Recent orders
Discrimination against the Unemployed
(Name)
(Instructors’ name)
(Course)
(Date)
Employment Law
Discrimination against the Unemployed
The article by Rampell Catherine in the New York Times is about the difficulties Americans have to go through in attaining employment. According to her, there are many conditions that exist before a person can gain employment. She gives an example of a where most employers require that the job applicant already has to be working. This means that it is difficult for people who are currently unemployed, or those who have never worked before to gain employment. It seems that there is a lot of bias that exists among the people who are unemployed (Rampell, 2011. 1).
The employment issue, which exists, is whether it is right for resumes of unemployed people to be discarded by employers. An operations analyst in the information technology sector is an example of a person who is discriminated by the employment act. According to a recruiter, not working for six months is an obstacle towards finding employment. This ideology seems to have spread to almost all the American employers. Furthermore, the number of Americans who do not have jobs is at 14 million, and finding work is a problem. Some of America’s known Job websites such as Craigslist, CareerBuilder, and Monster.com are not employing the unemployed. This situation has a historical context like that, which took place during the Great Depression. During that time, many workers were left unemployed, and this is due to the crisis. It does not make sense when employers demand that potential recruits be currently employed. There are some people who are fresh out of college and have never worked, yet they have the skills and knowledge. They should be given a chance to prove their capability, and thus, this employment discrimination is problematic (Rampell, 2011. 1).
According to a legal view, like race and age there is no protected status in matters related to employment. Experts further believe that there is no discrimination that occurs as a result of this practice. The employment laws, which exist, are not violated in any way. It has emerged that the most vulnerable groups affected by this practice are blacks and elderly people. The latter is according to information provided by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The latter has not yet decided whether the case on the unemployed is illegal in any way. In fact, they have hearings on this matter, which are taking place at the moment. The unemployed are crossing their fingers, in order for a law to be passed concerning this matter (Livingston et al, 20005. 114).
Employment discrimination has become a menace, and a law has been passed by New Jersey concerning this matter. Other states such as Michigan and New York are considering having such a law. The economy is being affected, as there are no people who are employed to earn revenue for the economy. There will no longer be a scenario where unemployed workers are discouraged from applying due to their unemployment status. The plight of workers is being addressed by the National Employment Law Project (Decker, 2002. 42). It advocates for politicians to find ways to outlaw adverts that discriminate against the unemployed workers. Furthermore, it advocates for the unemployed to obtain benefits, as well as engage in the labor market studies. Almost all professions are involved in this discriminative practice, and including even top American companies. It seems that this matter cannot be solved easily as Congress is not that influential. Companies are the ones who have the upper hand in this matter, since they are the ones who hire individuals. They choose the people they want, and congress cannot interfere. If the matter is taken to court, proving that discrimination occurred will be extremely hard.
There is enough evidence to prove that workers who have stayed for long without being employed may not be beneficial to the work place. Some of the reasons why they are unemployed is because they lack competence, and are laid off as there is no work. In some careers like Technology and Medicine, the more the workers stay without employment, the more they become incompetent. Also, there is a risk that they may not have contacts with former clients, and the impact is disastrous. Most employers want to hire people who are currently employed, as they are more attractive, and know what is going on at the work place (Rampell, 2011. 1).
Currently, there is no law, which focuses on the discrimination of workers who are unemployed. The only one that is closely related is the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which discourages and outlaws employment discrimination. The EEOC has the mandate of ensuring that the law is enforced. Also, it ensures that polices, practices and regulations regarding employment are met. It also focuses on what job advertisements entails, process of hiring, and recruitment, among others. Workers who file suits in court because they have been denied employment, due to their absence from work they are not likely to win. This is because there is no law, which states that the practice is unlawful (Livingston et al, 20005. 123).
If the worker is lucky, and the matter passes through in court, they can receive a remedy of being employed. Other forms of remedy include; payment of court costs, witness fees of experts, as well as the attorney fees. If the case is not successful, the unemployed worker risks spending a lot of money paying for the various expenses incurred. The main issues presented in this article are many and of a legal nature. Americans without work are not gaining employment because they are not favored by employers. It seems that only those who are working at the moment easily find employment. This should not be taking place in this era, as people have a valid reason of being out of employment.
