Black and on Welfare

African Americans no matter their educational level are constantly the brunt of cruel stereotypes, social misconception and unfortunately often at times deemed unworthy. In Sandra Golden's article "Black and Welfare: What You Don't Know About Single-Parent Women she explains the disrespect and humiliation that African American women on welfare face every day.” "Once one goes to the government for assistance you are looked upon as unmotivated, unskilled, uneducated or undereducated, and responsible for bring fatherless children into the world," I quote Golden. Golden conducted a research and she found that many of the African American women that were on welfare were constantly humiliated and referred to as "case numbers" instead of by their names. These women could not defend themselves because if they did, they would lose the governments support. If a woman is a single mother, they are looked upon with disdain. In part, it seems like it is the mission of the American Welfare system to evolve a single parent household to a two parent household by helping out these women. In the end though all they do is degrade them.

To reform these women and make them better members of society is the American Welfare’s goal. However, what they do not realize is some of these women are well educated and are just going through some hard times. They are put in classes that teach them about different jobs, but even if these women are qualified in certain fields it is not accounted for. To them (welfare system) it does not matter what qualifications you have, because these training programs are designed so that you are recommended to an employer or agency even if you are not interested. Some of these jobs consist of housekeeping, waitressing, nursing aide etc. These women all have different passions but they are not given the opportunity to show them within these forced professions.

Everyone hits a hard patch once in their life, and end up needing assistance from someone else. So I do not understand why they discriminate against those asking for assistances. Especially since the welfare system was created for that purpose alone. I feel that if these caseworkers are not dedicated to helping these women in need then they do not need to work in that particular profession. These women need attention and care not humiliation and degradation. It is wrong and inhuman.  Life is a struggle and no one can make it without the help of another sadly I can see that many people do not see it that way.