I’m going to warn you right now: this blog post is not about what products the hottest brand is dropping, what shows or open bar events are occurring this week, or what mixtape you would do well to listen to. If learning about the lives of millions of struggling Americans and what you can do to enact change in their lives doesn’t interest you, stop reading. This post is about poverty, the roughly 50 million American people living in hunger (16 million of which are children), and the strides that have been made to eradicate poverty and aid those struggling to obtain the basics.
This post is not about the plight of the poor and downtrodden, but their fight to regain their dignity and enjoy a better quality of life – a life that doesn’t include food insecurity (which according to the USDA refers to people who live in hunger and do not know where their next meal is coming from), a life where they have shelter and make enough money in 40 hours of work to (at the very least) subsist without government assistance.
This past summer advocacy journalist Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West traveled to some of the most impoverished areas in America on what they coined the Poverty Tour. Members of the Media Mobilizing Project, an organization dedicated to giving poor people uniting against poverty a voice, recorded the journey. Their footage as well as interviews with an economist, a government official, the C.E.O. of Feeding America and others comprised the 5-day “Poverty Tour” series that aired on PBS two weeks ago.
Each episode focused on a different aspect of the problem plaguing America. In five days of watching I heard people who used to have secure jobs, homes, cars tell what it means to have nothing and how they’ve coped with the loss of their livelihood and material possessions. I learned more about the housing crisis and listened to people speak about the homes that had been their family’s for decades being foreclosed even as large corporations were being bailed out. I heard the indignant voices of warehouse workers rail against the machine and decry their unlivable wages (some of these people spoke of working fulltime and having to pick between eating, filling up their gas tanks, and buying diapers for their children). And I saw people with no political ambition, but a strong belief in human rights and the power of individuals, standing together against a common enemy, empowering themselves and their communities and helping those around them disentangle themselves from the mire of poverty.
Some numbers I learned in my viewing of the Poverty Tour series, which may spur you to anger, empathy and I hope ACTION:
In the last ten years, 100% of income growth in America has gone to the top 10%. That is unjust. Plain and simple.
Over the past 40 years household incomes have remained stagnant for all but 5% of Americans. During that same time period, the income of the top 5% of Americans has skyrocketed. In a word: despicable.
42% of American children live near, on, or below the poverty line. That’s just disgraceful.
There are laborers who work 40 hours a week and still meet the requirements for food stamps and other federal assistance because they don’t make enough money to pay their bills. Unconscionable.
The dire circumstances have spurred working class people, the new poor (aka middle class people) and people who care people into gear. Groups like the Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign (a coalition fighting to retrieve the homes of those evicted for economically motivated reasons), Take Back the Land Madison (a group that seizes and rebuilds abandoned homes in order to house the needy), Direct Action Welfare Group (known as D.A.W.G this group organizes the poor of West Virginia to stop poverty and the threat of poverty), Media Mobilizing Project, and more are on the ground actively fighting for human rights. According to the C.E.O. of Feeding America, Vicki B. Escarra, there is enough food produced in the U.S. to feed not only every citizen who lives here, but also the majority of the world. Economist Jeffrey Sachs has said that, “we could end poverty worldwide in this generation.”
We can do this if we reverse our priorities and aim to take care of the people less fortunate than ourselves. We can do this if we look past, religion, color, class, creed and unite against injustice. We MUST do this because America won’t be a great nation again until we do. No way America is allowed to call itself a “great nation” with roughly 50 million people living in hunger, 16 million of which are children. There’s just no fucking way.
I’m going to end this with the section of Matthew that Joe Scarborough is shown reading in the above clip, not because I’m especially religious (I’m not at all religious), but because I am so rarely moved by anything a Republican utters, “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; I needed clothes and you clothed me; I was sick, and you looked after me; I was in prison, and you visited me.’”
Do work, people. Do work.
@buccibandana over and out. . .
When we have places like Newark, New Jersey where only 23% of this year’s freshman class will graduate high school in four years, it’s no surprise to see numbers like Erika referenced above. We need to give kids the tools they need to succeed in the world. I look to leaders like Chris Christie who are directing the fight against the teacher’s unions to fix our public education system and create the opportunity for equality.
It’s all well and good to say that we need to equip the youth with the right tools so that they can rise out of poverty and provide their children with the skill-set and education needed to be productive, self sufficient members of society. I agree with your point wholeheartedly! But what do we do about the millions of people without homes? There were 3.8 million foreclosures in 2010 alone. What do we do about the people who are jobless, or who have jobs but still can’t afford to support themselves? What do we do about the children who look forward to going to school simply because they are guaranteed they’ll eat that day (school lunch)? In a nation of such plenty, it’s absolutely ridiculous for any child to go hungry. For anyone to go hungry. How do we alleviate that NOW while providing the youth the tools to ensure that they won’t be in a similar situation in the future? What would Chris Christie do?
