Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future

In the next four decades the majority of people in our country will no longer resemble our founding
fathers. The African-American population is expected to increase from 41.1 million to 65.7 million by
2050, going from 14 percent of the U.S. population to 15 percent (CNN 2008).
At the same time, African American unemployment rates and underemployments rates remain
high. Underemployment rates includes those who are unemployed, part time workers, and people who
make as low as poverty levels. According to the ninth edition of Racial and Ethnic Relation text book,
from 1970 until present day poverty rates for African American women heading households with children
under the age of 18 remain above 40 percent and increased one percent in a recent survey (Feagin 2008).
Those women grow up and have kids and these kids have kids and then the poverty cycles continue. Also,
the ninth edition of Racial and Ethnic Relation text book, states that one-fourth of all African American,
and one-third of all African American children fell below the poverty line in 2008. Most African
Americans are classified as either middle class or poor. One factor that contributes to why African
Americans have lower incomes is based on education.
Unemployment rates amongst Puerto Ricans are also said to be one of the highest throughout
eastern cities (Feagin 2008). Most Puerto Rican immigrants come to the United States with a trade or a
skill, but often these trades and skills are unused. Puerto Ricans find work often in lower-paid blue-collar
and service jobs. There is also a claim that due to discrimination in the workplaces and inadequate
schooling facilities those minorities are left in poverty. We must decrease our poverty rates in United
States by starting with our young first. A great way is to improve our school districts throughout the
country.
Education is cumulative. Everything you learn in early years becomes advanced and used
throughout your educational career. According to Alliance for our Education 2009 Fact Sheet,
Most dropouts are already on the path to failure in the middle grades and engage in behaviors that
strongly correlate to dropping out in high school. Various researchers have identified specific risk
factors, such as low attendance or a failing grade, which can identify future dropouts—in some
cases as early as sixth grade (Fact Sheet 2009).
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