Essay Sample on Racial Disparities in America: Structural Racism's Lasting Impact

The history of structural and explicit racism has led to racial disparities, among many other African Americans' outcomes (Haynes et al, 2017). African Americans are faced with issues such as unaffordable housing, limited access to healthcare, and criminal injustice. These injustices are acute for African Americans in the rural South, while others throughout the country suffer these injustices (American Psychology Association, 2016).

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Structural racism continues to impede the upward mobility of African Americans. Implicit racism continues to permeate private and public institutions creating unequal outcomes for African Americans in all facets of life (Haynes et al., 2017). Structural racism is manifested differently, such as disparities in the criminal justice system, health outcomes, and education outcomes. These disparities are more pronounced in the South because residents have to travel to receive healthcare. Besides, the incarceration of masses continues to increase, especially in the South.

Moreover, Brookings Institution in 2018 showed that exclusion and redlining of blacks from the GI Bill have disadvantaged Americans (Assari, 2018). Consequently, such exclusion by policies has long-term impacts on African Americans while reverberating in many ways (American Psychology Association, 2016). Additionally, exclusion in policies such as Jim Crow policies and segregated residential areas continue to impact African Americans' wealth-building and employment implications negatively. In the labor market, African Americans are more susceptible compared to other groups. During ensuing recoveries, they are last to be fired, and when there is a recession, they are usually first to be fired.

Additionally, involvement with the criminal system affects African American's attachment to the labor force. The fees and fines levied on them have led to debtors in the modern-day period. Also, African Americans are disadvantaged because not only do the Southern states have racist labor policies, but most of them lack union representation.

To close these gaps and combat these problems, the policymakers should call for new strategies appealing to African Americans' communities previously excluded. The policymakers' solutions should address the injustice on the communities with an agenda centered around economic and racial injustice. Such policies can thematically be centered around raising the minimum wage, especially in the Southern states where there are many Black Americans. The Southern states also rely on the federal minimum wage, as they don't have a minimum wage for the state. Higher minimum wages will benefit all groups, and African Americans stand to benefit as well. Secondly, the policies can also focus on union representation. Historically, many African Americans did not have union representations, and racist labor policies have always existed at a disadvantage. Through labor curves, many states have encouraged implicit and systematic racism. Union representation has shown to be a boon for wealthy Americans because it benefits and leads to a rise in wages. Union representation is also linked to more potent benefits and integral mobility. Thirdly, a policy on participation of voters by reducing structural barriers. Better representation in the white house and parliament will change their outcomes because their representation will be responsive. Additionally, the better representation will reduce hostility towards antipoverty programs like Medicaid and TANF, promoting better outcomes for African Americans.

African Americans continue to face more inferior benefits in the job sector, high unemployment rates, lower pay, and fewer opportunities (Black et al., 2013). The disparities compared to the whites can be attributed to occupational segregation and outright racial discrimination against people of color. The disparities are not new, and African Americans have always been vulnerable in the labor market. Policy options should consider an insurance system that is inclusive of African Americans. The purpose of such insurance is to give wages to those who are involuntarily employed. Another solution can be an emphasis on job creation and job training for people of color. With almost 50% unemployment rate for the youths, national service programs like AmeriCorps can reduce the gap (Black et al., 2013). The construction sector can create jobs through the advancement of the green jobs agenda. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission should reduce labor discrimination by enforcing policies that prevent discrimination in the labor market.

Also, African Americans have always grappled with higher rates of chronic diseases such as asthma, heart diseases, and diabetes compared to whites. Many groundwork work barriers have always existed (Haynes et al., 2017). In addition, people of color encounter barriers and racism when trying to access medical care. To ensure better outcomes in the future underlying injustices have to be addressed. To reduce the disparities, black communities should be present when strategies and programs addressing their low health status are prioritized and designed. Many health planners have little understanding of black American history. Also, those administering the black African community are in the hands of those who do not have commitment or knowledge to their history. African Americans should be well educated on their health and general literacy. Studies show that they are underrepresented in all professions providing mental, physical, and social care (Hynes et.al, 2017). Proactive efforts should be implemented to eliminate unconscious and conscious differences in the quality of health provided to everyone. Health professionals should also be educated on translating health knowledge into the culture and language of the client being served. People of color should also be urgently trained as a national objective to develop community health programs.

To conclude, these small steps can be a great stride towards addressing long-term structural obstacles in African Americans' participation. Policymakers have a more significant role in addressing the labor market gaps and the health disparities existing among African Americans. People of color cannot afford the pain and disparities that come with discrimination hence the need for robust and urgent changes.

References

American Psychology Association. (2016). Ethnic and racial minorities & socioeconomic status.

Assari, S. (2018). Health disparities due to diminished return among black Americans: Public policy solutions. Social Issues and Policy Review, 12(1), 112-145.

Black, D. A., Kolesnikova, N., Sanders, S. G., & Taylor, L. J. (2013). The role of location in evaluating racial wage disparity. IZA Journal of Labor Economics, 2(1), 2.

Haynes, T. F., Cheney, A. M., Sullivan, J. G., Bryant, K., Curran, G. M., Olson, M., ... & Reaves, C. (2017). Addressing mental health needs: perspectives of African Americans living in the rural south. Psychiatric services, 68(6), 573-578.