Joshua Brumble

Using the Mass.gov website for health and human services, I collected information on who could not see a doctor due to cost.  The units of analysis and comparison are those who are White, Black, and Latino.  The regions I looked at were Hudson and Plymouth Massachusetts as well as the total numbers in Massachusetts as a whole.  The information on this topic was not available through individual towns and information on access to health for these three units were only made available through a larger regional comparison.  Hudson, Massachusetts is a part of the Metro West Middlesex County (CHNA 7: Community Health Coalition of Metro West) and the numbers posted here represent that entire region.  Plymouth, Massachusetts is a part of Plymouth County (CHNA 23: South Shore CHN) and those numbers are also representative of the entire region.  Confidence intervals have been added to see if there exists any statistically significant variance between units and regions of analysis.

Source:http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/researcher/community-health/masschip/topics/health-care-access.html

My last regional comparison between races was based on income.  This assessment was done to compliment those findings.  If there exists a disparity in income between races, then it can be assumed that access to health would also be unequal.  Based on the following information, that assumption is correct.  Looking at Hudson (CHNA 7) we can see a statistically significant difference between Whites who did not have access to health care due to cost and Latinos.  5.1% of Whites did not have access compared to 26.5% of Latinos.  Blacks only had 1.3% who did not have access, however this is more than likely due to an inadequate amount surveyed or there simply is a Black population too small for analysis in that area.  In Plymouth, 7.3 % of Whites did not have access to health care due to cost compared to 28% of Latinos.  While this does show a difference, based on the confidence intervals, this is not a statistically significant difference.  No information was available for Blacks.  Looking at Massachusetts as a whole, there are statistically significant variations between the units of analysis.  6.3% of Whites did not have access to health care due to cost compared to 13.6 percent of Blacks and 17.1% of Latinos.  While there is also a gap between the percentages of the two minority groups who did not have access to health care, based on the confidence intervals, the difference is not statistically significant.  The most significance can found comparing the White group to either minority groups.

Access to health care is something that should be available to everybody despite race, creed, or religion.  According to the data, it is not.  This is evidence of the existence of institutional racism.  Income is not dispersed evenly across races, which has secondary and tertiary effects on the disadvantaged populations.  Lack of access to health care is but one of the many outcomes of this problem.

The following paper will look at a comparison of income and poverty level between Whites, African Americans and Latino’s who reside in two different towns within the state of Massachusetts; Hudson and Plymouth.  It will also examine those same categories of income and poverty level between the same races in Massachusetts and the United States as a whole.

The following table was constructed using information taken from the US Census Bureau web site with their American Fact Finder application.

Source: DP-3 Profile of Selected Economic Characteristics: 2000 (SF4 Sample Data)

Looking at the data provided by the Census Bureau, we can see some disparities of income and poverty level between those races that identified themselves as White, African American, or Latino/Hispanic.  The levels of poverty in the White category are significantly smaller than the other two comparison groups in every region we examine with overall poverty in the United States at 6.3 percent.  The closest region to reflect the overall poverty level in the state of Massachusetts for the White category is Plymouth at 6.1%.  When we look at the state level of poverty for Whites in Massachusetts it’s 1.7% less than the nation average at 4.6%, with Hudson showing the lowest rate at 3.3%.  Hudson, incidentally also had the highest median income level of all the regions for the White category at $55,212.

Looking at the African American category, we see that the poverty level is at 18.3% within Massachusetts, which is less than the national average of 21.6%.  The median income level for this category is also higher within Massachusetts than the United States average; $33,727 versus $29,423 respectively.  So while African Americans might be seen as fairing better within Massachusetts than those who reside elsewhere in the nation, the cost of living is also significantly higher in Massachusetts than in other parts of the United States.  Also, the median income for the African American category for Massachusetts is almost $20,000 less than the median income for Whites in Massachusetts, which is $52,445.  When trying to recover information at the town levels of Hudson and Plymouth, MA for income and poverty level, no such information was available from the US Census Bureau web site.  Considering how significant smaller areas of examination and comparison have shown poverty and median income level changes for Whites, (median level of income in Hudson is over $55,000 and Plymouth is just over $40,000) it is questionable why this same information on disparities is not available for African Americans at the town level.

The Hispanic/Latino category does not fair as well as their other minority category in comparison at the state level.  They fall to a $27,300 median level income; $6,000 less than the African American category and a poverty level 10% higher at 28.5%.  When compared to the White category the situation is considerably worse.  At the national level, the median income for the Hispanic/Latino category is $33,676; higher than the state level suggesting that Hispanics and Latinos fair better on average outside of Massachusetts.  Poverty level at the national level is also much lower than the state level for this category at 20%.  Interestingly enough, it seems those who live in Hudson fair the best on average with a median income of $35,735 for this category.  0% poverty level was reported for this area in this category however, this is more than likely a reflection of no data available and less a true representation of the poverty levels of these individuals in this area.  Again, no information was available for this population within Plymouth, MA.

