ruled that banning an employee from wearing their hair in dread locks is not racial discrimination. The 11 Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a case brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against an Alabama  company that refused to hire a woman because of her dreadlocks. The EEOC tried to fight the business for violating Title  VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin.
However the Courts disagreed in a 3-0 decision saying  that dreadlocks though "culturally associated with race," aren't an "immutable characteristic of black persons." I find this appalling because dreadlocks are a popular hairstyle among the black community. I see this ruling as covert racism and discrimination against African Americans. I am growing my hair out and as a black man, and I realize that I will be discriminated against in society because of it. This is a example of social inequality that is supported by institutional power.

Week 2: Inequality in U.S. is becoming worse

While surfing the web I came across an article from CNN money that talked about the worsening situation of wealth inequality in America. The gap between the "Haves" and "Have Nots" is increasing, the top 1% is making an average of $1.3 million a year while the bottom 50% of Americans have earned an average of $16,000 in pre-tax income. The American Dream is almost no more, its becoming to hard to get ahead in this economy. The top 1% take 20% of all U.S. income, the rich get richer, and the middle class and working poor's wages haven't increased. The sad reality is that because of the wealth inequality more college grads are starting off their young adult hood in debt, owing student loans. This can cause a delay in an individuals life which directly affects the economy because then that college grad cant afford to live on his or her own. Their employment plans are affected, and they might be more susceptible to take a job unrelated to their field, or  they are forced to work more than one job to make ends meet. This leads many individuals to believe their educational experience is/was not worth the cost.
I am directly affected by the inequality of wealth because, the government believes my parents make to much money (Not true), therefore I barely get any financial assistance and am forced to take out +$20,000 loans per semester, just to attend school. Being an out-of-state student doesn't help my cause, but its ridiculous to think how unfair college tuition can be. Because of the high costs, I will graduate in more debt then what i started school with, essentially making it harder for me to succeed  in the real world.

About Myself

My name is Lewis, I am 22 years old. My major is Sociology and this is my senior year in college. My favorite food to eat is hot wings and fried chicken. I love the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Wizards. I'm from PG County Laurel, Maryland and for three years of my college career I was a student athlete. I had the opportunity to play Division II and III football and I consider myself blessed. Throughout my college career I've managed to keep my grades up and even made the Deans List. After I graduate, I aspire to get a well paying job or attend Grad School. I plan to get heavily involved with environmental issues, civil right, animal rights and the decriminalization movement.

Over the past four years being an out of state student in two different states, I have learned that the inequality in America is a major problem. There are many social justice issues that are constantly being overlooked. Although I have been directly affected in this classist society I realize I have to fight for change and a voice. School has taught me that life is not perfect, and can be unfair. That is why everyday I remind myself to try harder and to never give up.

Week 2: Different Views

This graph is an example of social inequality because it shows the different views of Black and Whites on how the country will make necessary changes for racial equality. One interesting aspect this graph shows is that 43% of Black people don't believe the country will make changes needed to give black equal rights with whites. Only 11% of whites believe our country will no make the changes. This shows a huge disparity in public opinion, and shows the lack of faith Blacks have in the system. Only 8% of Blacks believe our country has has made the changes needed to give Black equal rights with Whites, compared to 38% of Whites believing the country has made the necessary changes. This graph not only represents doubt people have but explains how some groups think inequality among races doesn't exist or has been "fixed".

Time to Move to Canada

We choose this meme to represent what many Americans wanted to do, which was move to Canada to escape the new President Donald Trump. His irrational behavior and personality brought social dispute all across America. It represents social inequality because he does not support the minority nor women's right. 

-Lewis 

-Natalie

- Asia

Week 1 : That's what you think!?

This meme shows the president of Mexico Enrique Pena Nieto laughing at the accusations that our new president, Donald Trump made about Mexico paying for the wall that he wants build to "protect our borders." This laughter is to show how absurd Trump is being. President Nieto has verbally denied that Mexico will pay for this wall. He even canceled a meeting with Donald Trump. Now American tax payers fear we will have to fund the cost of this erratic decision. This is an example of social inequality against Mexicans and immigrants from all other countries. America used to value the idea of being a melting pot, but now times are changing. #BuildBridgesNotWalls