With the election of President Barack
Obama, many have argued that the
U.S. has become a post-racial society, implying race has become an unimportant factor in determining opportunity in the country. However, major disparities between Whites and racial minorities continue to exist in areas such as socioeconomic status and education attainment (Bonilla-Silva
2008).
In 2011, Professors Snipp and Cheung examined changes in racial and gender inequality since 1970. By observing the income differences between Whites,
Blacks, American Indians, Latinos,
Filipinos, Chinese and Japanese and found the income disparity between
White men and Latinos and American
Indians increased.
Data regarding population size and poverty status by race throughout each
U.S. county was pulled from the 2000 and 2010 Decennial Census and 2011
American Community Survey (ACS) 5year estimates.
The racial groups include: White, Black,
Latino, American Indian, Asian, Native
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Some
Other Race, Two or More Races.
The data was then translated into maps illustrating concentrations of poverty for each racial group using Geographic
Information Systems (GIS).
Percent Below Poverty Line
0.000000 - 7.250000
7.250001 - 10.630000
10.630001 - 14.000000
14.000001 - 18.050000
18.050001 - 24.910000
24.910001 - 42.210000
Percent Below Poverty Line
0.000000 - 10.190000
10.190001 - 23.830000
23.830001 - 36.190000
36.190001 - 51.700000
51.700001 - 77.420000
77.420001 - 100.000000
Percent Below Poverty Line
0.000000 - 8.580000
8.580001 - 18.030000
18.030001 - 27.030000
27.030001 - 38.540000
38.540001 - 57.950000
57.950001 - 100.000000
Percent Below Poverty Line
0.000000 - 5.320000
5.320001 - 14.950000
14.950001 - 27.180000
27.180001 - 44.440000
44.440001 - 73.330000
73.330001 - 100.000000
Percent Below Poverty Line
0.000000 - 6.740000
6.740001 - 9.850000
9.850001 - 13.050000
13.050001 - 17.240000
17.240001 - 24.950000
24.950001 - 47.910000
Percent Below Poverty Line
0.000000 - 8.250000
8.250001 - 21.070000
21.070001 - 32.780000
32.780001 - 47.540000
47.540001 - 75.000000
75.000001 - 100.000000
Percent Below Poverty Line
0.000000 - 11.430000
11.430001 - 23.460000
23.460001 - 34.760000
34.760001 - 49.440000
49.440001 - 71.430000
71.430001 - 100.000000
Percent Below Poverty Line
0.000000 - 5.480000
5.480001 - 15.960000
15.960001 - 29.830000
29.830001 - 49.040000
49.040001 - 77.780000
77.780001 - 100.000000
The illustrations (center) displayed are eight of the various maps created that depict the percentage of persons living at or below the poverty line for White,
Black, Latino and Asian populations throughout each U.S. county.
The white spaces in some of the maps indicate that there is no member of that particular racial group within the specific county living in poverty, or that little to no one from the racial group lives in the region. Also, more white squares appear on the maps with the
2011 ACS 5-year estimates than the maps with the 2000 Decennial Census data since the former is a sample estimate.
Based on initial observation, poverty status for each racial group has diminished in some regions while emerging in others.
Whether poverty status has increased for each particular racial group remains unclear since many factors must be considered.
The population size of each racial group and their overall percentage in poverty must be calculated in order to assess whether or not poverty status has increased. Data on each racial group’s population has been pulled from the 2010 Decennial Census and translated into maps to continue this analysis.
Additionally, an examination of how the economic and political climate at the time affected poverty status would help to provide better context for these results. The recent recession and legislation passed during this period are examples of key events that might have affected poverty status.