One can argue that there is a white underclass, an Hispanic underclass, and an Asian underclass. However, it is the black underclass that over the many decades that I have lived seems to be permanent. It seems to not show any abatement or even evolution. it manifests itself on video.
Despite all of the emphasis over the past few decades on illegal immigration, Hispanics have little or no problem integrating into American society. From time to time, the white underclass catches hell because some of its members say and do stupid things. One never hears about Asians. But the black underclass has a dress problem, a physical demeanor problem (head and shoulder movement in a simple conversation), and a slurred or mushmouth verbal problem.
Contrast the black underclass with the black middle class representatives such as Don Lemon, Jerome Bettis, Michael Steel, Joey Jackson, or President Obama. Contrast the behavior, etc. of the black underclass with that of the Hispanic, White, or Asian underclasses. The contrast is quite dramatic and I don't think there is any solution to it.
Oli,
Disagree. Black underclass is more visible in the media, but if you don't think that permanent underclass of Whites exists, I'd direct your attention to the pockets of them in East Coast cities,the Rustbelt or to the ones who are in the Appalachian region of the country, where there are almost "developing country" living conditions.
The Black underclass exists in a larger proportion to the overall Black community than other groups, but it's a myth that generations-deep poverty doesn't exist among White people or that they do not exhibit the EXACT same pathology as other people in the "permanent underclass" that you speak of.
As far as Hispanic groups,the trending incarceration rates indicate that their "permanent underclass" exists and is expanding.
