The Great Depression and the New Deal had a huge effect on minority groups in the United States. Their experiences were often very different from those of white people.

Economic Struggles for Minority Groups

• The unemployment rate for African Americans was as high as 50% in some city areas. This was much worse than the national average of about 25% in 1933.

• Latino workers also faced a lot of unfair treatment. They were often the first to lose their jobs. By 1934, almost 500,000 Mexican Americans were either sent back to Mexico or pressured to leave.

New Deal Programs and Exclusion

• Many New Deal programs, like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Public Works Administration (PWA), didn't include black people and other minorities at first.

• The Social Security Act of 1935 didn't help agricultural and domestic workers. These were jobs that many African Americans and Latino workers did. Because of this, they missed out on important benefits.

Housing Policies and Redlining

• The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) supported redlining. This meant that people living in mostly minority neighborhoods couldn’t get mortgages. This made it harder for them to build wealth over time. During the 1930s, homeownership rates for black people were much lower than for white people.

Relief Efforts and Racial Bias

• Relief programs were often run by local governments, and racial bias affected how the aid was given out. For example, southern states gave only $6.5 million in support to African Americans, but$225 million to white families by 1938.

Long-lasting Impact

• The discrimination during the Great Depression and the New Deal created patterns of inequality that lasted long after the programs stopped. By 1950, black families had about $1,674 in wealth compared to over$7,400 for white families.

In conclusion, while the New Deal aimed to help everyone, many minority groups faced more difficulties and exclusion. This shows the ongoing differences in wealth and opportunities that have been part of American history.