Effects of Inner-City Poverty on Youth Essay example

February 16, 2013 The Effects of Growing Up In Urban High-Poverty Areas on Youth With the rising poverty levels in today’s society, the amount of youth that has been affected by poverty has increased substantially, rising more than fifty percent in the last twenty years. Studies show that there are at least nine million kids living in high-poverty areas of the United States. Children raised in poverty have no choice, but are forced to view the American dream in a very grim manner. For children and young kids growing up in high poverty areas drugs, violence, and hunger are usually viewed on an everyday basis and become their only reality. Numerous aspects of poverty all come together to lead to a change in prospect and a difference in†¦show more content†¦Money legally obtained is usually reinvested in illegal activities such as drug dealing in these areas which furthers the chronic joblessness. This increases the risk of crime even more because most of these activitie s are controlled by gang and crime organizations fueling drug habits these groups thrive by capitalizing on the suffering and poverty of the surrounding areas. With these gang members and drug dealers usually the only role models for the youth in these areas to look up to many of them end up basing their lives and trying to live up to the standard of very unsavory street figures. This causes youth to believe that the only way to obtain quick financial gain is through dangerous illegal activities. Poverty threatens a wide range of child development; most affected is academic achievements and performance in school. Various studies performed show that poverty in the family directly influences a decrease in IQ in children. It affects younger kids causing them to have a harder time picking up verbal skills and learning to talk. As kids grow older it affects their achievement scores on tests and causes them to have a harder time reaching educational milestones. This is mostly due to the added stress of the surrounding environment, the daily Halbritter 3 struggles, and the lack of education of the people who surround them on an everyday basis. The problems that kids in these areas face causes them to haveShow MoreRelatedMusic Has Been A Form Of Self Expression1292 Words   |  6 Pagesviolence, sex and gangs; and those lyrics’ influence on youth. Since music is more apart of youth’s life than ever, these concerns are questioning the limitations on Rap’s explicit content. However, Rap serves as a positive outlet for self-expression without limits, allowing artists to freely communicate their journeys and struggles. 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