African Americans, Hispanics and Violence in America
There are many recruiting cases in America that involve violence. Most of these cases are connected with minorities. The majority of these minorities are African American and Hispanic. There is an extreme percentage of African Americans and Hispanics in prison in the U.S.A. There is also an extreme percent of African Americans and Hispanics living in poverty. African Americans and Hispanics are in the lowest percentile in education in America. There are more African Americans in jail, living in poverty and victims of violent crimes than the majority race in America. What are the factors that connect African Americans and Hispanics to these inferior situations? Poverty, discrimination, and laws have created an environment for minorities that leads to violence. Minorities are susceptible to both structural and symbolic violence. There is so much hate, discrimination and obstacles that create violence in the life of minorities in America. The hate and discrimination that has been embedded in society against African Americans and Hispanics has contributed to the violence. Minorities in America especially African Americans and Hispanics are struggling to have a prosperous life. African Americans and Hispanics have been residence in America for many years but still are the most susceptible to both structural and symbolic violence. “Several studies have reported higher rates of exposure to violence among racial and ethnic minorities, particularly Blacks and Hispanics, than among Whites” (Zimmerman & Messner, 2013). The social structure in America has harmed minorities by preventing them from meeting their basic needs. The lack of social justice in America has led African Americans and Hispanics to have fear and failure embedded in their minds. There are many forms of violence. Structural violence is one of the major factors African Americans and Hispanics face. Structural violence refers to systematic ways in which social structures harm or otherwise disadvantaged individuals. Structural violence is subtle, often invisible, and often has no one specific person who can be held responsible. Moreover, violence does not necessarily mean a direct physical harm. Violence towards African Americans and Hispanics in America is not direct, it is portrayed through segregation and discrimination. Isolating African Americans and Hispanics in an environment that they are unable to succeed is violence. A major factor for African Americans and Hispanics is poverty. Poverty is the building block that contributes a huge part of a person's life. Gradin (2012) states, “Poverty leads to violence and minorities are living in poverty. The two largest minorities in the United States, African Americans and people of Hispanic origin, show official poverty rates at least twice as high as those of non-Hispanic Whites.” The receptiveness between poverty and violence has a very strong connection with African Americans and Hispanics. “Not surprisingly, research has found a strong correlation between exposure to violence and neighborhood conditions such as poverty” (Zimmerman & Messner, 2013). This ultimately exposes African Americans and Hispanics to violence. Gradin (2012), concluded from studies that higher poverty among minorities is closely associated with the minority education gap and labor occupations. Therefore, breaking free of the strong bond of poverty and violence …show more content…
Appreciable portions of the Hispanic–White gap (33%) and the Black– White gap (53%) were accounted for by family background factors, individual differences, and neighborhood factors. The findings imply that programs aimed at addressing the risk factors for exposure to violence and alleviating the effects of exposure to violence may decrease racial/ethnic disparities in exposure to violence and its consequences” (Zimmerman & Messner, 2013).
The studies therefore, show the impact that family background and exposure to violence has on children and adolescents.
“First, research has demonstrated that a variety of family characteristics, such as residential instability, low socioeconomic status (SES), and nontraditional family structure, are associated with exposure to violence. Racial/ ethnic differences in exposure to these family factors (e.g., the high prevalence of low-income, single-parent households in Black communities) could be responsible for higher rates of exposure to violence among racial minorities” (Zimmerman & Messner, 2013).
These are all external factors that the children are born into and do not have any control over. This adds to the never ending cycle trap that prevents African Americans and Hispanics to prosper in
There are many recruiting cases in America that involve violence. Most of these cases are connected with minorities. The majority of these minorities are African American and Hispanic. There is an extreme percentage of African Americans and Hispanics in prison in the U.S.A. There is also an extreme percent of African Americans and Hispanics living in poverty. African Americans and Hispanics are in the lowest percentile in education in America. There are more African Americans in jail, living in poverty and victims of violent crimes than the majority race in America. What are the factors that connect African Americans and Hispanics to these inferior situations? Poverty, discrimination, and laws have created an environment for minorities that leads to violence. Minorities are susceptible to both structural and symbolic violence. There is so much hate, discrimination and obstacles that create violence in the life of minorities in America. The hate and discrimination that has been embedded in society against African Americans and Hispanics has contributed to the violence. Minorities in America especially African Americans and Hispanics are struggling to have a prosperous life. African Americans and Hispanics have been residence in America for many years but still are the most susceptible to both structural and symbolic violence. “Several studies have reported higher rates of exposure to violence among racial and ethnic minorities, particularly Blacks and Hispanics, than among Whites” (Zimmerman & Messner, 2013). The social structure in America has harmed minorities by preventing them from meeting their basic needs. The lack of social justice in America has led African Americans and Hispanics to have fear and failure embedded in their minds. There are many forms of violence. Structural violence is one of the major factors African Americans and Hispanics face. Structural violence refers to systematic ways in which social structures harm or otherwise disadvantaged individuals. Structural violence is subtle, often invisible, and often has no one specific person who can be held responsible. Moreover, violence does not necessarily mean a direct physical harm. Violence towards African Americans and Hispanics in America is not direct, it is portrayed through segregation and discrimination. Isolating African Americans and Hispanics in an environment that they are unable to succeed is violence. A major factor for African Americans and Hispanics is poverty. Poverty is the building block that contributes a huge part of a person's life. Gradin (2012) states, “Poverty leads to violence and minorities are living in poverty. The two largest minorities in the United States, African Americans and people of Hispanic origin, show official poverty rates at least twice as high as those of non-Hispanic Whites.” The receptiveness between poverty and violence has a very strong connection with African Americans and Hispanics. “Not surprisingly, research has found a strong correlation between exposure to violence and neighborhood conditions such as poverty” (Zimmerman & Messner, 2013). This ultimately exposes African Americans and Hispanics to violence. Gradin (2012), concluded from studies that higher poverty among minorities is closely associated with the minority education gap and labor occupations. Therefore, breaking free of the strong bond of poverty and violence …show more content…
Appreciable portions of the Hispanic–White gap (33%) and the Black– White gap (53%) were accounted for by family background factors, individual differences, and neighborhood factors. The findings imply that programs aimed at addressing the risk factors for exposure to violence and alleviating the effects of exposure to violence may decrease racial/ethnic disparities in exposure to violence and its consequences” (Zimmerman & Messner, 2013).
The studies therefore, show the impact that family background and exposure to violence has on children and adolescents.
“First, research has demonstrated that a variety of family characteristics, such as residential instability, low socioeconomic status (SES), and nontraditional family structure, are associated with exposure to violence. Racial/ ethnic differences in exposure to these family factors (e.g., the high prevalence of low-income, single-parent households in Black communities) could be responsible for higher rates of exposure to violence among racial minorities” (Zimmerman & Messner, 2013).
These are all external factors that the children are born into and do not have any control over. This adds to the never ending cycle trap that prevents African Americans and Hispanics to prosper in