Unexpected

The above photo quotes a world statistic. Regardless, this is still poignant and relevant. This week, we listened to This American Life's episode about an African American woman named Barbara living in the projects in Chicago. It aired on October 15, 1999. Barbara shares her live with listeners to give people some insight into the life of a single mother raising kids in the projects.

Barbara is attempting to challenge the conventional idea of what it means to be a African American, inner-city, single mother. She works hard to ensure her children have a good education. She even takes one of her children to school daily just so he'll go to school. She does not fit the stereotype. However, even with support, Barbara's only son may not finish high school.

I saw this online. It's in Barbara's hometown. Perhaps her grandchildren will be affected by it and break the cycle. It seems that, like stereotypes go, that since Barbara had Angie at 15 and then Angie had kids, so too must Barbara's son.

Again, when we globalize this...

Sorry it's so small. The point is that even within American borders we have pockets of "third world" lives.

This talks about some depressing data in Philadelphia.

This is a depressing, yet relevant map. You can even type in your hometown! 

So what is a "living wage"? "A living wage ordinance requires employers to pay wages above federal or state minimum wage levels." Um, why aren't federal and state minimum wage levels livable wages? It seems to me like there's a problem with minimum wage if it's unable to be lived on...