 |
This week Mitchell Atencio talks with author and sociologist Matthew Desmond about the sinful lies we tell ourselves about poverty — including the lie that we can't end it: Matthew Desmond, a Princeton sociologist and author, has grown tired of calls to reduce poverty — because he knows we can abolish it. In his new book, Poverty, by America, Desmond explores not the lives and struggles of people who are poor — but poverty, and the conditions that cause it. And Desmond contends that the lives the rest of us live are often connected to the conditions that cause poverty. “To understand the causes of poverty, we must look beyond the poor. Those of us living lives of privilege and plenty must examine ourselves,” Desmond writes. “Are we — we the secure, the insured, the housed, the college educated, the protected, the lucky — connected to all this needless suffering?” Desmond is the son of a pastor, and his work is rich with spiritual metaphor and flare while grounded in the material realities of poverty and the conditions that cause it. He dedicates a chapter of his book to refuting the idea that “neoliberal” cuts in welfare spending are to blame for poverty. “There is no evidence that the United States has become stingier over time. The opposite is true,” he writes. Instead, the problem is “a fair amount of government aid earmarked for the poor never reaches them.”
|
ADVERTISEMENT |
Our Latest Why Black Churches Are Better at Early Literacy Than Some Schools (by Bekah McNeel) Many Black Sunday schools are built on a centuries-old legacy of literacy education, succeeding where schools struggle or fail to engage and teach Black students. Creative Ways Your Church Can Save Energy and Reduce Emissions (by Mitchell Atencio) Bonus: Many of these tips will save your church money too. A Brief History of Religious Support for Abortion and Reproductive Rights (by Bekah McNeel) Despite popular narratives, religious arguments for abortion access are not new. ‘Barbie’ Is Greta Gerwig’s Genesis Story (by Olivia Bardo) In the beginning, Ruth Handler created Barbieland. And Ruth said, “Let there be pink,” and there was pink. |
ADVERTISEMENT |
From the Magazine ‘Like a Rolling Cannonball to Hell’ (by Diane Wilson) The shrimp boat captain who took on toxic chemical plants in Texas. |
ADVERTISEMENTS |
Subscribe to Sojourners magazine and get a free book Sojourners is the magazine for Christians who care about social justice. Subscribe today for bold reporting, inspiring theological reflections, insightful culture coverage, and original artwork. As a gift we will send you a hardback of Matt Desmond’s new book “Poverty, By America,” a sociological analysis of poverty and its causes. Sojourners has Washington D.C., based job openings in our administrative, editorial, and advancement departments. We actively strive for a positive culture, with particular emphasis on racial justice, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Learn more about full-time opportunities to put your faith into action for social justice on our careers webpage. |
|
Copyright © 2023 Sojourners, All rights reserved. Sojourners | 408 C St. NE | Washington, DC 20002 Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842 |
No comments:
Post a Comment