Exercise #3 1

Exercise #3 Annotated Graphs

Exercise #3 Annotated Graphs

Clinton William Ferguson

SOWK 300-01

Ms. McArthur

February 2, 2010
 Exercise #3 2

I chose to do a social science experiment on poverty in the U.S. I selected 4 American States at

random for analysis. Using data from the U.S. census I created a graph of poverty percentage for

selected States. Here I compare the selected States poverty rates with the total U.S. poverty rate.

I chose to highlight the increase in poverty that we see on the State and National level. I

compared the amount of African American’s residing with-in our selected States with the

poverty rates for those States. I found that States with larger Black populations also experience

greater poverty rates.

 Exercise #3 3

Figure-1

18

16

14

12
Poverty Percentage

10

8 2000
6 2007

0
AL MN NH TX

Randomly selected State

With data tables retrieved from the U.S. Census I created a graph showing the percentage of
individuals below poverty level from a sample of random states. The data displayed suggests
high levels of poverty for Texas and Alabama. Minnesota and New Hampshire have significantly
less poverty, as well as population. The effect of these findings in relation to money is the fact
that many individuals below the poverty level receive public assistance whether in the form of
WIC, Food Stamps, Public Housing, HUD, Ect. These publicly funded programs get their
funding through tax dollars, and this of course affects all tax payers.

What we are seeing in this graph are the extremely high poverty rates in the randomly selected
States. I chose to highlight the poverty percentages to observe the progress being made. All four
states that I have highlighted have seen an increase in their poverty percentage. Between 2000
and 2007 each state researched has had a gradual increase in poverty which is cause for alarm
this is a serious social problem that needs to be addressed. Texas and Alabama are states holding
poverty rates of over 15% and are in need of serious reform, because we all know that poverty
effects society in many ways.
 Exercise #3 4

Figure-2

18

16

14

12
Poverty Percentages

10

8 2000
2007
6

0
U.S.A. AL TX MN NH

Total U.S .and selected States Poverty

The scope of this problem is seen on our highest level of government. Throughout the United
States poverty is a problem as we see here in figure 2. In comparison with the total poverty rates
of the United States a couple of our selected States are below the national average but Texas and
Alabama are above. Seen here in our data graph is the apparent problem with poverty that some
of our states face. The scope of this problem is highlighted when compared to the overall U.S.
Poverty rates. This graph helps determine how the selected state fairs with the combine national
average of poverty.

This Information helps us with identifying variables in other social problems surrounding
poverty. The U.S. total poverty level is very high above 12% and raising this is the same trend
that our selected states are following as well. If we do not bring about change with our current
poverty status I believe we will continue to see poverty rates increase on the State and National
level. This is of course a problem that affects many other aspects of our social framework in
America. Choosing not to deal with the problem at hand will not strengthen our nation but it will
do the exact opposite.
 Exercise #3 5

Figure-3

2000-07
Poverty Percentage Increase
3

2.5

1.5 2000-07

0.5

0
U.S. AL TX MN NH
Total U.S. and Selected States

This chart illustrates to us the increase in time that these selected states and total U.S. are seeing.
It looks as though the selected States that have the least total poverty has seen the biggest
increase in this time period. Population has an effect on the poverty rate and what we are seeing
is that those more heavily populated areas like Texas and the total U.S. are steadily increasing.
This graph is designated to show the significant increase in poverty that most of the less
populated states are seeing. Minnesota for example saw a nearly 2.5% increase in poverty
between 2000 and 2007 this means at this rate in 30 years the poverty level in Minnesota will be
almost 30%.

The overall increase in poverty in the U.S. is on the rise. If nothing is done about this serious and
complex social problem that we face it will be just a matter of time before the whole country will
be below the poverty line. Poverty is an issue that plagues many in America it is also a major
contributor to other social problems. To be effective in dealing with our social problems we need
to address those that are most significant and through the data I interpret the problem of poverty
high on list of social issues that need to be reformed.
 Exercise #3 6

Figure-4

Black Population
Number of Black people residing in the

3,000,000

2,500,000

2,000,000
State

1,500,000
Black Population
1,000,000

500,000

0
AL MN NH TX

Selected U.S. States

Here we have the total number of one race African American or Black residents per State along
with our randomly selected States. As we can see some states have significantly more Black
residents than do others. What is noticeable at first is the big difference in States with a large
Black population and States with smaller Black populations. When we compare data from figure
1 and data from this table we see that the states with more Black residents are also experiencing
higher poverty rates. This comparison is very important in helping us determine what race is
most affected by poverty.

The interpretations made from this graph and all the other noted graphs are that the problem of
poverty is a huge factor amongst the African American population. Given all the data examined
it is determined that without a serious social and possibly cultural change the poverty rates in the
selected states along with the total U.S. are going to rise. The increase in poverty will affect
black people especially that is why I emphasis the aspect of social change and the importance of
this change on the Black community. These ugly statistics are reason enough to spark the
beginning of reform for this social problem.
 Exercise #3 7

Summary and Conclusion

In conclusion I would like to highlight some key points of my analysis. First the poverty rates in

America are staggering with the total U.S. poverty level at almost 12% this means that 12 out of

every 100 Americans are below the poverty line. These are the figures that we have compiled but

what we don’t see here are the problems that are created through poverty. These problems are

affecting more than just the 12% of Americans that live in poverty. It is to our advantage as a

Nation, as well as a people to fix these social problems.

Poverty is an issue that plagues many in America it is also a major contributor to other social

problems. To be effective in dealing with our social problems we need to address those that are

most significant and through the data here I interpret the problem of poverty high on list of social

issues that need to be reformed. Choosing not to deal with the problem at hand will not

strengthen our nation but it will do the exact opposite. If one race is experiencing this problem at

significantly higher rates than others I believe we need to look into the causes and apply change.

Poverty effects Black Americans significantly the states surveyed with more Black residents also

have high poverty rate which is no surprise to most of us but the concrete evidence that is needed

to spark a serious reform in this country on the highest levels is included in this paper. Are we

going to just stand around and watch these rates increase and our people suffer the answer is no.

Social change must be brought about it is in the best interest of this country. Here are some

things that can be done to progress us through these hard times of poverty. First, we need to

increase employment this will bring more money into the community and help those individuals

suffering through poverty get funds to change their situation. Second, Education is the key more

federal and state dollars need to go to financial aid and education. Third, Racial profiling needs
 Exercise #3 8

an immediate end this psychological tactic that holds down Black people needs to be eradicated

in order for a complete social turnaround. Lastly, we need to help each other it is all too familiar

the sense of community that Mexican and Chinese people enjoy the Black community needs to

employ this method to advance.

 Exercise #3 9

References

U.S. Census Bureau.“Individuals and Families Below Poverty Level Number and Rate by
State: 2000 and 2007” Retrieved January 27, 2010
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s0699.pdf

U.S. Census Bureau. “Annual State Resident Population Estimates for 6 Race Groups (5 Race
Alone Groups and One Group with Two or more Race Groups) by Age, Sex, and Hispanic
Origin: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008” retrieved January 27, 2010
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s0010.pdf