Branches Book

BRANCHES

school districts— they will have a school with more resources. In contrast, if a student lives in a impoverished area they will receive less resources and a worse quality education. But because blacks have been denied economic justice since the end of slavery, they tend to live in those poor areas. That means they receive a bad education and this in turn leads to higher dropout rates. As discussed before, the employment opportunities for high school dropouts are less extensive then college or even high school graduates. This perpetuates the cycle of poverty continuing the 150 year saga of oppression against blacks. To understand the mood and state of the black community in 2017 we must understand history. Without an understanding of the past, we are doomed to not only repeat it, but dwell in the shackles of ignorance. This is a truth that is applicable to all groups of people in the world: when we only look at the peak of an iceberg we miss the other 95 percent that’s underwater. To build a better nation we must all see the unobscured angles of an issue because if we don’t policies cannot be built on a strong foundation of reason, data, and compassion.

Author’s Statement: Nati Knobler

I wrote this piece because I am passionate about studying race, policy, and history. I feel I have an obligation to do justice and expose unfair historical and modern practices against the black community in America. In writing this essay I have enhanced my understanding of all of these topics and passions.

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