I'm Catching Hell, and so is Douglas County, MO

Frederick Douglass said: “Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.”

Frederick Douglass died in 1895, but his words ring true in 2017 for Black Americans because of the election of Donald J. Trump as President.

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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 dangerous¹.

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 J. Trump’s definition of “living in hell.” Jay Harold previously has highlighted McCreary County, KY, McDowell County, WV, Owsley County, Ky, Brooks County, TX, and Hancock County, TN. Jay Harold will spotlight Douglas County in Missouri.

Wikipedia²provides an overview of Douglas County since only 0.4% of the county’s residents are Black Americans. Douglas County is located in south-central Missouri and is part of the Ozark Region. The Ozarks also referred to as the Ozark Mountains, Ozarks Mountain Country, and the Ozark Plateau, is a physiographic and geologic highland region of the central United States, primarily in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The Ozarks cover a significant portion of southern Missouri, extending as far northeast as the southwestern suburbs of St. Louis.

Douglas County Demographics³

Population estimates, July 1, 2016

13,358

Race and Hispanic Origin

White alone, percent, July 1, 2016

96.4% vs. 76.9% U.S. average in 2016

Black or African American alone, percent, July 1, 2016

0.4% vs. 13.3% U.S. average in 2016

The median household income in Douglas County was $30,508 vs. $53,889 U.S. average in 2016 according to the 2016 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census. Here’s some more data below is from the U.S. Census.

Persons in poverty, percent

23.1% vs. 13.5% U.S. average in 2016

I'm Catching Hell, and so is Douglas County, MO

Douglas County has a 23.1% poverty rate.

Educational Attainment: Percent high school graduate or higher

79.2% vs. 86.7% U.S. average in 2016

Median Housing Value

$101,200 vs. $178,000 U.S. average in 2016

You would think that this is the Southside⁴ of Chicago or maybe a black county in Mississippi or Alabama. You would be wrong, my friend!

Jay Harold has discussed Black American’s economic status, “Black Household Incomes Below National Avera ge.” 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. 79.2% for Douglas County according to the same census survey.

Will Trump Care help Douglas County?

A recent New York Times Op-Ed⁵ has raised serious doubts about the bill passed by the House Republicans. Here are some the questions raised in the post:

The bill will cut 880 billion dollars over ten years to Medicaid. School based education services such as Special Education would be affected.
Slashes 300 billion dollars in insurance subsidies over ten years. This would hurt the elderly on Medicaid.
Guts protection for people with pre-existing conditions.
Eliminates the Individual Mandate.

This bill will change as it moves thru the Senate and is amended or replaced. The result seems to be fewer government resources for healthcare.

I'm Catching Hell, and so is Douglas County, MO

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 Clay 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.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.