But this same success has some negative aspects as well. It has convinced many white Americans that racial discrimination no longer hinders the advancement of U.S. minorities and that minorities no longer need extra protection or help. Within minority groups, the movement of some families into the middle and upper classes can provide social connections that help others improve their status. It also may strain minority group cohesion because some remain in poverty while others are advancing. Accumulated Wealth Income is only one measure of economic advancement and well-being.
Minorities still lag far behind whites in terms of net savings and accumulated or inherited assets.
Accumulated wealth is a critical dimension of economic status because it can cushion the financial impact of sudden health problems, unexpected unemployment, or other emergencies. Savings or loans secured by assets also help pay college costs for children or the down payment on a house. The vast racial gap in wealth perpetuates the lower status of minorities. Differences in family structure account for some of this disparity. The percentage of female-headed households is greater for blacks and Latinos than for whites.