Confronting Urban Poverty: A Personal Journey

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Poverty in America
I had heard the rumors of Detroit, “its complete disaster” or “Why would anyone want to go there?” I never knew how badly the motor city was until I visited my uncle one Christmas. I was very alarmed; there were entire streets of abandoned houses, graffiti on every building, street lights were not working, and people losing their jobs by the minute. The story of a fourteen-year-old boy who had never left the city limits of Detroit and still couldn’t read proficiently is what kept me from sleeping that night. I remember that night thinking why the system gave up on him and if he was destined to live a life of poverty.
That little story that my uncle told me scared me forever. From that point on I realized that all I wanted to do in life was to help the people who live in urban poverty every day. One day I wish to sign a bill that helps eradicate poverty from our streets, which will create a better future for the next generation.
Ever since that day, I have tried to prepare myself for a career in social work and government. I have engrossed myself in rigorous history and government classes that help me better understand Roosevelt’s New Deal and Johnson’s Great Society. Through my learn and serve …show more content…

In the United States, we have a flawed education system; the local community funds the school system, so if most of the residents in a community are in poverty it is likely that their education will reflect that. Communities that suffer from poverty aren’t able to give their kids a quality education they need to get out of poverty. That to me just shows how poverty is the ultimate crime boss; poverty plays a role in everything and will always keep people

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