Understanding the Nature of Poverty in Urban America

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This book is designed to help readers navigate through the vast and rapidly growing literature on poverty in urban America. The major themes, topics, debates, and issues are examined through an analysis of eight basic questions about the nature and problem of urban poverty: *What is poverty, and how is it measured *What kinds of national policies have been utilized to manage poverty *What are the major characteristics and trends associated with poverty in America, and how are race and ethnicity reflected in these trends *What are the major explanations for persistent poverty in the United States *What are the major characteristics and themes reflected in the American welfare system and anti-poverty policies *How is the underclass defined and explained *How have the poor utilized political mobilization to fight poverty in the United States *How does social welfare policy directed at poverty in America compare to social welfare systems in other countries After analyzing these issues, Jennings concludes with a brief overview of how public discussions related to poverty in the 1990s are similar to such debates in earlier periods. Essential reading for urban policy makers, social scientists, and students of contemporary American urban concerns.

Reviews

.,."One of the most thoughtful and comprehensive works on urban poverty in the U.S. The inclusion of Latino and cooperative racial data helps to fill an important gap in the poverty literature and shows that poverty touches us all. It is especially timely and critical for current anti-poverty debates and will quickly become a valuable resource for researchers, policy makers, and others who want a thorough understanding of a serious problem."-Sonia M. Perez, National Council of La Raza
"An invaluable distillation of what is known about urban poverty in the U.S. The best single overview on this topic, Professor Jennings's book is an essential text for college faculty and a basic reference for practitioners. Its organization around key issues make the volume ideal for teaching and public decision-making."-Robert M. Hollister, Director, Lincoln Filene Center, Tufts University

Author Bio

JAMES JENNINGS is a Professor of Political Science and the Director of the William Monroe Trotter Institute at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. He has lectured and published extensively on Black and Latino politics. Among his publications are Puerto Rican Politics in Urban America (Greenwood, 1984) and Blacks, Latinos, and Asians in Urban America (Praeger, 1994).