In conclusion, I believe that it is unfair how unemployed workers are being treated. Most times, it is not their fault that they have to leave work. Once they decide to go back to work, they find it difficult due to many barriers, which exist. Employers should compromise and find ways to ensure that they can accommodate unemployed workers. A law must be implemented by congress which outlaws this practice by employers. In turn, many potential employees will have the opportunity of taking care of their families who are in need of help. Lastly, society has a role to play in this issue (Decker, 2002. 56). Activists should become involved in advocating for the rights of employees. They should engage in peaceful demonstrations as well as have talks with politician to help them. Furthermore, people should be encouraged to become entrepreneurs as this makes their lives even better. Thus, this issue on employment discrimination needs to be addressed before it escalates further.
Work Cited
Rampell, Catherine. The Help-Wanted Sign Comes with a frustrating Asterisk. 2011. Retrieved from The New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/26/business/help-wanted-ads-exclude-the-long-term-jobless.html?_r=1.
Decker, Kurt. & Covington, Robert. Employment Law in a nutshell. New York: West Group, 2002. Print.
Livingston, D. et al. EEOC Litigation and Charge resolution. New York: Bna Books, 2005.Print.
Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease
Student’s name
Institution affiliation
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that presents with gradual cognitive and functional abnormalities, together with behavioral deficits (Calderon-Garcidueñas & Duyckaerts, 2018). The persons become socially and occupationally dysfunctional. The disease is incurable and is characterized by a long preclinical period. Often when the disease presents itself, it is already too late. The plaques accumulate in the hippocampus region associated with memory. The pathophysiology is not entirely clear on whether the plaques cause AD or if the plaques are a by-product of the disease. AD is the most prevalent form of dementia. The paper will focus on the pathophysiology, etiology, epidemiology, and management of the condition.
In 2017, there were approximately 6.08 million Americans with clinical AD. The number is projected to grow to about 15 million people by 2060 as the general population grows older. AD is a major public health problem (Brookmeyer & Abdalla, 2019). Since AD is incurable, many patients spend their time in long term care facilities and symptomatic therapy. In 2017, the estimated cost of treatment for AD was $259 billion (Calderon-Garcidueñas & Duyckaerts, 2018). The American life expectancy is expected to get even older with better healthcare systems. Hence, this number can be expected to grow. Most of the patients are over 65 years old. There are approximately more than 200,000 patients below 65 years old (Weller & Budson, 2018). Also, most of them present with only mild symptoms of the disease, though it later escalates to the more advanced form. In 2017, Alzheimer’s disease was the sixth prominent cause of death. Other industrialized nations have a similar prevalence to that of the USA. Countries with a high proportion of the older population have a higher or similar prevalence. Some studies show that women are more predisposed to AD than men. In the US, close to two-thirds of the cases are in women. The disease is more prevalent in African-Americans. They are more than twice likely to get AD, especially among persons over 71 years (Calderon-Garcidueñas & Duyckaerts, 2018). The name “Alzheimer” is derived from the first person to characterize the condition. In 1901, Dr. Alois Alzheimer, a German psychiatrist, observed symptoms of short-term memory loss in his patient. At the time, no one knew much about the clinical condition; and Alzheimer took the initiative to investigate further. He sent brain samples and clinical data to a lab in Munich. The lab report indicated the presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain images.
