The situation of black people in America

The situation of black people in America

Martin Luther King the key figure in the struggle for emancipation (Befreiung) of the blacks about 15% are black = 30 million people

a divided black US society

black middle class (Bourgeoisie) they are well-off they are better paid and housed when you climb up the social ladder you move into a better neighbourhood (e.g. the country)

lots of 'underdogs' (poor people) remained in the inner cities forming a big underclass there the hearts of the US cities became slums rising crime-rates, drug-dealing

underclass = 3 million people

people between 18-25 are more likely to be murdered than to die in a car accident

Washington D.C.: the crime-rate is steadily increasing

in New York: crime-rate dropped by 65% in the last 5-10 years

mayor (Bürgermeister) of N.Y.: Giuliani

police had unlimited rights became very brutal

45% of the inmates (Insassen) of prisons in the USA are black

more than 50% of black families are without fathers

the number of teenage pregnancies (Schwangerschaft) is more than double of white girls it's a vicious circle (Teufelskreis) in cities slums developed the cities decayed lots of criminals, drug-dealer

economic reasons: in 70ies many people lost their jobs especially in the inner cities - fringe of society - the standard on US schools fell dramatically

lawlessness in the streets became the order of the slums - the value system had changed - not working had become acceptable in the 80ies economy recovered people didn't want to work any more - general chance of attitudes - new jobs would be to have created - school system should be to have reformed

lots of drug-dealer roam (herumsandeln) in the cities