“I am an invisible man…I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids—and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.” -Ralph Ellison (Invisible Man)
President Obama showed the world that Black Americans aren’t invisible. They should be seen and heard. We provide valuable insight that often runs counter to the mainstream view. Many times this insight is greeted with hostility. President Obama addressed the frustration of Black Americans with these words on race at the Constitution Center on National Constitution Center, March 18, 20081 .“In the white community, the path to a more perfect union means acknowledging that what ails the African-American community does not just exist in the minds of black people; that the legacy of discrimination – and current incidents of discrimination, while less overt than in the past – are real and must be addressed.” These words by President Barack Obama are insightful and accurate.
The world changed in November 2016 when Donald J. Trump was elected President of the United States. This especially true for African-Americans.
Americans are constantly told by President Donald Trump that African-Americans and Hispanics in the United States are “living in hell” because inner cities are so dangerous2 . Are Black and Hispanic Americans the only Americans living a tragedy?
Poverty is found in many parts of the United States. Jay Harold will highlight some non-urban areas with a low Black American population that may meet Donald S. Trump’s definition of “living in hell.” Jay Harold previously has highlighted McCreary County, McDowell County, WV, Owsley County, Ky, Brooks County, TX, and Hancock County, TN. Jay Harold will spotlight another county in the state of Kentucky.
Jackson County3 , Kentucky is in the Eastern Coal Field region of Kentucky. The elevation in the county ranges from 650 to 1633 feet above sea level. It was formed in 1858 from Clay, Estill, Laurel, Madison, Owsley, and Rockcastle counties. The county seat is McKee. Jackson County was named after President Andrew Jackson. The video below talks about some of Jackson County ‘s attractions.
Jackson County is home to some of the state’s most beautiful and accessible attractions and recreation spots such as Flat Lick Falls, S-Tree Campground, Turkey Foot Campground, and the centermost trailhead (located in the county seat, McKee) of that around 40 Black Americans lived among 13,368 people in County. That’s 0.3% of the total population. The table below from the U.S. Census shows the demographics of the county.
Jackson County Demographics6
Race and Hispanic Origin
Persons in poverty, percent
Educational Attainment: Percent high school graduate or higher
Foreign born persons, percent, 2011-2015
Median Housing Value
$65,900
Jay Harold has discussed Black American’s economic status, “Black Household Incomes Below National Average.” African Americans median household income for 2013 was $34,560 according to The U.S. Census 2013 American Factfinder. Black Americans had an 83.8% high school graduation rate vs. 72.1 for Jackson County according to the 2015 census survey.
Jackson County, Ky 2016 population is 0.3% Black American.
W. E. B. Du Bois said:
“To be a poor man is hard, but to be a poor race in a land of dollars is the very bottom of hardships.”
The data suggests that while Black Americans are struggling economically, there are places in the United States that are also in terrible shape. Jay Harold prays that we move forward and help Jackson County and other areas in similar economic condition thrive again.
Enjoyed this post? Share it and read more here. Jay Harold has put together a Resource page that you may find useful when trying to improve your health and wealth.
Jay Harold is always looking out for your health and wealth. Please take this advice of Muhammad Ali and give back to others. “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” ~ Muhammad Ali
Bibliography
- https://constitutioncenter.org/amoreperfectunion/docs/Race_Speech_Transcript.pdf
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-says-african-americans-and-hispanics-are-living-in-hell_us_57e9ddbee4b082aad9b694bf
- http://www.kyatlas.com/21109.html
- https://www.visitjacksoncountyky.org/
- https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/RHI225215/21109
- https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/RHI605210/21109