While poverty and median level income statistics vary between regions within each category, the most striking discrepancies can be found when we look at the differences between categories themselves.  Whites hold a significantly higher median income and much lower average poverty level over both the African American and Hispanic/Latino category in every single region of analysis.  The lowest median income level for the White category is in Plymouth, MA and it is still higher than the highest median income levels for African Americans ($33,727 in MA average) and the highest median income levels for Hispanics/Latinos ($35, 735 in Hudson, MA) by almost $5,000 at the narrowest gap.  When we look at average poverty level, the highest for the White category is the national average of 6.3%, and it is still much lower than the lowest for both our minority categories (18.3% for African Americans in Massachusetts, and 20% for the Hispanic Latino national average) by 12% at the narrowest gap.  This is not freedom and equality for all; this is unconscionable and indefensible.

Interviews were conducted with three white individuals of whom I work with in the same warehouse in Mattapan Massachusetts.  Two of the individuals are in their 50’s, of little to no higher education and both have been previously incarcerated for extended periods of time.  The other individual is in his late 20’s and holds a B.S. degree.  All are self- described lower middle working class.  Patterns of response to the concept of white privilege are similar between the two older individuals and differ from the younger individual.  While all three are white, lower middle working class, and work in a poorer Boston neighborhood with a large minority population, the difference in age and education may play a role in the different perceptions of white privilege between the older two respondents and the younger one.

While the first two respondents did believe that white privilege did exist in the past, they now believe that the existence of white privilege today is a myth.  In fact they both went on to say that the reverse is true; minorities hold privilege over those who are white.  Their justification for this belief was the educational benefits, grants, scholarships and other non-educational programs that are available to those of minority status.  The third respondent did agree that institutional white privilege exists because, “The majority of 1%ers are affluently white”, but again used examples of programs and opportunities that he has personally seen that might assist minorities.  All three did cite examples of persons of minority status gaining access to programs or opportunities that they were not afforded due to their status as white.  Respondent two stated, “It seems like I get less help with opportunity and assistance than they do”.

When asking the first two respondents to explain why minorities on average are poorer, and have higher drop out rates, worse health, etc. their responses revolved around a blaming the victim strategy.  Respondent one and two both stated that minorities and blacks don’t want education and that they are too lazy to go after it.  Respondent one stated, “What they fail to remember is that slavery ended over 200 years ago.  Get off your butt”.  On the same string, respondent two replied, “I’ve seen the issue of slavery come up.  I mean, its time to put that to rest”.  Both of these responses are examples of denial of history and responsibility.  Because they were not present then it has nothing to do with them and furthermore, those who are black should forget about their own history within this country.

A cultural argument was also a theme that was found in all three respondents answers to the question of disparity among the races.  The first two focused on micro level relationships that might be found within the home of a minority.  Laziness and lack of a desire to take advantage of opportunities that might be afforded to them is a trait that is passed down from their guardians.  “They follow the examples of their parents.  Their parents don’t want an education so why should they get one.  You’re only taught what you see”.  Respondent 3 used a macro level argument of cultural transmission through the media.  He stated that the majority of successful black people that he has seen on television are portrayed as rappers and sports players.  It is this image that is sold by the media and people buy it; both minorities and whites.  “If you’re low income then they want to keep you low income.  Don’t want you educated because you’ll raise questions they cant answer, or don’t want to answer”.

At the end of the interviews I talked about the existence of a ‘flesh colored’ Band-Aid that is currently on the market and is conveniently the same color of the respondents flesh, but if they took notice, there are many different shades of flesh that exist within humanity.  I asked if they felt that this was an example of white privilege and respondents one and three reacted positively.  Respondent one stated with a smile and a laugh, “I believe I’ve never thought of it. Yea, your right.”  When asked how he would feel if he were black, “I would feel I was being discriminated against” was his response.  “To a degree this country is still backwards when it comes to discrimination”.  Respondent three had a very similar statement, “I’ve actually never thought of it”.  Both believed that it was an example of institutionalized white privilege.  Respondent two’s opinion was unchanged believing that the flesh colored Band-Aid was not an example of white privilege and that it was still very much a myth.

While respondent one was of the original assumption that institutionalized white privilege was a myth, after the Band-Aid example he reversed his original thought and then preceded to add in his own examples of white privilege.  Respondent three already had the idea that white privilege still exists today and the Band-Aid example only further solidified what he already believed to be true.  So while certain strategies were utilized to deny the existence of white privilege, even one small example was enough to almost completely reverse the original opinion of one of the respondents showing that education and awareness of white privilege might have a positive impact on the current opinions and misguided assumptions of others.

