Broke in America: Seeing Understanding and Ending US Poverty by Joanne Samuel Goldblum and Colleen Shaddox

310 Pages

Publisher: BenBella Books

Release Date: February 2, 2021

Nonfiction (Adult), Political Science, Multicultural Interest, Poverty, Basic Needs, Income, Finances, Resources, Human Interest, Oppression, Politics, Advocacy, Racism, Sexism

The book is divided into the following parts and chapters.

Chapter 1: Seeing US Poverty: Throwing Out the Caricature

Part I: Basic Needs

Chapter 2: Water: Running Dry

Chapter 3: Food: hungry in America

Chapter 4: Housing: No Place to Be Poor

Chapter 5: Power: Shut Off

Chapter 6: Transportation: Access Denied

Chapter 7: Hygiene: A Problem Swept Under the Rug

Chapter 8: Health: Health Does Not Equal Health Care

Part II: Forms of Oppression

Chapter 9: Racism: Stealing Homes

Chapter 10: Sexism: Women’s Work

Chapter 11: Denial of Political Power: Government Not of, by , or for Poor People

Chapter 12: Mental Health Discrimination: Poverty is Trauma

Chapter 13: High-Poverty Schools: Class Matters

Part III: Solutions

Chapter 14: Possibilities: The Poor Don’t Need to Be with You Always

Chapter 15: Advocacy: Making Change

This is a difficult book to read because of the subject matter. It is hard to learn of people suffering because of financial issues. It is hard to hear of homeless people being fined for being homeless with no way to pay the fines. It is hard reading about utilities being turned off and then liens placed on their homes forcing people to become homeless. At the end of each chapter, the author provides ways for readers to help society. I believe this is a must read for everyone. It should be a mandatory book in high schools and/or college because it is the young in America that will be making lasting change in this country.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this review