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Brianna Blanco

10/18/2017

English 111

Olabajo Dada

Cause & Effect Essay

The Causes and Effects of Poverty

The United States holds a population of 323 million, and 45 million of those people live

below the poverty line. The reason for this is not the stigmas placed on them by others, such as

laziness or occupied with life. The reasons boil down to specific factors such as being born with

the wrong skin color, a decrease in education for job outcomes, increased cost of living and

homelessness.

Being born in a family of four, where both parents makes less than $24,000 a year is

considered poor. Even from day one when a baby is brought into this Earth, the labeling begins.

It is less likely for that baby to attempt to live a life of the same situation its parents are in

whenever they start a life of their own. If you think about genetics, that same baby is genetically

modified to be poor because of its parents. Then think about the family of four, as African

Americans, the tables turn and there is data that shows outcomes. When looking at some states in

the United States, one can see the difference in poverty between whites, blacks, hispanics, and

even other races. In Maine the poverty rate for African-Americans is 87 percent while compared

to whites which is 11 percent. (Kaiser 1) In Louisiana the poverty rate for African-Americans is

30 percent while for whites it is 24 percent. (Kaiser 1) In California the poverty rate for African-

Americans is 23 percent while for whites it is 10 percent. (Kaiser 1) These are only some of the

states across America that have this ratio. There are plenty more with higher rates in poverty

causing people to live a life with struggle and danger.

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People who are poor do not have many options when it comes down to where they are

living. They end up in an area with high crime rates as well as homelessness. Education

correlates tremendously depending on where people live as well. Going back to the same

African-American family of four, they ended up starting a new life in Wadesboro, North

Carolina. Wadesboro is one of the top worst cities to live in North Carolina. (James 1) Anson

High School is one of the eleven schools in that district. The minority enrollment for Anson High

School stands out to be 76 percent, while the economically disadvantaged enrollment rate stands

to be 74 percent. (US News 1) While the minority rate is higher in this particular school, the

education rate between this school and the states is different. In English Anson High School has

a 25 percent in proficiency, while the state has 60 percent proficiency in that subject. (US News

2) Looking at math, the high school has a less than 20 percent in proficiency, while the states is

40 percent. (US News 2) Also taking into consideration the schools college readiness that turned

out to be 15.0 out of an index of 100.0. (US News 2) The kids in the family of four growing up

in Wadesboro have a higher chance of going straight to low paying labor after high school rather

than pursuing a college degree.

The young adults in Wadesboro will continue their journey in the workfield after high

school because of the increased cost of living. College is also a dilemma because of its expense.

The family of four living below the poverty line cannot afford to live in a suburban area where

there are plenty of stores lined up down the block for food and other necessities. They can only

afford to live in the area of Wadesboro where there are higher crime rates and a food desert. A

food desert is described as parts of the country lacking fresh fruit, vegetables and other healthful

whole foods usually found in impoverished areas. (USDA 1) Due to the lack of food options, the

low income families are being forced to eat unhealthy which can lead to health problems in the
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parents as well as the children. The father of the family of four has diabetes and high blood

pressure, does not have health insurance and works 60 hours a week just to provide for the

family. He pays out of pocket for his medications which takes up most of his income. Just

imagine being in that situation where the area one lives in can potentially kill because of lack of

nutrition leading to health problems. There is only one Food Lion and one Walmart located in

Wadesboro, North Carolina followed up by mom and pop shop grocery stores. (Home 1)

Compared to Charlotte, North Carolina where there are 5 different larger company grocery stores

lined up one block, Wadesboro has a definite food desert.

With cost of living increasing Wadesboro seemed to be a perfect fit with cheap living

expenses. Now, with cheaper living expenses that does not correlate to the amount of

homelessness that Wadesboro encounters. There are over 3,000 listed facilities to help the

homeless with Wadesboro being only a population around 5,000. (Wadesboro 1) These facilities

can include homeless shelters, drug rehab, and halfway houses. Homelessness can occur a

variety of different ways. Mental health issues, health problems, loss of employment, no

education, drug addiction, and crime being some of the few.

Looking over the rollercoaster of things that people in poverty go through is astonishing.

Why do people have to live in a world where they struggle to survive with their families? Clearly

the government has not found a solution to the problem of poverty. When a solution is brought

up, homelessness would decrease, education for children would rise and cost of living could be

affordable for everyone. Racism of course will hopefully diminish as well. The world as it is

constantly changes, and one day it will change for the better.
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Work Cited

"Federal Poverty Level (FPL) - HealthCare.gov Glossary." HealthCare.gov. Healthcare, n.d.

Web.

"Poverty Rate by Race/Ethnicity." The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. KFF, 22 Sept.

2017. Web.

"USDA Defines Food Deserts." American Nutrition Association. American Nutrition, n.d.

Web.

Anson High School." High Schools. US News, 2017. Web.

Areavibes. "Wadesboro, NC Crime." AreaVibes - The Best Places To Live. Areavibes, n.d.

Web.

"Home." YellowPages. Yellow Pages, 2017. Web.

James, Nick. "These Are The 10 Worst Cities In North Carolina For 2017." RoadSnacks.

N.p., 08 June 2017. Web.

Meet the Author Peter L. Hinrichs Senior Research Economist Peter Hinrichs' Main Field

of Research Is the Economics of Education. Additional. "Racial and Ethnic

"Poverty Rate by Race/Ethnicity." The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. KFF, 22 Sept.

2017. Web.

"USDA Defines Food Deserts." American Nutrition Association. American Nutrition, n.d.

Web.

Wadesboro, NC Homeless Shelters, Halfway Houses. Shelters and Housing,

www.shelterlistings.org/city/wadesboro-nc.html.