I love this article! I’m glad Erika went a step beyond just sharing the numbers, but also showed us how people are making a change. Pieces like this are necessary when we are constantly fed reports about how bad things are (really really bad), and it can sometimes feel overwhelming to even begin tackling the issue. This article serves as a reminder that each and every one of us has a skill and, if we are fortunate enough, we should use that skill to help our neighbors in need (I know it sounds cliche and like a generic PSA, but bare with me). If you’re good at math, tutor. College graduate? Help kids with their college apps. If you’re a good listener or share good advice, mentor. You know the law well? Advocate. Good with saving money? Advise someone’s finances.
Like Erika ended her piece with: Do work, people. Do work.
You’re right, Ness! People can do what they’re good at and comfortable with and still help to elevate the people around them. Thanks for reading and for your thoughtful commentary.
I think it’s time for President Obama to re-think his failed economic policies. We need a plan to create a predictable fiscal environment to create jobs and grow the economy. The President’s plan has been pushing our country into a dead end of higher taxes and fewer jobs. I’d say our country has had its fill of tax, borrow and spend.
Higher taxes are exactly what we need. If we tax the top 10% more, we will have the money necessary to rebuild communities, create jobs, fix the infrastructure, etc. Bottom line, our nation needs money to make money and we have it, well our citizens do, but they’ve absented themselves from society. Sitting on their wealth instead of investing in the nation that helped get them to the cushy positions on tops of piles of dough that they currently recline on.
Obama’s problem has been pandering to the rich and powerful so that he’d have guaranteed campaign donations for reelection, instead of sticking to his promise of exacting CHANGE in a flawed and money oriented political system.
We need tax incentives for small business and other business friendly policies like the single sales factor that were just recently signed into law by Governor Christie.
We don’t need President Obama to continue to pursue policies that discourage job growth and have driven small businesses into the ground by raising taxes.
Thanks Erika for using this awesome platform you have here to share this sobering information. I started the first episode of “The Poverty Tour” but didn’t finish watching — I will be sure to do so now.
I wish I had more insightful commentary but the numbers speak for themselves.
Erika… I have no words. You pretty much used them all. I love this so much. It is exactly why I am so proud of my new job- our company provides services and subsidized housing to formerly homeless people with special needs and every day it is inspiring for me to help and watch them regain their sense of independence, dignity and quality of life.
Thank you reading, ML. After viewing the series, i thought the least i could was to help educate my peers. Candace, the company you work for sounds awesome. What’s it called? i’d like to learn about it.
Wow, a powerful message well delivered. You said what needs to be said, clearly and efficiently! Thanks for sharing that with me.
I was aware that this country was in a state of disarray but to see the stats listed in this article I can honestly say I was floored. It’s heartbreaking to know that so many of us (Americans) are living under these conditions. It’s even more heartbreaking to know that, even with the dedication of a few good samaritans, things may not ever change. I don’t think that in todays society we were conditioned to care about people less fortunate then ourselves. We are more concerned with changing our own situations for the better that we don’t often realize that things could be a lot worse. It’s good to know that there are people who care and who will devote themselves to trying to make a change. I commend you for writing this article and bringing this issue to light and informing people who may not normally be inclined to educate themselves on something such as this.
The only thing that the 1% is truly worried about is the bottom line, the number at the bottom of the quarterly report. They don’t care.
We care. We care about the future. We care about equality. We care about collaboration. We care about change.
There are so many different issues that this country faces, yet when one takes a step back and takes a closer look, they are all interconnected. These issues stem back to inequality. Imbalance of power in the hands of the 1%. International greed-run, corporate-gain driven empires that disregard all but their own; individuals that know no borders and don’t take no for an answer. It’s imperative to read up on this issue and it’s awesome that you brought this issue forward on the blog. Reading is key. Reading on issues you aren’t told about through mainstream media.
Check out the factory farm business. The amount of edible food (before the hormones and antibiotics are added) that could be provided to those in need, is instead fed to the Pork/Beef/Poultry that we (as newly established meat eaters) desire. The human body doesn’t need meat. It’s absolutely ridiculous to think about the massive amount of food used for food. Read about it. Think about it. DO WORK.
Keep posts like this coming please!!! #positivesocialcontagion
Whenever the future looks grim and there doesn’t seem to be any hope left in the world, people rise up and make change in the world. After reading this blog and watching this clip, I feel a sense of hope and urgency to go out and help my fellow man/woman. With crushing poverty and unemployment all around us there doesn’t seem to be any relief coming from anywhere. That’s why it was refreshing for me to see Dr. Cornell West and Tavis Smiley quote scripture from their faith and to have the courage to shine a light on the crucial information the media chooses to neglect. You don’t have to be religious to know when something is right or wrong. What our government is doing to it’s own people is despicable like Erika said.
