Even before its establishment, the United States was known for being the embodiment of functional multi-culturalism. In his 1791 book, Rights of Man, Thomas Paine characterizes America as being a nation of egalitarianism and unity. Paine describes the incredibility of the seemingly “diverse” nation, comprised of those from differing religions and countries of origin. Many today argue that with time, the United States still stands to be the ultimate archetype of equality. However, those with this impression are really looking through rose-colored glasses, as this view of America starkly contrasts with reality. Paine’s fanciful portrayal of the United States neglects prominent injustices regarding income and racial inequality that impacts millions
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While eighteenth-century Americans may have experienced a blurring in socioeconomic barriers, class division in 2016 is as prominent as it has been in in nearly a century (Adair). As of 2014, the average income of the top .1 percent of Americans make about 184 times more money than the bottom 90 percent of Americans. These citizens, who make an average yearly income of $33,068, are not given the same opportunities as their wealthier counterparts, contrary to popular belief (Income Inequality). Those who live in poverty are not afforded the same options to education that others are. It is indisputable that a child attending a private school with a yearly tuition of $40,000 in the Upper East Side would be given the upperhand in college acceptance in comparison to a student in a South Bronx public school whose parents make $20,000 a year. Additionally, though recent legislation has helped to alleviate the problem, the issue of accessibility to medical treatment has been clearly polarized by wealth disparity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others, have found data showing that the impoverished are far more affected by preventative disease and complete lack of access to health care than those with more wealth. These numbers are increasingly grim when focusing specifically on black-Americans. A 2006 CDC study found that black children
While eighteenth-century Americans may have experienced a blurring in socioeconomic barriers, class division in 2016 is as prominent as it has been in in nearly a century (Adair). As of 2014, the average income of the top .1 percent of Americans make about 184 times more money than the bottom 90 percent of Americans. These citizens, who make an average yearly income of $33,068, are not given the same opportunities as their wealthier counterparts, contrary to popular belief (Income Inequality). Those who live in poverty are not afforded the same options to education that others are. It is indisputable that a child attending a private school with a yearly tuition of $40,000 in the Upper East Side would be given the upperhand in college acceptance in comparison to a student in a South Bronx public school whose parents make $20,000 a year. Additionally, though recent legislation has helped to alleviate the problem, the issue of accessibility to medical treatment has been clearly polarized by wealth disparity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others, have found data showing that the impoverished are far more affected by preventative disease and complete lack of access to health care than those with more wealth. These numbers are increasingly grim when focusing specifically on black-Americans. A 2006 CDC study found that black children