Why does the poverty line exist? This is one of the questions that Matthew Desmond seeks to discover in this detailed expose’. Not that there is a valid answer. We will continue to ask this question without actual validity.

I love that he shares data that he personally collected. On the flipside, it ruined the book for me when I read that some of this data is skewed by bias. For example, in his previous book he mentioned that a friend helped one of the tenants because of something she could not afford, and the endnote relayed that he was the friend. Things like that lost trust in me.

Shouldn’t a reporter remain as disconnected from the situation/subject as possible? I can also see that being particularly difficult if the person retracts participation due to him not helping so I’d imagine that he felt forced. Nonetheless, I read any data as “guilty until proven innocent.”

None of the above should distract from the topic: the poor struggle with housing and overall poverty. The problem is the poor are below the poverty line and what was once the working class is now the poor.

Who determines what is enough or not enough to be wealthy? I’m sure we’ve all at some point read how much it would take for a millennial to retire. A minimum of ONE MILLION DOLLARS!!! <——- how is that even realistic?? That’s like a daily allowance for the grandbabies of the rich. The rest of us can make a few thousand bucks stretch.

Of course, those same people benefit from us spending every penny to keep their pockets fat. Yet, many studies have defied misconceptions about how the poor spend money when they are in a more comfortable position.

No, it does not all go on junk food and sneakers. When the poor were given money monthly as part of a study, it was used on essentials, necessities, and investing in the needs to find [better] employment.

How can the poor handle buying gas or buying food? Paying rent or paying bills? These are the difficult decisions that have to be made when you don’t come from a family of wealth and inheritance.

No. Who takes advantage of these awful circumstances? Banks, politicians, business owners. Poverty keeps the world moving so do any of these people truly want to fix it? Where are the real solutions?

One of the most relatable points that he made was in relation to covid. The poverty that has been around all along was brought to the forefront, again this has been happening in underserved communities forever, once it was realized that “certain demographics” were now feeling the effects of being poor, relying on government assistance, or being evicted.

There is so much to unpack here. I honestly need to reread this book at least two more times. Ugh, it’s a bit disgusting reading the stats behind poverty “by America.” The real question is how do we look within and contribute in such a small way? Does everything have to be big and extravagant, though? Does it need to be Instagram official to be done? It’s great that celebs choose to dedicate time and money to causes but could they do more or is a photo op the extent of that influence?

I’m looking forward to continuing to keep up with Desmond. Even if the research isn’t always stellar, which mostly is, he’s made a great impact in leaving a big middle finger to “the man” and his sociopath socialite followers.

Keep bringing awareness!