The roles of the black middle class in solving the problems of the low-income neighborhoods - Term Paper Example

?Running head: THE ROLES OF THE BLACK MIDDLE IN SOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF THE LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS The Roles of the Black Middle in Solving the Problems of the Low-Income Neighborhoods Insert Name Insert Grade Course Insert Tutor’s Name 27 March 2011 Outline Introduction Alienation The roles of the black middle class in solving the problems of the low-income neighborhoods - Leadership - Socioeconomic conditions - Status and equality Conclusion Works cited The Roles of the Black Middle Class in Solving the Problems of the Low-Income Neighborhoods Introduction Scholars who undertake contemporary studies over the years are always of the opinion that black middle class is directly linked to racial uplift. In comprehending the present day activism that is even undertaken by black women, writers use the racial uplift concept that was once linked to the movement of African American clubwomen to indicate the volunteers’ motivations of the black middle class. These volunteers of the black middle class are said to have offered social support to single black mothers whose income were low. This kind of support was done through a community-based program (Gafford and Tulane University 27). According to ebony magazine, the black middle class have a crucial role to play in attaining equality as well as freedom. The middle class blacks were an American social division symbol that was used by social scientists to identify groupings based within the American community (Johnson 67). Alienation The black middle class have significant role to play in uplifting of the low income neighborhoods. According to the Ebony, the black middle class in one way or the other has alienated itself from the black low-income class. This alienation is attributed to the symbolic history represented by the low-income class of blacks’ that is better off forgotten. This therefore indicates that the alienation of the black middle class from the black low-income class is due to the desire to do away with the status associated with the low-income blacks and not the desire to do away with the actual low-income blacks. This alienation is supposed to be dealt with and discarded if any development is to be achieved in the low-income neighborhood both at present and in the future. The problems affecting the low-income neighborhoods cannot be solved by simply walking away from the low-income blacks (Johnson 67). The roles of the black middle class in solving the problems of the low-income neighborhoods Leadership The leadership of the black civil rights in the past years lay on the shoulders of the black middle class. This leadership mantle should be embraced by the black middle class to come up with common goals and objectives that can be followed by both the black middle class and the low-income blacks. In doing so, the ever widening gap of alienation between the two classes will receive a major setback. In empowering and enhancing the notion of equality throughout America, the African American middle class will not only be offering leadership but also be tackling the root cause of the problems facing the low income African Americans. In social structure, the black middle class can play their leadership role by considering themselves as one with the low-income blacks thereby creating a sense of trust between them and the masses they are destined to lead. In addition to this if the classes are segregated, the results may be dangerous as racial implications may arise in the social culture within the community. It is these racial implications that will deal a major setback to the existing and future development within the low-income neighborhood (Ebony 67). According to the case study conducted by Ginwright, it was noted that members of the black middle class viewed themselves as the role models of their low income African American counter parts. This therefore indicates that, although it might not be agreeable among all the low income African Americans on the role of the middle class African Americans in solving their issues, one thing that is clear is that it is up to them to show strong leadership skills if they are to achieve their goals of assisting their low income counter parts. It is with the leadership guidance and direction that middle class blacks can use in solving the problems facing the low-income African American neighborhood (Gafford and Tulane University 29). Socioeconomic conditions According Pattillo-McCoy, the problems that affects the middle class African Americans are in one way or the other associated with those of the low income African American. This therefore indicates that these problems cannot be solved by simply walking away from the low-income black community but instead tackling them head on from their root source. Social economic conditions such as quality schools and security are some of the things that should be instituted in both the middle class African American and the low income African American. In setting and creating high standards of social economic conditions within the low-income neighborhood, the poverty levels will be reduced thereby elevating the status of the low-income neighborhood. Racial inequalities that are attributed to the high rate of poverty levels in the low-income neighborhood, will suffer a major setback, as the black middle class will find it hard to abandon the low-income neighborhood. If these socioeconomics conditions are not tackled decisively then the middle class blacks will also suffer the same repercussions as the low income African American. On looking at the professional fraternal, civic, and religious organizations, one cannot deny that the African American middle class have a crucial role to play in the solving of issues facing low-income African American neighborhoods. It is from these groups that have advocated for the numerous needs of the black community and in particular, the low-income group that is inferior in terms of economic and social status (Pattillo-McCoy 30). Status and equality The black middle class is a group over the years that have received a great deal of attention especially with regards to the social and economic conditions of the African Americans living in America. According to Banner-Haley, it is the role of the middle class African America to strive hard in order to uplift the life and status of their low-income counterparts in the community. In doing so, the middle class African American will be dissolving the various racial categories attached to the African Americans’ status that has existed for around two decades. In understanding their role as both black and American, the middle class African American can use the two dimensions positively by empowering and enhancing the lives of the low-income neighborhood. Since the end of slavery, it was the hopes of the African Americans to be treated equal to any other American citizen. This was not the case as racism was a hardcore reality that faced the African Americans in America. The African American middle class was installed with the mandate of wrestling courageously with the hard-core reality that dealt with race and equality. This role of fighting racism and inequality across America has landed it in turbulent waters. It was the role of the African American middle class to guide and direct the African American community on the way forward, a role that should continue even in the low-income African American neighborhood. Instead of craving for recognition among the whites thereby forgetting their role in the African American community, the African American middle class should focus on the problems facing it community and particularly the low income African Americans. It was the collective thought of the middle class African Americans that none of the blacks was free until all the blacks were free. This was one of the roles played by the African American middle class in fighting for the freedom and status of the low income blacks (Banner-Haley 28). Conclusion The impact of the middle class African American in the black community cannot be emphasized enough. There middle class label was solely based on the income level, social amenities such as education and sense of values. It is this assertion of the income levels that marked this African Americans as a helping hand to the rest of the African American community and in particular the low income African American. It is not an exaggeration on the numerous roles the African American have undertaken and continue to undertake in trying to solve the problems facing the low income neighborhood of African Americans. The roles ranges from leadership, advocates of equality and even financial assistance where need be. The plight of the low income African Americans is close to the consciousness of the African American middle class as the problems facing the low income African Americans are one way or the other the same problems facing the middle class African Americans. Works Cited Banner-Haley, Charles. The Fruits of Integration: Black Middle-Class Ideology and Culture, 1960-1990. Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi. 1994. Johnson, John H. Ebony, Vol. 18, No. 11. NY: Johnson Publishing Company. 1963. Gafford, Farrah and Tulane University. Life in the park: Community solidarity, culture and the case of a black middle class neighborhood. MI: ProQuest LLC. 2008. Pattillo-McCoy, Mary. Black Picket Fences: Privilege and Peril among the Black Middle Class. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 1999. Read More