The pathophysiology of the disease is a continuum with the normal aging process. Before, discussing the pathology of the disease, it is fundamental to understand the normal physiology of the neurons. The neurons are supported by internal structures called microtubules that form a track-like process that guides the delivery of nutrients from the cell body to the axon terminals. The process occurs rapidly. The tau protein stabilizes microtubules ensuring efficient functioning. In AD, the tau protein undergoes chemical changes and instead of binding with microtubules, it binds to other tau portions causing the microtubules to disintegrate, collectively impairing the transport system (Braak & Del Tredici, 2015). This results in the apoptosis of neurons causing symptoms of memory lapse, behavioral changes, and social impairment. Senile plaques precede the clinical presentation of the disease. There has been a widespread emphasis to study the composition of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. SPs contain the amyloid substance. Studies indicate the synthesis of the protein is dictated by the genes on chromosome 21 (Weller & Budson, 2018). The plaques are dense and almost insoluble. The SPs begin to deposit in the fifth decade of human life in the hippocampal region. It is crucial to know that the presence of SPs and NFTs is not enough confirmation of AD since they can be found in other neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientists studies have tried to link the pathogenesis of AD to the presence of amyloid and NFTs. The link is still unsatisfactory. However, an abnormal amyloid substance is central to the development of the disease. Amyloid material is neurotoxic to cultured neurons. The Ab material causes phosphorylation of tau proteins. The APOE4 gene variant is a predisposing risk factor in the development of sporadic AD. A single copy increases the risk of developing AD by three-fold, while the presence of two copies increases it by fifteen-fold (Calderon-Garcidueñas & Duyckaerts, 2018). Another hypothesis alludes to the role of the cholinergic system in the pathogenesis of AD. The cholinergic system plays an essential role in memory function in healthy brains. In AD, the cholinergic system is somewhat deficient in performing its function. Studies on cadaver brains of patients with AD, demonstrate decreased functionality of the enzymes choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase in several brain regions such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebral cortex (Kumar & Singh, 2015). Oxidative stress causes neuronal damage in several regions involved in cognition. Reactive radicals such as free carbonyls and thiobarbituric acid damage proteins like the tau. Oxidative stress also causes Parkinson’s disease and ALS. ROS chemical substances cause lipid peroxidation, DNA, and protein destruction. Another hypothesis links the role of the immune system in the pathology of the disease. Studies show that transforming growth factor-beta 1 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that enhances the deposition of amyloid. Some researchers report that estrogen loss in post-menopausal women leads to cognitive decline and neuronal degeneration. Studies show that estrogen has protective effects in human neuroblastoma cultures. This may partly elaborate on why the condition manifests more in women than men.
The exact etiology of AD is unknown. Several factors coalesce to trigger its pathogenesis in susceptible persons. Generally, environmental and genetic factors are the main culprits. They include the following old age, family history, APOE genotype, obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, Down syndrome, inflammatory factors, and dyslipidemia. The AD cases are sporadic; few cases are familial. Mutations in the APP gene, PSI-1 on chromosome 14, and PSI-2 on chromosome 1 lead to the early manifestations of the disease. Depression exacerbates the symptoms of AD (Kumar & Singh, 2015).
Generally, AD presents with symptoms of cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and functional deficit (Calderon-Garcidueñas & Duyckaerts, 2018). Cognitive decline is the most prevalent manifestation feature. Initially, the patient retains distant memories but has short-term memory lapses. Working and semantic memory are only affected in persons with the most advanced forms of AD. Hence, the patient may present with aphasia, language disturbance, apathy, and behavioral changes. Neuropsychiatric symptoms such as apathy, anxiety, and irritability begin to occur at the early stages of the disease. The aforementioned symptoms are problematic to the immediate family members and caregivers. Other psychiatric symptoms include anorexia, insomnia, hallucinations, delusions, mood and personality changes, compromised judgment, short attention span, compromised ability to organize thoughts, inability to learn new stuff, restlessness, agitation, and paranoia. Severe AD patients present with weight loss, seizures, increased sleep, loss of voluntary bladder and bowel control, and difficulty in swallowing. End-stage patients are mostly bed-ridden, and death is frequently the outcome. Bed-ridden patients die due to aspiration pneumonia due to lack of movement (Masters et al., 2015).
The current guidelines utilize the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). According to the DSM-5, there are two main cognitive syndromes: major neurocognitive and mild cognitive impairment. From the naming, the distinguishing factor is the severity of the cognitive decline. The major change in this edition excludes the necessity of the presence of memory loss for a diagnosis of dementia to be made. Biomarkers are useful in making a clinical diagnosis. The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) recommends that physicians should ensure they obtain a structural brain imaging scan in instances of objective cognitive decline. This is because 5% of the patients with symptoms of cognitive decline have a causative non-degenerative lesion. Clinicians need to rule this out before commencing treatment. MRI and CT scans are essential in identifying potentially treatable causative factors. SPECT and PET are indicated for the identification of AD-specific patterns. Amyloid-PET is a recent technology that allows the detection of moderate to severe amyloid deposits in the brain (Jack et al., 2018). The technology is highly sensitive and specific. However, its use is limited by economical factors. CSF Ab and tau protein levels are important AD biomarkers.
