From a foreigner’s perspective, America coincides with freedom, liberty, equality happiness, and prosperity. In reality, America, a diverse nation of immigrants, is divided by race, economic class, and gender. In the United States, many individuals identify themselves through their race and heritage, yet the assumption of the superiority of one race has impacted America severely. African Americans have been segregated by the caucasian Americans since the earliest stage as they were captured by European slave traders and brought to America. In 1790, 700,000 of the 757,000 Africans who lived in America were slaves, the lowest social status with no right to marry, vote, and own property. After the Civil War, slavery ended, yet the discrimination
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According the Fed’s Survey of Consumer Finances, while the average pretax income for the wealthiest 10% of American families increased 10% in 2013 from 2010, but the average income of the bottom 40 % families declined. One New York Times’ article even suggests that the United States have a lower mobility, the movement of households up and down the economic ladder, than Scandinavian countries. One Study has found that mobility slowed between 1970’s and 1980’s, and then slowed again between 1980’s and 1990’s. The low mobility of the United States confines the American households in their class and deepens the gap between classes. Class difference impacts the United States citizens’ health, knowledge, occupation and their future. The New York Times article, “Class Matters,” suggests that people in the upper class in America live longer than people in lower classes due to healthcare, insurance, and locations of hospitals. People within one class share the same culture, background and education while they will not be able to grasp the lifestyles of other classes. John Blake, a CNN writer, reveals his encounter of class shock in his college and discloses his fear of his classmates due to different economic backgrounds. Although he and his classmates were all African Americans, he felt extreme discomfort as he met his classmates who come
According the Fed’s Survey of Consumer Finances, while the average pretax income for the wealthiest 10% of American families increased 10% in 2013 from 2010, but the average income of the bottom 40 % families declined. One New York Times’ article even suggests that the United States have a lower mobility, the movement of households up and down the economic ladder, than Scandinavian countries. One Study has found that mobility slowed between 1970’s and 1980’s, and then slowed again between 1980’s and 1990’s. The low mobility of the United States confines the American households in their class and deepens the gap between classes. Class difference impacts the United States citizens’ health, knowledge, occupation and their future. The New York Times article, “Class Matters,” suggests that people in the upper class in America live longer than people in lower classes due to healthcare, insurance, and locations of hospitals. People within one class share the same culture, background and education while they will not be able to grasp the lifestyles of other classes. John Blake, a CNN writer, reveals his encounter of class shock in his college and discloses his fear of his classmates due to different economic backgrounds. Although he and his classmates were all African Americans, he felt extreme discomfort as he met his classmates who come