WASHINGTON
US, celebrating the 50th year of Martin Luther King's famous speech, has to progress more to provide equality for African-Americans. Economic disparity, dating back to history, is among the biggest reasons for inequality.
On the one hand, along with one-week long celebrations, there are several recent developments in the country in a way to shed light on less known lives of African-Americans including the building of The National Museum of African American History and Culture and The Buttler movie telling the life story of an African-American who served as a White House butler under eight presidents. On the other hand, it is clearly seen that some of King's "dreams" have not been realized yet.
First African-American president has done a lot, but not enough
Obama has done many things for African-Americans either directly or indirectly benefiting them including Affordable Care Act, auto industry bailout, pushing a jobs bill, $1.2 billion settlement awarded to African-American farmers, $850 million funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, opening Civil Rights Division under the Department of Justice…
Nevertheless, economic disparities still exist. In 2008, when Obama came to power, 12.7 percent of African-Americans faced unemployment compared to 7.1 percent of whites. The number peaked in 2012, when 14.1 percent of African-Americans' unemployment nearly doubled the 7.1 percent among whites. Currently, while white unemployment is at 6.6 percent, the rate for blacks is at 12.6 percent - hardly changed from when Obama assumed office.
African-Americans still trail behind in high school graduation rates. There is a 13 percent gap in college graduation rates compared to whites.
While majority of African-Americans do not have any health insurance still, the change in Voting Rights Act shed doubt on future of democratic rights of the black community.
They also complain about being treated unjustly by the police and facing discrimination in public places, while their neighborhoods are often disproportionately plagued by high levels of poverty and violence, limited access to adequate health care and public education.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
