Megan Reed

The lowest quintile of American income earners made 3.2% of the wealth, while the highest quintile made 51%, according to a 2013 census report.
 
It’s not just the money that is concentrated at the top, either; in a capitalist economy, wealth is power, wealth is access to education and healthcare, and wealth is the ability to live in a safe neighborhood. Having money means having a voice—in politics, in the community and in the school system. 
 
While many people do earn their wealth through hard work, Americans in the lowest quintile are generally extremely hard-working, as well, with many working multiple jobs to support themselves and their families. These people deserve to earn a living wage for the many hours they devote to their careers, and they certainly should be making more than 3.2% of the nation’s income. 
 
This economic inequality is the result of years of racial discrimination that persists but is often ignored due to the perceived success of social movements and protests in the 1960s and 70s. Just over 12% of black people in the United States today live in poverty, compared to 5.3% of white families. Also, 9.4% of Hispanic people live in poverty, while the only minority racial group with poverty rates similar to whites is Asians.

Wealth linked to education 

A low income translates to a lack of opportunities and access to education and healthcare. The average cost of in-state tuition and fees for a public college is $9,139 a year, while a private college costs about $31,231, according to the College Board. The poverty line for a family of four is an income of $23,850 a year, making a college education out of reach for many students in poorer families. 
 
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2012 the median income for a young adult with a bachelor’s degree was $46,900, while a young adult with only a high school diploma earned an average of $30,000. 
 
This disparity is one of the many reasons poverty is often cyclical. Only the children who come from wealthier families have access to the resources they will likely need to stay wealthy. Children from poor families often attend schools that lack essential resources such as textbooks and technology.  

These schools are often more likely to have crowded classrooms and are less likely to have thriving art and music programs. High schools in poor areas also have lower graduation rates. The inequality in the education provided to poor children begins at a young age and continues after they graduate, and the effects can last for generations. 

County/city divide 

 
This is evident in Forsyth County, Ga. where my family has lived for over 10 years. The median household income there is over $86,000, according to the county’s 2014 census report.

Most of the county’s residents have a Cumming address, including my family, but the actual city of Cumming is fairly small, with only 5,613 residents, compared to the county’s 195,405 residents.  

The city of Cumming is poorer than the county at large, with a median household income of $40,909, according to the city’s 2014 census report. When annually the local school board looks at the school districting lines, people are suddenly much more active in local politics. The schools in the central part of the county, mostly in Cumming’s city limits, have higher Hispanic populations, and while the test scores are still well above state and national averages, many parents do not want their children to attend these “city” schools.  

Most of the districts are drawn in ways that separate the whites from the Hispanics and the upper class from other classes. It is common for parents to apply for boundary exemptions if they are displeased with the school to which their children have been assigned. This leads to overcrowding of the schools in the southern and western parts of the county, while many schools in the city limits remain below capacity. 

A solution  

While some people do escape poverty through education or a career, such an escape is rare. Expecting everyone from a poor family to become wealthy is unrealistic and dehumanizing. Poverty is the result of many generations of discrimination by a system that disadvantages anyone who is not white and wealthy.  

It is everyone’s responsibility to alleviate poverty and help people who are struggling. Alleviating the problem of poverty is not only the responsibility of people in poverty—everyone can and should have a role. Cooperating to address the issue is not only morally right but more realistic.  

The issue is too complex and serious to be ignored by entire portions of the population.