The aims of therapy include: to improve the patient’s quality of life and to delay the progression of the disease. Clinicians recognize the importance of psychosocial support in the management of AD. Medication alone is insufficient in improving the quality of the life of the patient. The patient often struggles to adapt to the new society and, therefore, it is essential to add the patient to support groups and also to encourage the family to show care and compassion. The hospital staff should work in harmony to ensure that the patient’s needs are met. The patient should participate in social activities to avoid cases of social withdrawal and suicide. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine act by increasing acetylcholine levels in cholinergic neurons in the hippocampal and cerebral cortex regions involved in memory (Weller & Budson, 2018). The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, memantine, is a useful adjunct in the management of AD. The ACEIs have clinically important side effects that should be monitored. GIT adverse effects are dose-dependent. The physician should rule out the presence of cardiac conditions since ACEIs cause heart block and bradycardia.
Behavioral symptoms can be managed by non-pharmacological methods. Non-pharmacological techniques like staying in a quiet, familiar room with sufficient lighting and positive reassurance talks stabilize most patients. Depressive symptoms require the utilization of SSRIs. Besides, the SSRIs ease symptoms of anxiety, irritability, and agitation. The prognosis is worse for patients with early-onset AD. Generally, most patients die in 3-10 years due to aspiration pneumonia (Brookmeyer & Abdalla, 2019). Current studies are focused on clearing the amyloid deposits. Studies in patients have shown that these deposits can be cleared. Other researches are dedicated to passive immunization and modification of beta-amyloid plaques and tau synthesis.
There is more knowledge now about AD than ever before but there is still a deficiency in the know-how of preventing and treating the condition. AD is detrimental not only to the affected family but also to the general population that has to bear with the economic losses. There is no effective method of preventing AD but people can be sensitized to embrace healthy lifestyles like regular exercise, physical activities, and proper nutrition. The sensitization should also discourage the stigmatization of persons with AD. AD is here to stay. Better treatment techniques can help improve Americans’ quality of life.
References
Braak, H., & Del Tredici, K. (2015). The preclinical phase of the pathological process underlying sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. Brain, 138(10), 2814-2833.
Brookmeyer, R., & Abdalla, N. (2019). Multistate models and lifetime risk estimation: Application to Alzheimer’s disease. Statistics in medicine, 38(9), 1558-1565.
Calderon-Garcidueñas, A. L., & Duyckaerts, C. (2018). Alzheimer disease. In Handbook of clinical neurology (Vol. 145, pp. 325-337). Elsevier.
Dubois, B., Hampel, H., Feldman, H. H., Scheltens, P., Aisen, P., Andrieu, S., … & Broich, K. (2016). Preclinical Alzheimer’s disease: definition, natural history, and diagnostic criteria. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 12(3), 292-323.
Jack Jr, C. R., Bennett, D. A., Blennow, K., Carrillo, M. C., Dunn, B., Haeberlein, S. B., … & Liu, E. (2018). NIA‐AA research framework: toward a biological definition of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 14(4), 535-562.
Kumar, A., & Singh, A. (2015). A review on Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology and its management: an update. Pharmacological reports, 67(2), 195-203.
Masters, C. L., Bateman, R., Blennow, K., Rowe, C. C., Sperling, R. A., & Cummings, J. L. (2015). Alzheimer’s disease. Nature reviews. Disease primers, 1, 15056-15056.
Vinters, H. V. (2015). Emerging concepts in Alzheimer’s disease. Annual Review of Pathology: Mechanisms of Disease, 10, 291-319.
Weller, J., & Budson, A. (2018). Current understanding of Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and treatment. F1000Research, 7.
