African American issues
From Wiscopedia
Contents |
[edit] Where do Progressives Stand?
- Closing the achievement gap in K-12 schools through equitable funding and programming as well as upholding equal opportunity and anti-discrimination policies.
- Increasing the numbers of African American students entering colleges by ensuring that campus outreach has a presence in all Wisconsin schools.
- Decreasing rates of youth offenders and repeat offenders by creating rehabilitation programs for those who do enter the criminal justice system as well as providing community outreach programs for “at-risk” youth through schools, churches, and recreation centers.
- Ensuring that reform takes place within the criminal justice system to end racial profiling and discriminatory practice in courtrooms and in police practice.
[edit] Hot Topics
[edit] Economic Development
African American communities have had inadequate access to the necessary resources for economic development as well as struggle to get career training or higher education degrees in order to advance in the job market. Resources necessary include comprehensive K-12 education, access to higher education, acquiring business loans, and gaining assets.
[edit] Criminal Justice
African American communities have had sorted relations with the criminal justice system in Wisconsin with conflicts over ineffective prison systems, police brutality, racial profiling, and sentencing disparities among other conflicts. With recent voter approval for the construction of a new jail, many African American advocacy groups fear that this will only create space for more young minorities to serve long sentences for minor offenses, removing them from school and the community without plans for rehabilitation.
[edit] Civic Engagement
In order to ensure African American voices are represented both statewide and nationally, community initiatives have sprung up across Colorado to encourage voting. This includes voter registration, education on ballot issues and caucus processes as well as encouraging participation in political campaigns.
[edit] Health
Many health studies have related specifically to Caucasian health issues, disregarding the unique health issues, primarily stemming from environment, which African Americans face. While African American communities have many myths to dispel regarding AIDS and mental health, there are many health issues facing them that must be addressed by medical professionals. Furthermore, the affordability and accessibility of health care to African American communities must be expanded.
[edit] In the News
[edit] Facts and Statistics
- 21.5% of African-Americans have no health insurance (compared to 15% of whites.)
- 24% of African-Americans 25 and over have not graduated from high school (compared to approx. 16% of whites.)
- 26.5% of African-Americans live below the poverty line (compared to 11% of whites.)
- African Americans represent 15% of US drug users (72% of all users are white) 36.8% of those arrested for a drug abuse violation as well as 48.2% of American adults in State or Federal prisons and local jails.
[edit] Organizations
National Urban League 212-558-5300 the nation’s oldest and largest community-based movement empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream.
Civil Rights.org 202-466-3311 Civilrights.org is a collaboration of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund. Its mission: to serve as the site of record for relevant and up-to-the minute civil rights news and information.
[edit] Sources
This article incorporates text from Colopedia.org through a prior agreement with the content creators.
