The other america - Essay Example

The Other America Word Count: 750 (3 pages) I. Introduction (50 words) The history of the United s is long and complicated. Whether viewing social and economic changes, seeing how the author presents evidence as well as its effectiveness, and noticing the changes which ordinary (especially poor) Americans faced in the time period discussed—the history of this country is quite remarkable. II. Social and Economic Changes (225 words) Several social and economic changes have come about due to the advent of the masses falling into poverty.

The social and economic changes that people faced in various cities in the this country have been borne out of “subculture[s] of poverty in the United States.”1 Harrington speaks of three different types of poverty, two of which include the “rural poor and the alcoholic[s]” who are poor.2 The social aspect that goes along with the territory of being poor is that people are afraid of the poor. People are inherently taught that all indigent people are either homeless, lazy, disabled, mentally unstable, mentally ill, or some combination of all of the above.

Of course, in certain cases some of those situations might afflict people, but all poor people cannot be pigeonholed into one particular demographic. The poor also have weathered economic changes, many of which Harrington documents several years back, including and going beyond the era of the Jim Crow laws. The changes that the Black community—as well as other minorities have faced over the past decade—have been vast. People gained voting rights, rights to own property, and several other privileges that only white people were allowed to enjoy.

However, times are changing, and justice will hopefully be on the horizon soon for all oppressed peoples. Change for the poor will hopefully be effected. III. How the Author Presents Evidence and Its Effectiveness (175 words) The author goes about writing this book with a savvy knowledge of history of various cities within the nation, and how poverty is a ripple effect that has been, and continues to, sweep the nation. He uses hard facts, figures, and statistics to slowly but surely build the case for why America’s slums are oppressing the poor—both socially and economically, and every other way that one could imagine possible.

The author takes the reader on a journey from the beginning to the end of the book by relating tales of historical importance in minority communities all over—not just Black people. He touches on all of the people in the United States who have been repressed or oppressed for whatever reason—or at least most of them. While the scope of this book is broad, it does definitely address the major social issues in poverty, and is effective in its overarching goal, which is to inform the public about poverty issues in America.

Harrington writes effectively about poverty, and revisits tough issues we’ll encounter. IV. Challenges Which Ordinary (Especially Poor) Americans Faced (200 words) Poor Americans faced having to utilize several strategies to stay afloat. “[Black] poverty is unique in every way.”3 Not only did Black people have to live in New York in the impoverished slum of Harlem, but they were lucky if they made more than a couple thousand dollars per year. Their infant mortality rate skyrocketed in comparison to what white people had as a statistic.

Generally, the same problems—as with any underdeveloped area in the U.S.—plagued Harlem and other cities with large Black populations such as Detroit and Chicago. Chicago itself had changed so much to the point where “every family situation is a multi-problem one.”4 In other words, there had been so much trouble caused by the bad economical and financial situation of minorities that multiple issues within the structure of the family arose. That is why there are a myriad of problems that plague Black communities all over the nation—rife with hot-button issues like teen pregnancy, high dropout rate, high rates of recidivism, and high crime.

It is only in dealing with these issues that, the author argues, that any real lasting change is going to come to these communities which so desperately need help. V. Conclusion (100 words) Michael Harrington, in his book The Other America, definitely thoroughly explores the issues of poverty that plague various underprivileged communities in the United States who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. Whether discussing the social and economic changes of people in various cities, analyzing the way that Harrington presents evidence effectively and efficiently to make his points, or looking at the challenges that several Americans (including the poor) have had and are having to face—the author brings us to a new realization of the seriousness of the issue of poverty that must be dealt with in the United States every single day.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Harrington, Michael. The Other America: Poverty in the United States. US: Simon & Schuster, 1997.