Inequality in United States in context to Race and Income Level

This paper discusses the current state of inequality in relation to race and income level for minority groups in the US. It explores the racial segregation in Baltimore, the history of racism in the US, and the increasing income inequality in the country. The paper highlights the impact of inequality on the socio-economic condition of the country.

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Sociology 1
“Inequality in United States in context to Race and Income Level”
Inequality refers to the change in behaviour in people due to difference in caste, race, religion
etc. Inequality is an important factor that is destroying the competence of the market to
effectively grow. The paper is going to represent information about the current state of inequality
in relation to race and income level for the minority groups present in US (Milanovic).
Elaborating inequality in the city Baltimore, it should be noted that there is huge source of
tension in Baltimore as there is combustible mixture of hopelessness, poverty and crime in the
city. The people having a history or old money affluence in Baltimore get to enjoy the benefits
present in the environment. A large party of the city is engrossed in the income segment of
$10,001 to $25,000. There are two major problems in the city that are economic and social issues
however racial issues are highly dominant in the market (Engel).
Most of the city officials belong to black community but residential areas are highly segregated
in the environment. In US, Baltimore comes on the top position in case of racial differentiation
present in the environment. The neighbourhood of the city is divided into black and white spaces
and the middle and upper class of the society divides the lower section and calls them Black
Neighbourhood as well.
The fact should be noted that United States has a complex history of racism and slavery in the
country. There are specifically five racist categories present in US according to US Census that
are White American, Africa American, Alaska Native, Native American, Native Hawaiian and
Asian American. The Census classified the segment as Hispanic or Latino or not Hispanic or
Latino. As Hispanic or Latino comprises the largest minority group present in the country
(Doob). Further, it should be noted that in case of racism in the country, Africa American are the
largest minority group present in the country with 12.7% of the total population (Florida and
Mellander, 79-92). The White American are mostly favoured in the country because of their
colour provided they do not belong to another ethnicity. Majority of 76.6% people enjoy the
privilege of being a part of white American present in the country. Thus, the fact should be noted
that with the occurrence of Donald Trump becoming president in US, the level of inequality on
the basis of income, race and ethnicity has raised as he himself is a strong support of White
Americans present in the country.

Sociology 2
Coming up to the presence of inequality in the country based on income level, it should be noted
that over past 30 years, income inequality has subsequently increased and is approaching to the
extreme level prevailing prior to the Great Depression. There are two different segments present
in the country that are upper tail and lower tail. The wage inequality of lower tail is fluctuating in
the market. The rich people present in the country are becoming richer by evading taxes while
the burden is levied on the weaker section of the society (David, Manning and Smith, 58-99).
According to a newspaper released by Economic Policy Institute, the top 1 % of the families
made money of an average of 26.3 times as much as the income the bottom 99% made in the
year 2015.
Income inequality has rose in nearly every state of the country giving a vulnerable state to the
minority section to survive in such market. Increasing gap in inequality nearly affects every part
of the country and destroys its socio-economic condition. The income of top 1% people grows
faster than the income of other 99% bottom line people. The CEO pay in the country increases
more aggressively than a typical worker’s pay (Reinicke). One of the biggest indicators of wealth
inequality in the environment can be seen through the Forbes US list of top 400 richest people in
the country. In the year 2018, three men that were at the top of the list combined the worth of
more than total wealth of the poorest half of America. Two third share of wealth in the country is
held by 5% richest Americans present in US (Standford.edu). Thus, the fact should be noted that
there is high degree of inequality present in the country in respect of wealth and race factors.
Increasing inequality can lead to great misfortune for the country.

Sociology 3
Work Cited
David, H., Alan Manning, and Christopher L. Smith. "The contribution of the minimum wage to
US wage inequality over three decades: a reassessment." American Economic Journal:
Applied Economics 8.1 (2016): 58-99.
Doob, Christopher. Social inequality and social stratification in US society. Routledge, 2015.
Engel, Pamela. These maps show the depth of Baltimore's inequality problem. Business Insider
APR 29, 2015. Web 26 Apr. 19. https://www.businessinsider.in/These-maps-show-the-
depth-of-Baltimores-inequality-problem/articleshow/47103581.cms
Florida, Richard, and Charlotta Mellander. "The geography of inequality: Difference and
determinants of wage and income inequality across US metros." Regional Studies 50.1
(2016): 79-92.
Milanovic, Branko. Global inequality: A new approach for the age of globalization. Harvard
University Press, 2016.
Reinicke, Carmen. US income inequality continues to grow. CNBC July 19 2018. Web 26 Apr.
19. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/19/income-inequality-continues-to-grow-in-the-
united-states.html
Standford.edu. 20 Facts About U.S. Inequality that Everyone Should Know. Stanford 2011. Web
26 Apr. 19. https://inequality.stanford.edu/publications/20-facts-about-us-inequality-
everyone-should-know