9781422281383

doesn’t pay much and the hours are long, but at least he has some security.” Although life in south-central Los Angeles is tough, Roxana’s parents know that life is much harder in Guatemala. In their village there had been no running water, no electricity, and no medical clinics. Around 60 percent of the people who live in south-central Los Angeles are Hispanic—Spanish-speakers from Mexico and Central America. Many others are African Americans, or members of other ethnic minority groups. They all face dis- crimination in education and employment. Even though they live in one of the world’s wealthiest cities, poverty affects their lives. What Is Poverty? We all think we understand the meaning of the words “rich” and “poor.” To be “rich” means that you have plenty of good things—perhaps even more than you need—and to be “poor” means you do not have enough, or perhaps any, of the same things. But how do we decide whether someone is rich or poor? Look at the lists on the following pages. Starting with the first list, “Your Things,” decide what things are necessary for you to live a good life, what things would make you feel “rich” and what things would make you feel “poor.” Are there other things you would add to the list of what things are necessary, and why would you include them? Now do the same exercise, using the lists for “Your Family” (page 11) and “Your Community” (page 12). How do the three lists compare with each other? Do you think that there are

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Poverty