Discrimination African Americans
Running Head: African AmericansAfrican Americans
Name:
Institution:
Course:
Tutor:
Date:
Table of Content TOC o “1-3” h z u HYPERLINK l “_Toc255746696” Running Head: Discrimination: African Americans PAGEREF _Toc255746696 h 1
HYPERLINK l “_Toc255746697” Table of Content PAGEREF _Toc255746697 h 2
HYPERLINK l “_Toc255746698” Abstract PAGEREF _Toc255746698 h 3
HYPERLINK l “_Toc255746699” Introduction PAGEREF _Toc255746699 h 4
HYPERLINK l “_Toc255746700” Historical Background PAGEREF _Toc255746700 h 4
HYPERLINK l “_Toc255746701” Theories, methods, and research in cross-cultural awareness related to African American Population PAGEREF _Toc255746701 h 6
HYPERLINK l “_Toc255746702” Influence of culture on attitudes, values, perceptions, human behavior, and interpersonal relations related to African Americans PAGEREF _Toc255746702 h 7
HYPERLINK l “_Toc255746703” Problems facing African Americans PAGEREF _Toc255746703 h 7
HYPERLINK l “_Toc255746704” Addressing the situation PAGEREF _Toc255746704 h 9
HYPERLINK l “_Toc255746705” Action Plan PAGEREF _Toc255746705 h 10
HYPERLINK l “_Toc255746706” Personal Competencies PAGEREF _Toc255746706 h 11
HYPERLINK l “_Toc255746707” Importance of the Course PAGEREF _Toc255746707 h 11
HYPERLINK l “_Toc255746708” References PAGEREF _Toc255746708 h 12
AbstractCultural awareness is an important aspect that greatly influences various interactions in the modern world. This is particularly important especially considering the fact that the global population is increasingly becoming heterogonous. It goes a long way in preventing conflicts that stem from misinterpretation of cultural issues. More over, it makes individuals to understand why they behave in specific ways. Most importantly, cultural awareness makes such individuals to devise sustainable efforts that enable them to address the challenges that emanate from these interactions. This can only be attained if they appreciate the various cultural aspects that shape their attitudes, beliefs, behaviors and their general personality. The Americans of African decent are faced with various challenges that are related to their culture. Notably, their cultural ideals differ considerably from those of the White population. Considering the fact that the laws employed in governance tend to reflect the culture of the dominant population, African Americans have in most instances found themselves in conflict with the law.
IntroductionCultural awareness amongst the Black American population is a vital component that enables the same to interact effectively with the rest of the population. This is because of the fact that it enables the respective individuals to understand and appreciate various values, beliefs, attitudes and perceptions that characterize their behaviors. This understanding is innately imperative in enhancing of harmonic co existence as possible conflicts are prevented in a timely manner. Cultural studies ascertain that attaining cultural awareness and the relative dynamics is usually a difficult task because of the fact that culture is not conscious to individuals. Nevertheless, to be able to rise above their cultural challenges, understanding of their culture is inevitable.
Historical BackgroundThe culture of African Americans is posited to have its roots In Africa. Over time it has been increasingly shaped by the historical experience that the Africans went through. In particular, slavery has been cited to have contributed to the development of the current culture of this population (Hawkins & Williams, 2007). Despite having been exposed to American ideals over a long period, recent research ascertains that this population still upholds important aspects of its culture. In particular, their respective traditions, values, practices and beliefs continue to impact in various ways to their wellbeing. However, it is notable that some of these have changed as a result of being blended with the American culture. These are manifested through various aspects of their social life that include religion, cuisine, literature, arts as well as music. In his review, Holt (2010) implicates racial discrimination to be responsible for the inherent differences of the American African culture irrespective of its having existed in the country for a long period of time.
With regard to the implications of racial discrimination on culture, Holt (2010) contends that this ideology dates back to over two centuries. It lasted for over a period of two hundred and fifty years and was originally employed by the Americans to maltreat the African slaves as a justification for their enslavement. During this time, the African slaves were vulnerable because they lacked independence, ability to establish viable human relationships, and had low intelligence as well as morality. In his review, Aries (2008) argues that these attributions greatly influenced the inhuman treatment that the African captives were accorded. This treatment was extended to their offspring that were also exposed to similar dehumanizing conditions.
Nevertheless, Alquire, Gerald and Vijay (2008) indicate that legal measures were undertaken after the civil war and racial discrimination was considered illegal. Notably, this is also a time when slavery was stopped. However, racism against this segment of the population still persists to date. This is exemplified through various incidences with the most profound being the lynching of numerous African Americans. The entire society considers the population to be inferior the extent that studies cites that the ‘badness of blackness’ has increasingly become the unifying factor for the population since time immemorial.
Currently, the population suffers from oppression and discrimination in almost all facets of their lives. For instance, recent statistics show that Americans of African decent continue to suffer discrimination at the work place. Further, this discrimination is also manifested through hostile face to face interactions and discrimination in the delivery of elemental social services and in education institutions. Despite the fact that politics and media contend that the situation has improved through time, the minority populations do not express similar optimism. The expansive and deep rooted nature of the practice has made it difficult for it to be effectively uprooted from the society.
