America - BBC: Poverty and Race

American Expat notes the upcoming BBC Newsnight's surprising and not so surprising take on poverty and race in America.

The surprising, or at least to the BBC and because of them, many in Britain.

The simple fact is that most Americans in poverty are not black - whites make up most of the population, and most of the poor.

And, whatever the pictures from New Orleans seem to suggest, most black Americans do not live in poverty. There is a healthy black middle class, and of course many outstandingly successful African American citizens, from Colin Powell and Condi Rice to black business-people all over the US.

He also reveals that:

On Newsnight, we will also hear from a black community worker who says the fast-track to poverty is dropping out of high school, taking drugs, and getting pregnant as a teenager.

Avoid all that, and at least you have a chance of the American Dream.

For the not surprising, you can guess, it's the BBC after all. But Scott gives you a reminder if you need one.
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