Time to heal U.S. divide

The inequality among Americans needs to come to an end (“Too many on wrong side of great American divide,” April 3). Those in poverty should be able to achieve and excel.

However, a Pew Charitable Trust study showed that 70 percent of those born poor stay poor. This is a heart-wrenching statistic in part because not much attention is focused on providing equal opportunity for all. Individuals in poverty often stay there partly due to biases, such as racism and sexism. This situation is detrimental to our country, because it causes communities to separate rather than unify.

Opportunities should be granted equally to all. Growing up in poverty and not being Caucasian, I am aware of the wide range of day-today struggles many people face.

Rather than just having the idea of equality in America, it’s time help all to excel — regardless of race, sex, class, religion or sexual orientation. — Jessiree Pena, Roxbury