I urge people to go to Liberty Square and see firsthand people making change and fighting back against economic INJUSTICE. You can also find out what you can do to help. Thank you Erika for writing this great informative piece, and thank you Dr. Cornell West and Tavis Smiley for shinning a light.
This was an amazing post. It’s good seeing a well respected brand shine some light on our current economic issues.
I believe this occupy movement is a turn around, a conscious direction. We are the 99%.. we needa step up and let them know whos the real boss. The world wont spin without us pushers.
@WQueens7, thank you for reading. i’m glad that though it was a lot of information, you found it accessible.
@LittleGhost you’re exactly right, Americans are not necessarily conditioned to think about or help those who are in such dire need of assistance. Cornel West said repeatedly throughout the series that while the system needs to change it won’t matter unless the hearts of Americans do. A revolution in the government will not be accomplished or maintained without a shift in our priorities. Americans need to embrace Non Sibi and work to improve the lives of those around them instead of simply working to improve their own lot in life. Thank you for your insights!
@SpareChange I agreed with almost everything you wrote. . . up until the factory farm business. I admittedly know very little about the business but a friend of mine who was doing some grassroots organizing this past year did tell me about how much perfectly good and nutritionally sound food is used to feed cattle. She specifically spoke of dairy farming and the amount of soy that could be used in better ways to effectively curtail hunger in this country. While I agree that there are problems with the system, I don’t think there is a problem with eating meat or that America becoming a nation of vegetarians will solve the amount of resources being used poorly. That being written, I will read more about factory farm business. With more information i can form a better picture and think more effectively about a possible solution. Are there any sites, books, podcasts that you’d suggest looking into? Thank you for reading. My latest post (http://thereedspace.com/?p=13257) is the first in a 3-4 part series about corruption in the NYPD and the impact of CompStat on policing. I will continue to write about things i think the public should be aware of and thinking about. Thank you for your encouragement.
@qunsnuyorican the fact that this post gave you hope in these bleak times is awesome. a lot can be achieved on the shoulders of hope. economic injustice is clearly one cause of the issues this post discusses. while i applaud the spirit and dedication of the people occupying Liberty Square, i’m a little bit confused as to where the movement is going. it’s important to make a stand and be a symbol of change and inspiration to those the world over, but ULTIMATELY how is camping out going to distribute wealth more evenly and allow greater mobility between “classes” or stymie the greedy practices that lead to our economic crisis to begin with? what is the next step?!
@CreativeSession thank you!!! your “the world won’t spin without us pushers” reminded me of an organization i learned about via the poverty tour series that i neglected to mention in the original post. it’s called Warehouse Workers for Justice (http://www.warehouseworker.org/vision.html) look into them . . .they’re basically warehouse workers fighting for liveable wages and basic worker rights.
You got our facts on point, picked a very sensitive subject and managed the balance between being informative and emotional (something i lack). I see an interesting difference in our styles of writing which is basically that you are well informed and i only share observation based on emotions lol. I could learn from you. I wonder if reading articles and raising awareness is actually causing people to act or whether all the information is overwhelming to them.. anyway keep writing and informing. <3
I think it’s very hard to look at what’s going on in government and not notice that the top 5% E mentioned are the ones making the laws. We can take PrezzO to task all day, but the fact of the matter is, those making the money buy the lawmakers. While the President may only be in office for 8 years max, what are the term limits for Congress?Exactly.
Bemoan the “pandering”, but anyone who has EVER workied in an office with a contrarian knows that you just want to get SOMEthing accomplished, no matter how miniscule.
The Republicans are nothing if not consistent in their hatred of everything spewed from the mouth of a Democrat, no matter HOW sensible it may be.
All that is getting away from the fact that Eerika wrote an outstanding piece on some shit that we all are living RIGHT NOW. We may not always wonder where our next meal is coming from, but we might not have the savings to lose our job and be okay for longer than a week or two. This is terrible. It has been terrible. It WILL be terrible, unless, I think, a DRASTIC change happens in governmental operations. Our checks are for millions and our balances are in the negative.
I look forward to reading more, Bucci. Peez.
@Dreea, while the information i’m imparting is devastating and saddening, i don’t want it to be debilitating. that’s why, in addition to writing about how badly things are in need of improvement, i point to people and organizations that are actively working to solve the problems that ail many. many of these people are poor and in underpaying drive and they are using their voice and their experience to exact change. i find that utterly inspiring. thank you for reading! keep writing!!
@Jeaux, “The Republicans are nothing if not consistent in their hatred of everything spewed from the mouth of a Democrat, no matter HOW sensible it may be.” it really is unfortunate how truthful that statement is. but the point of yours i really want to address is your latter one. people think that because they aren’t lining up at a food bank or camping under a highway overpass this issue doesn’t affect them. i want to put a face on poverty and show people that the people they pity were once gainfully employed and relatively comfortable just like them. this isn’t the problem of the hungry…this is the problem of america. thank you for reading sir and thank you for your thoughtful commentary.