Question

cademic research paper about alternative healing modalities through the lens of their respective liberal studies concentration.

Need an introduction, a brief literature review,

Base on African American cultural background, social position, values of low income

Answer 1

The Culture of Poverty and African-American Culture: An Empirical Assessment-

This study examines whether impoverished persons exhibit a "culture of poverty" mentality and blacks differ from whites in their attitudes toward employment, family values, and welfare. Overall we find little evidence that poor individuals adhere to different value systems than do nonpoor individuals. In addition, we do not find strong evidence of a coherent "black culture," as reflected in attitudes. However, regardless of poverty status, we do find that blacks are more likely than whites to believe that a single woman is just as capable as a married couple of raising a child and to oppose "work for welfare." Also, nonpoor blacks are less likely than nonpoor whites to condemn premarital sex, and poor blacks do not support reductions in welfare benefits.

This article draws on extant research from the disciplines of psychology, sociology, and economics to identify linkages between individual, family, community, and structural factors related to social mobility for African Americans during the transition to adulthood. It considers how race and class together affect opportunities for social mobility through where African Americans live, whom they associate with, and how they are impacted by racial and class-related stigma. Of particular interest is social mobility as accomplished through academic achievement, educational attainment, employment, economic independence, and homeownership. Research on five issues is reviewed and discussed: (a) the unique vulnerabilities of newly upwardly mobile African Americans, (b) wealth as a source of inequality, (c) racism and discrimination, (d) the stigma associated with lower-class status, and (e) social and cultural capital. The article concludes with a summary and directions for future research.

The number of African Americans considered middle class varies widely depending on what indicators are used. For example, about 30% of African American households earn between $35,000 and $74,999, and about 17% of African Americans over age twenty-five have a four-year college degree (Wheary, 2006). Most studies utilize variants of traditional measures of income, education, and occupation either separately or combined to assess socioeconomic status or as criteria for membership in a particular social class. In some cases, level of education may be a more appropriate indicator of class status for African Americans than it is for other groups because African Americans often do not receive salaries or employment opportunities commensurate with their level of education due to employment and salary discrimination.