Argues that communities can employ numerous measures to prevent gangs from controlling their neighborhoods. Causes and theoretical explanations of gang formation are discussed, as well as the impact of black gangs in African American communities, and public policy considerations. It is concluded that, with an entire community effort, gangs can be…

Describes life during the Depression era by studying narrative and visual portrayals of African American children in both rural and urban settings. Sources include Richard Wright's "12 Million Black Voices" and Stella Gentry Sharpe's "Tobe" as well as work that critically analyzes these narrative and visual documentations of…

Used principal-factors extraction with varimax rotation analysis to clarify nature and function of higher-order thinking among minority high school students (n=107) from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Results allowed for specification of mental processes associated with the construct and the extent to which students reported awareness and…

Notes that although the median income of black families continues to rise slowly during the seventies this rise has been insufficient either to narrow the gap between black and white family income or to over ride the erosion of purchasing power caused by the constantly increasing cost of living. (Author/AM)

Interpretations of empirical findings on the current trend of economic deterioration among blacks lay blame on the victims instead of on racism and the economics of capitalism. This special issue presents findings of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, with articles interpreting the data along the lines of theories developed by black…

Measured by cash income, the rate of poverty among the age 65 and older population has fallen dramatically, especially since 1974--from 25 percent in 1968 to 14.1 percent in 1983. However, this decline is the result more of an increase in poverty rates for the nonelderly in recent years than of major progress in reducing poverty for those over 65.…

Presents findings of a study which investigated the relationship between ethnicity and the contraceptive behavior of a sample of economically disadvantaged pregnant girls under 15. Discusses significant differences found to exist between Hispanic and Black girls' culture and behavior. Offers suggestions for improving family planning intervention…

The civil rights movement and subsequent reform measures addressing racial problems have made more people dependent on a social welfare system that has not solved the problems of the urban poor. Society glosses over problems (giving a White person's job to a Black person, a man's job to a woman, ignoring indiscretions of minority children) which…

Wisconsin State Representative Polly Williams talks about the results of the Milwaukee Education Choice bill which enables 400 socioeconomic-disadvantaged children to attend private innercity schools under a voucher system. High attendance rates and college bound rates are attributed to an African-centered curriculum, parental involvement, and…

This book grew out of the national conference "The Kerner Commission: Twenty Years Later." The Kerner Commission found in its 1968 Report that America was moving toward two separate and unequal societies, divided along racial lines, and that major efforts to combat poverty, unemployment, and racism were mandated. The essays in this book…

The future of the disadvantaged is discussed in these proceedings of a 1963 conference of the American Country Life Association. Papers presented at 3 panel discussions give detailed information on the disadvantaged. The panel discussion on the types of disadvantaged people covered American Indians, Appalachian whites, migrants, and Negroes. The…

Assesses the progress of equality since Brown v Topeka Board of Education and argues that there still has not been a full implementation of that Supreme Court decree. School integration is shown to be declining. It is recommended that The court could merge the equality standards of Plessy v Ferguson with Brown to provide quality education. (GR)

Using data from the 1977 Current Population Survey, this paper examines the impacts of disability on wages, labor force participation, education, and marital status. Taken into consideration are the definitions applied to the disabled, characteristics shared by the disabled, and the participation of this group in public and private transfer…

Restoration of an adequate minimum wage remains a critical ingredient in efforts to provide income security for poor and minority workers. The experience of recent years indicates that work does not provide economic security for many poor, Black, and Hispanic workers. National and minority unemployment rates have dropped during the economic…