Moving Forward

North America has always been the river bed for a flood of immigrants. Most ethnic groups came (and continue to come) here willingly, out of interest, or a desire to establish a better life. One ethnic group however was different. Imported as slaves and laborers, African Americans did not originally come here willingly. They were forced here. Times and practices have certainly changed since the day and age of slavery, but African Americans continue to leave their imprint on the U.S. economy.

African Americans endured a very difficult time following the abolishment of slavery, and have come a long way since. While they were granted their liberty, with issues of segregation and the majority with little or no education under their belt, finding a source of employment or income was very difficult during the mid 1900's. As a result, they often found themselves living in poverty with little or no money. By today’s standards, the black society has significantly progressed. Making up 13.5 percent of the U.S. population, as of 2002, 50.8 percent of employed black people were no longer making a living off of service and manual labor and held “white collar” jobs. As of 2003 more than half (58.3 percent) of African Americans were enrolling into college within a year of receiving their high school diploma. This education level is such a dramatic increase from what it was during the segregation periods of the late-early to mid 1900’s. In comparison to whites, where college participation was found to be 66.1 percent, their progress looks even more substantial (US Society African Americans).

Progress has certain been made, but the fact remains that many African American’s continue to be trapped under the rug of poverty. In comparison to white men, they still maintain a higher rate of unemployment and thus on a lower income basis. The times of segregations, in which by law they were forced to live in ghettos or rundown neighborhoods, is still labeled as one of the major impacting factors for it. Inundated by drugs and crime, urban areas or residence are their primary foundation (US Society African Americans).

Just as they did in the times of slavery and forced immigration, African American’s continue to leave their mark on the nation. Though many of them continue to be unemployed and live in poverty, progressing from virtually nothing, they have come a very long way. Not only have they progressed in their education and employment fulfillments, but accordingly as citizens and in status. For the first time in ever, our country is seeing a black president. With such substantial changes we can only expect further progression within African Americans, not only has individuals but as an ethnic group in its entirety, and a larger imprint on American and its economy in the future.

US Society African Americans. “About the USA”. http://usa.usembassy.edu/society-blacks.htm. 5 November 2009. Web.