The U.S. Census Bureau’s new poverty data for the states show millions of families struggling mightily to keep their heads above water in the wake of the Great Recession. Fourteen states saw statistically significant increases in their child poverty rates, 26 states saw small increases and nine states and the District of Columbia saw small declines in child poverty rates last year. But the morally scandalous bottom line is clear: 16.1 million children are poor in our rich nation with more than seven million living in extreme poverty, too often scared, hungry and homeless.
New Data Show Black and Hispanic Children Suffer Most
Although there are more poor white than black or Hispanic children, black and Hispanic children suffer most. In 25 states and the District of Columbia, at least 40 percent of black children were poor; in four states, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, and Ohio, 50 percent or more of black children were poor. Thirty-three percent or more of Hispanic children were poor in 32 states.
Children are the Poorest Age Group in America
In 2011, more than one in five children were poor in over half the states and the District of Columbia. In half of these states more than one in four children were poor. Children are the poorest age group in America, and the younger they are the poorer they are. More than one in four children under six were poor in 21 states and the District of Columbia during their years of greatest brain development. In 30 states and the District of Columbia, 10 percent or more of infants, toddlers and kindergartners lived in extreme poverty which means an annual family income of less than $11,511 for a family of four.
The 13 states and the nation’s capital with child poverty rates 25 percent or higher are:
These shameful child poverty levels call for urgent and persistent action. Citizens must demand that every political leader state what they will do now to invest in and protect vulnerable children from hunger, homelessness and poor education and to prepare them to be competent future workers. It’s way past time to eliminate epidemic child poverty and the child suffering, stress, homelessness, and miseducation it spawns.
A number of leading economists and researchers agree that investing in children today is the best way to prepare and create a strong America tomorrow. As Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told participants at the Children’s Defense Fund’s national conference in July: “Economically speaking, early childhood programs are a good investment with inflation-adjusted annual rates of return on the funds dedicated to these programs estimated to reach 10 percent or higher. Very few alternative investments can promise that kind of return. Notably, a portion of these economic returns accrues to the children themselves and their families, but studies show that the rest of society enjoys the majority of the benefits, reflecting the many contributions that skills and productive workers make to the economy.”
Do most Americans really want our children to get poorer while the rich get richer and to allow our budget to be balanced on the backs of poor babies while millionaires and billionaires receive hundreds of billions in more huge tax cuts they do not need? If you do not, speak up and vote for a more just America for every child.
Follow Marian Wright Edelman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ChildDefender
Katharine Tengtio: The Stress Generation
Elaine Weiss: The Toxic Toll of Child Poverty
And isn,t it just luck that we happened to be born in a more affluent family, or that we were indulged with good brainpower etc. + or happened to be born in a wealthy district?
Get in the game!
now, maybe this woman didn't make all the best choices throughout her life, but do we almost criminalize or denigrate her for that? do we blame her children for her choices?
they live in poverty and poverty in this country is reprehensible, along with no social healthcare. in every society there will be people who work the jobs that require less education or less skills, but that doesn't mean they should expect less from their country or the social compact forged between the federal govt and society.
we need to raise the minimum wage so hard working people like this woman can make a liveable wage to support her family.
conservatives can't have it both ways; you rail against those on the "government dole" yet you're against raising the minimum wage. if you don't raise the minimum wage so they don't have to rely on SNAP or other government programs, then don't complain when they have to turn to the government for assistance.
The number of children living in poverty today in this couintry were most likely born into it. If their mothers would learn to keep their pants on until they could pull themselves out of poverty first, thew would be a whole lot fewer children suffering in this country.
And that kind of program wouldn't cost the Government one cent.
It's so inexpensive to make the mistake...the results of the mistake incredibly costly. The responsible citizens are tired of paying for their mistakes...hence, we move away, form gated communities, separate our kids..
As much as we can blame deadbeat dads, and we should (i say 2 kids without child support is enough justification for castration)...the onus sadly lies with the woman. She controls her womb, she decides on abortions, and she ultimately bears the brunt of the parenting duties. Reckless pregnancy is a ticket to structural poverty; one that exposes the ire of the productive classes.
We've created a system where the consequences of reckless procreation are outsourced to the State...and that state is shrinking.
One can't afford more than that, until one improves their skill set.
The mistake people make is thinking they can have this 'normal' consumer life while earning so little. They can't. They shouldn't. And, no kids !
The problems that are happening in the Black and Hispanic Communities can't be fixed by Government it can be fixed by the Communities themselves. There is no reason just because you are poor you can't be educated, there is no reason just because you are poor that you can't work hard and there is no reason just because you are poor you can't bring yourself to a new economic class.
I cannot help but think that the way the GOP has defined the frame around the poverty over the last 35 years is operative today after being ingrained in the minds of many. They have branded the poor as lazy and undeserving of assistance. In their message their is an inherent delusion that the "free market" will resolve poverty - and the opportunities are their for anyone with the gumption to take advantage of them.
We must change the deep frames around poverty - by continually speaking the liveral / progressive message of the "common wealth" for the "common good".
How do we get our politicians (both sides of the aisle) to turn away from the servility to the Corporation and turn back to the people?
So, even though i have the skills of a peon, you think 'some firm' owes me this 'living wage'...because that'll pay for the 'family' i'm having with my girlfriend and our kid.
Is that the basic idea?