A People's History of Poverty in America

Description

In A People's History of Poverty in America, political scientist Stephen Pimpare brings the human lives and real-life stories of those who struggle with poverty in America to the foreground, vividly describing life as poor and welfare-reliant Americans experience it, from the big city to the rural countryside. Prodigiously researched, A People's History of Poverty in America unearths rich, poignant, and often surprising testimonies—both heart-wrenching and humorous—that range from the early days of the United States to the present day. Pimpare shows us how the poor have found food, secured shelter, and created community, and, most important, he illuminates their battles for dignity and respect in the face of the judgment, control, and disdain that are all too often the price they must pay for charity and government aid. In telling these hidden stories, Pimpare argues eloquently for a fundamental rethinking of poverty, one that includes both a more... Content: Introduction : the indignant poor and the constants of relief -- Survive : my brother's keeper -- Sleep : a place to call home -- Eat : dumpster diving -- Work : (in)dependence -- Love : women and children first -- Respect : the price of relief -- Escape : black and blue -- Surrender : a culture of poverty? -- Resist : bread or blood -- Epilogue : poor math.