Theories, methods, and research in cross-cultural awareness related to African American PopulationAs the American population becomes increasingly heterogeneous, the Black Americans continue to face innumerable challenges that stem from lack of effective understanding their culture. Notably, most of the policies attitudes and interactions reflect the ideals of the predominant white population. In addition, various laws that are used in governance reflect the culture of the White population. Thus in most instances, the African Americans unknowingly find themselves in the wrong side of the law. Cummings (2009) posits that this explains why they are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. It is in this regard that it is considered very important for the African Americans to be informed about their cultural identity. This would be instrumental in helping them to cope with the various challenges with ease. In his research that was conducted in North Carolina, Chandler (2008) ascertains that lack of understanding of the African American by the same has led to racial hostility and frustration.
Various models have been put forth to help the Black Americans to cope with the cultural challenges that they face in their day to day lives. One such theory is the Afro centric Cultural identity model that was put forth by Molefi Asante (Cummings, 2009). This lays greater emphasis on the empowerment of the black population through development of their cultural consciousness. In particular, it analyzes the traditional values and principles and employs the same in reconstructing the racial identity of this population.
Another theory that has made significant contributions to this is the Cross Negro to Black Conversion model that was proposed by William Cross. In this, he indicates that development of appositive racial identity requires this population to go through development, growth and discovery. This process according to him comprises of five successive phases that include pre encounter, meeting, immersion, internalization and steadfastness (Cunnings, 2009).
Influence of culture on attitudes, values, perceptions, human behavior, and interpersonal relations related to African AmericansNotably, the culture of African Americans shapes various aspects of their interactions and holistic wellbeing. To begin with, it is certain that it impacts upon their attitudes and therefore influences their interactions in various ways.
The culture of African Americans also influences the values that they uphold in the society. Notably, their value system differs significantly from that of the White population and has various implications on the way that they perceive different aspects of the society.
In his review, Callan (2007) cites that for instance, while drug use and abuse is considered a behavioral constraint by the entire society, most Americans of African decent consider it a normal aspect of their culture. This explains why they are over represented in the criminal justice system. In addition, the traditional value system such as polygamy has seen most of the African Americans be involved in infidelity issues. At this point, it is worth acknowledging that this has had indirect effects on their interpersonal relationships. Of great reference is the subsequent frustration and cultural hostility that stems from the lack of appreciation of their culture by the entire population.
Problems facing African AmericansThe implications of discrimination that stems of misinterpretation of important cultural aspects of the African American population have been wide and varied. To begin with, Brown-glaude (2009) indicates that this has contributed significantly to health disparities that are experienced by the population. Statistical evidence shows that the African Americans tend to experience higher incidences of heart disease, blood pressure as well as stroke than the rest of the population. Also, Barton (2006) cites that the behavioral and social repercussions of discrimination have also been adverse. In this regard, medical records ascertain that the rate of African American population seeking psychotherapy after being diagnosed for tension, rage and depression that stems from discrimination has soared in the recent past.
Perhaps the most affected group of individuals have been students whose performance has been affected by the negative treatment that they are accorded by their teachers and fellow students. In his review, Callan (2007) indicates that students that are discriminated against for reasons of race tend to develop a low self esteem that affects their holistic performance in academics. This is particularly detrimental if the attitudes are assumed by teachers. They lack the vital motivation to maintain competitiveness in academics.
In addition, they are deprived of a chance to interact with other students who form the majority of the population. It is indicated this usually has adverse effects on the behavioral development of such students. In his study undertaken in Maryland, Holt (2010) found out that students experiencing discrimination are twice more likely to engage in social deviance than their counterparts. Specific behavioral problems that they experience range from drug use and abuse, racial identity problems and violent sexual behavior. Notably, involvement in these behavioral constraints is usually a mode of response to the discrimination and oppression that they experience.
Chandler (2008) also posits that discriminating has had negative impacts on the wellbeing of the African Americans. In most instances, they are denied a chance to participate in satisfactory employment irrespective of the fact that they meet the required qualifications. This makes them to opt for low paying jobs that add to their frustration and undermine their productivity. Even at the work place, they are given limited chances to make career advancements. In this regard, Hawkins and William (2007) note that they are seldom given scholarships by the organizations they work for to further higher education like their White counterparts. Comparatively, their rewards are menial and their possibility of getting salary increments is also limited. This has negative impacts on their performance as they are not motivated to produce optimal output.
