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African American Culture Research Paper

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It is quite common to hear how the middle and high-income classes of the United States affect their culture and economy. However, the role that poverty and low-income classes play is not discussed as often, especially in a positive light. Usually, poverty and the impoverished are looked down upon from the other classes, causing divides. Poverty and culture affect each other at the same time, intertwining and impacting both. Some of the influences poverty produces in the culture of the United states includes stigma, segregation, and a lack of empathy. First off, poverty is stigmatized. Poverty in itself is its own culture, creating new ways to survive and function in a capitalistic society that depends on money. The large majority that makes up impoverished communities consists of minorities such as African-Americans. Since African-Americans are already being stereotyped and given the short stick, adding poverty into the mix does not produce any benefit. In American society, being low-income is shameful and receiving help from the government is seen as negative. The …show more content…
The high-income only mix with the high-income and the middle-income only mix with the middle-income. Because these groups are only mixing with each other, they become detached from the realm of poverty and do not understand the true reality of it. They are do not interact with people from impoverished societies and begin to see low-income classes and areas in a negative light. Without having any relation to these people, a lack of empathy for them develops and they are further shamed for what they are. They are seen as undeserving of help from the upper-classes and the gap between them continues to grow. This widening gap influences a cultural change in society, separating the classes and creating a culture of their own for each class and causing cultural

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