Why Are So Many Children So Poor in a Nation that Is So Rich?
A lack of resources affects none so acutely or tragically as kids.
I’m not sure if you knew…
I began my adult working career as a sixth grade science and social studies teacher in the Mississippi Delta (Arkansas side).
As a fresh college graduate with a wonderful and somewhat unemployable major in American Studies, I thought to myself, “I don’t have a lot of marketable skills, but I do have an education. So, maybe I can teach!”
Very sophisticated thoughts for a twenty-something, I know.
But it was a life-changing decision, not least of which because I learned far more than I ever taught.
The Delta region of Arkansas is the poorest part of the state, and I came face-to-face with poverty as I had never seen it before.
I learned about functional homelessness, where my students might have a roof over their heads each night, but it would be a different roof in a different home nearly every night.
As teachers we had to spend our own money running down to the local store, Myrna’s, to buy shirts, ties, and dresses for students who couldn’t afford outfits for dress up days or special occasions.
One of my students was chronically absent or late. I came to find out that his mother’s car had broken down, and she had to choose between getting the car fixed (and getting her children to school on time) or paying the light bill.
They chose light.
While more than 40% of the town’s population lived at or below the poverty line, the chronic lack of resources affected none more acutely or tragically than the children.
My work focuses on issues of racism broadly, but I have always had children like my students in the Delta on my mind.
That’s why I was so intrigued to see Black Christians take the issue of childhood poverty on as a central concern.
Readers of this Substack may be familiar with the Truth’s Table podcast and the book by the same name.
Christina and Ekemini have teamed up to host a live, in-person event called The Faith and Child Anti-Poverty Forum on April 4 in Washington DC.
I got to ask them a few questions about this issue and how this event helps us understand and take action to reduce childhood poverty.
Of the many justice topics you could address, what motivated you to talk about child poverty?
Jesus offers us a countercultural view of children in a world that overvalues workers and producers. Children are honored and recognized as models and illustrations of faith, and adults are given the honor of making their worlds safe and generative (Mt. 18:3; Mt. 19:13-14).
Unfortunately, children too often experience the opposite of this mandate of care.
Childhood poverty is a national scourge precisely because we live in the richest country in the world. There is absolutely no reason why children should be ensnared by poverty. If we truly believe that the children are our future, we must do everything in our power to facilitate their flourishing for their good and our collective future.
A lack of compassion for the innocent children among us reveals a likely lack of compassion for all of our neighbors. This event is an initiative among Christians to raise theological, social, and political awareness of this issue.
What are some misconceptions we have about child poverty?
We often isolate our perception of poverty to a certain group. However, poverty is ubiquitous and crosses all racial and regional demographics. It is a historical reality that coalitions of cross-racial activists from Bacon’s Rebellion to the Civil Rights Movement to the Poor People’s Campaign have known that dismantling poverty is a central justice issue that requires all hands on deck.
How does child poverty distinctly affect Black children?
Child poverty impacts Black children in unique ways because they are disproportionately overly represented in the data. Black children are nearly three times more likely to live in poverty than white children. Poverty impacts access to safe housing, strong educational opportunities, and the ways that neighborhoods are policed.
Tell us about the Forum. Who all gon' be there?
We have a wonderful lineup of speakers and a live podcast scheduled. Our speakers include Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin (Chief Impact Officer of Christianity Today), Rev. David Street (Feeding America, Director of Community Engagement), Steve Park (Founder & Executive Director of Little Lights), and Rev. Dr. Angelique Smith (Strategist for Bread for the World)
In addition to these wonderful contributors, we also have invited guests representing local government and ministries. We invite the community to come out and learn with us.
Why should someone attend the child anti-poverty forum? What will they gain from it?
They will hear from excellent speakers, meet concerned and committed fellow citizens, and participate in a dynamic live podcast taping with the award-winning Truth’s Table.
When is it? Where is it? How much is it? And how do I register?
The event is on April 4th at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center.
Will a recording or virtual tickets be available?
This event is in-person, and we encourage folks to join us.
I am always grateful for your wisdom. And I’m always sending your emails to my pastors 😏.
Thank you for your heart, your words and the ways you challenge the church community.