This is further compounded by the demeaning work environments that they are exposed to. A study conducted by Alquire et al (2008) indicated that they are often required to work for long hours without sufficient pay. Usually, they agree to these conditions because they have limited options. In addition, Holt (2010) cites that they are often denied a chance to participate actively in organizational decision making. This is irrespective of the fact that the decisions made at different levels affect them directly.
Addressing the situationFrom the preceding analysis, it is certain that the Black population in America is faced various challenges that are occasioned by limited cross cultural awareness of not only the Blacks themselves but also the entire population. These can be traced back to the era of slavery and it can be contended that despite the efforts that have been undertaken over time, the ideology is still rooted in the society. This in return has had far reaching implications on the overall wellbeing of the Black population. The challenges disadvantage them and undermine their ability to compete favorably with the rest of the population. This explains why they continue to lag enwind with regard to economic and social development.
From the theoretical basis, it is certain that his even increases their probability of engaging in criminal activities such as drug abuse. This further increases their susceptibility to discrimination. At this juncture, it is notable that the scenario is complex and is augmented by numerous mutually reinforcing factors. It has culminated in a web that can not be easily extricated. Nevertheless, there are certain measures that can be undertaken to enhance the interaction with this population in the professional sphere.
Action PlanThe field of psychology is usually characterized by various interactions with persons from a diverse background. Based on this knowledge, it would be imperative to employ various personal competencies in ensuring that discrimination is addressed at all levels. To begin with, I would ensure that I understand the cultural background of all the minority groups before assuming professional duties. This would be attained through training and would be instrumental in enabling me to maintain a high degree of objectivity during execution of duties.
Of great importance would be to change the attitudes and learn to appreciate all individual, irrespective of the cultural differences. Despite being attained through education, it is posited that this can also be attained through frequent interaction with the same. Thus I would join organizations working with the minority populations such as the non profit oriented organizations. This experience would sharpen my skills and help me understand the various cultural aspects that define their wellbeing.
Personal CompetenciesIn order to effectively deal with the various challenges that are related to the culture of African Americans, It is important to exercise various key competencies that would enhance effective interaction. The first step in this regard would be to admit lack of knowledge regarding the specific cultural aspects of the same. In this respect, it is posited that this would be instrumental in avoiding reliance on assumptions that could be unfounded. Notably, this is the first step of attaining knowledge about the given culture. It prompts constant review of vital assumptions that shape our attitudes and behavior towards the population.
The next step would be to suspend all forms of judgments regarding the African American culture. This can only be attained if any judgments made in this regard are based on objective information. Therefore, it would be imperative to collect vital information about the culture and critically analyze the same before making critical judgments. Further, in order to understand and appreciate the experience of the Black Americans, it would be imperative to employ empathy. This would enable one to treat the population in manner that it desires to be treated.
Importance of the CourseDealing with cultural diversity within the field of psychology requires various personal as well as professional competencies. To begin with, it is imperative to appreciate the cultural background of the African Americans. Attainment of this requires knowledge in multicultural issues that can be gained through training and education. Most importantly, changes in personal attitudes regarding this particular culture have been identified. Generally, this course has yielded desirable outcomes as it has exposed the students to various aspects of the culture.
As a result, this has culminated in an in-depth understanding of various historical issues that influence the behavior, attitudes and beliefs of the Black Americans. In addition, knowledge about the influence of certain cultural aspects like drug use and abuse has led to the appreciation of the behavior and attitudes of the population. This has culminated in a more informed perception of the population that has in return led to effective service delivery and harmonic co existence with the Black Americans.
ReferencesAlquire, C., Gerald, W. & Vijay, N. (2008). Minorities in the US. USA: College of Physicians.
Aries, E. (2008). Racial Concerns in Learning Institutions: Universities and Colleges. Temple: University Press.
Barrow, L. (ed.). (2007). Tracing the Roots of Racism. USA: OECD.
Barton, G. (2006). Understanding Black Americans. Oxford: University Press.
Brown-glaude, R. (ed). (2009). Racial Diversity in Institutions. Rutgers: University Press.
Callan, H. (2007). Understanding International Education. Higher Education in Europe, 24 (1), 15-24.
Chandler, N. (2008). Minority Issues. USA: Association of International Education.
Cummings, W. (2009). Theoretical Constructs of Discrimination. USA: Garland.
Hawkins, J. & William, C. (2007). Transnational Competence. USA: SUNNY Press.
Holt, H. (2010). Cultural Diversity: Issues and Concerns. USA: Holt & company.