Poverty and Literature 2019
Spragins

Urban Injustice

Reading Guide

Introduction (1-4)

Overall Question: Despite the fact that segregation has existed throughout American history, the truly abysmal 'modern ghetto' emerged only during the last fifty years. Why? What happened?

Chapter One: "On Building the Ghetto": A History (5-13)

How did the modern ghetto come into being?
What were the “effects” of the following “causes”?

BLUEPRINT FOR THE GHETTO

IMPOVERISHING THE GHETTO


THE MYTH OF THE WAR ON POVERTY

Chapter Two: "Pillaging the Ghetto" (14-28)

In what ways do African-Americans face discrimination in the job market? (14)

Understand the “index of dissimilarity". (15)

What were the “effects” of the following “causes”?

PUNISHING THE CHILDREN

SICK AND POOR

(Note urban poverty health issues)

A SECOND GHETTO: PRISON

[Note Hilfiker’s economic arguments against –

WORKING-AND POOR