As discussed in class, the United States has typically garnered extreme resistance towards new immigrant populations migrating into the country.  The Chinese, the Irish, the Italians, to name a few, have all had there turn on the losing end of discrimination with regards to immigration.  Today, it is the Mexican, Latino and other Spanish-speaking immigrant populations.  Two particular stereotypes have perpetuated in the discriminatory practices of the majority towards these populations.  One is the belief that if a person is Latino and they speak Spanish as their primary language, then they must be in the United States illegally and two, this population is refusing to learn English.

One example of current media perpetuating the idea that to be Latino or Mexican is to be illegal was found in The Christian Science Monitor in an article entitled “Illegal Hispanic Immigration is Undermining American Values”.

            “Congress, which generally represents the wealthy, should begin by imposing huge fines on affluent Americans who hire illegals.  Start with the millionaires in my neighborhood, who don’t mow their own lawns or baby-sit their children and instead hire immigrants who are almost certainly illegal.”   -Walter Rodgers

This sort of anti-immigration rhetoric has become rather common in the media and it can be identified as a form of domination.  By assuming that a Spanish-speaking immigrant is illegal is a tactic that denies anybody of Spanish-speaking descent a legitimate place in American society.

Another form of domination that can be identified towards this population is the hostile reaction to Spanish-speaking itself.  Edward J. Brantmeier in his article entitled, “Speak our Language…Abide by our Philosophy”: Language and Cultural Assimilation at a U.S. Midwestern High School” discusses the concept of language ideology.

            “Thus, linguistic ideology can be understood here as dominate, everyday attitudes and practices concerning language use that serve to reinforce power and status differentials among members of a population within situated social contexts. The rightness and correctness of what language should be spoken and how that language should be spoken can foster in-group acceptance and demarcate out-group status within those contexts.”

-Edward J. Brantmeier

Brantmeier uses this concept of language ideology to study the negative reactions of both teachers and students to new groups of students that have arrived in Indiana and enrolled in Junction High School.  In interviewing one teacher, she expressed concern over students who were speaking to each other in Spanish thus concluding that they must be cheating or talking negatively about her.  Negative outlooks on non-English speaking persisted and the school initiated ‘linguistic normative monitoring practices’ which suppressed any native language use by the new population.

This English-only movement has also been codified into law in many places throughout the country as well.  John Markert discusses this phenomenon in his article, “The Changing Face of Racial Discrimination: Hispanics as the Dominant Minority in the United States- A new Application of Power Threat Theory”.

            “Prior to 1980 only four states had English-only laws; today there are 29 states: 13 were added in the 1980’s, another seven in the 1990’s, and five more between 2000 and 2007”.  -John Markert

So with these two examples, we see that domination has taken the form of language suppression; by legally stripping Spanish speakers of the legitimate right to speak their native language.

Despite these attitudes, Markert paints a different picture on the assumption that Spanish-speaking immigrants refuse to learn English.  Quite the contrary, over half are bi-lingual with English being their second language and 80% polled stated that they were opposed to bi-lingual educational models if it prevented those who participated from learning English.  Markert also states that most Spanish-speaking parents want their children to learn English and get a better education so that they may enjoy a more inclusive membership in greater American society.  So while discriminatory and domination practices abound around stereotypes, it seems that most if not all Spanish-speakers are fighting back; by learning English as a second language.

Another way that Spanish-speakers are fighting back is the continuing practice of speaking Spanish.  One adolescent was quoted in Markert saying that it wasn’t cool to speak Spanish with his friends but they did switch over to Spanish in front of black or white people just to show off.  While educational and business institutions might legally require the use of English, Mexican and Latino immigrants and their children continue to speak Spanish in the home as well as in public.  Becoming bi-lingual allows them to function in American society while at the same time retaining the language of their ancestry.

Resources

Brantmeier, Edward J. “Speak our Language…Abide by our Philosophy: Language and Cultural Assimilation at a U.S Midwestern High School” Forum on Public Policy: A Journal of the Oxford Round Table (Spring 2007):

Markert, John. “The Changing Face of Racial Discrimination: Hispanics as the Dominant Minority in the United States- A New Application of Power Threat Theory” Critical Sociology

Rodgers, Walter. “Illegal Hispanic Immigration is Undermining American Values” The Christian Science Monitor (March 30, 2010)

Testing, testing, testing

This is testing the paste function of the blog so that I can write up assignments in word, save them, and then paste when im done.

The following is testing the block quote function

“We should get past the choice argument—that those living in such desperate community circumstances do so as a matter of personal choice.  All of the choice logics are wrong.  African-Americans did not choose to live in deep poverty because they thought it would somehow facilitate criminal careers, or because they thought that a life of poverty would be a preferable way to live, or because they wanted their children to grow up to join gangs and get shot, or because they wanted to go begging for money for their children’s funerals that they couldn’t afford, or because they wanted to experience despair and hopelessness.” 

-John P. Crank

I don’t see the save function but i suppose i could always just post unfinished work and edit later…. Its also auto saving which is good.