Premium Essay

Still Hungry in America

In:

Submitted By Tssiajae
Words 333
Pages 2
Still Hungry in America

Marian Edelman Wright wrote the famous literacy narrative “Still Hungry in America”. Marian Wright has been a proponent for disadvantaged Americans her entire life. Edelman’s career began after graduating from Spellman College and Yale Law School. After graduation, she became the founding president of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF). In result of Edelman’s phenomenal leadership, CDF has become the nation’s strongest voice for less-fortunate families and children. The mission of CDF is to “leave no child behind.” This mission was imposed to ensure that every child has a healthy start, a head start, a fair start, a safe start, and a moral start in life and a successful passage to adulthood. In addition, in the many professional positions Edelman held, her primary purpose was to stand up for the ones who lived in poverty and for the ones starving from food shortage. By writing “Still Hungry in America”, she intended to communicate this purpose so others would join the cause and help prevent family and children starvation. Her objective in this particular writing is to show how important government assistance programs are too many Americans. She made it very clear in her writing, that although America is the richest nation in the world, many Americans still suffer from or is on the verge of starvation. She also made it very clear that it is important to fight for these programs whenever necessary because although these programs have proven to be helpful to the American people, there are some people out there who fill they are a waste of government spending. It is easy to draw this conclusion because Edelman had to fight back at several groups in the past who tried to defund state and government programs. She also attempted to persuade readers to see her point-of-view by elaborated on the struggles she encountered and overcame in the past. In

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Still Hungry in America

...Seth Brethauer Mr. Strahle English 111 October 6, 2014 Still Hungry in America 1. Edelman used this thesis statement to set up her paper by explaining that her family did not have a lot of food which caused her to lose a lot of weight. So much weight that she dropped five sizes, went from a five to a zero. She even told her mother that she was not hungry and to not worry about it because she knew that there was nothing that could be done. 2. In 1967, Edelman was asked to testify before the Senate Subcommittee on Employment, Manpower, and Poverty in Washington about how the anti-poverty program in Mississippi was working because she had become increasingly concerned about the growing hunger in the Mississippi Delta. 3. Robert Kennedy was able to provide help to Edelman by visiting homes in Cleveland, Mississippi, asking respectfully of each dweller what they had had for breakfast, lunch, or dinner the night before. He went immediately to see Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman the next day and urged him to get some food down there and to eliminate any charges for food stamps for people who had no income. Roberts pushing, passion, and visibility helped set in motion a chain of events including a 60 Minutes documentary on “Hunger in America” that led to reforms. 4. The reason that the government did not feel like there was a hunger problem is because Freeman did not believe there were people in Mississippi with no income who could not afford to pay $2...

Words: 300 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

No Kid Hungry Case Study

...their bodies everyday. This is what No Kid hungry is trying to change right now. Hunger is happening all around the world and it is our job to try to change that. No kid hungry gives healthy nutritious meal to families all around the world. No Kid Hungry provides programs, summer meals, and more. In the United States there is 13 million kids that is struggling with hunger, and that’s why No Kid Hungry is trying to stop hunger around the U.S with our help. No Kid Hungry is used through the national nonprofit program, called Share Our Strength. Share our Strength was founded in 1984. Bill shore and his sister Debbie Shore had this great idea, trying to end America’s hunger through No Kid Hungry campaign. They are finding many ways to feed hungry families in need for food. With other companies helping No Kid Hungry, like Lennys Subs, Salted Caramel Bar Mix, Shake Shack, and others, all working together to helping feed families in America. Lenny Subs as donated a total of $35,000 and Salted Caramel Bar Mix with an minimum guaranteed donation of $150,000 over three years and still helping raise money. Shake Shack who also was helping raise money for No Kid Hungry, raised...

Words: 617 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Child Hunger In America Research Paper

...Child Hunger in America Hook Katherine Foronda has taught herself not to feel hungry until the school day has ended. It’s wasn’t that she didn’t like eating in public, or that she couldn't eat food, it was the fact that she didn’t have any food to eat or any money to buy food with. In high school she failed an English class and rather than having to retake this class she opted for an after school skills course that came with a meal and sent them home on the weekends with food. Katherine also obtained knowledge that there was a way that she could go to college, even though she couldn’t pay for it. Now that she was filled with hope and a full stomach she soon went on and founded a program that offered food support to the students in her high...

Words: 1423 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Paper1

...Ricky Fountain Professor Levecq LIT 309 22 February 2015 The Cultural Shift of Immigrants in Hungry Hearts Throughout “Wings”, “Hunger”, “The Lost Beautifulness”, and “The Fat of the Land”, four stories in Hungry Hearts, the protagonist in each story immigrates to America with much optimism for a better life, but soon realizes that it’s not all she imagined it to be. Hungry Hearts seems to suggest that America can bring success and joy to everyone, including immigrants, but it will come at a cost of integrating into a new world and nation different from their own. Instead of making the easy transition into this new society, the characters come to the realization that there will be some give and take with adjusting to this new world. She implies that cultural traditions and heritages may have to be forfeited or lessened in this new world to make room for what is socially acceptable in America. This is only if one wants to be successful and take full advantage of the American dream and all this country has to offer. For immigrants who seem to be able to merge the various aspects of each culture successfully, they learn that American society doesn’t really view them equally, but instead looks upon them as a lower class citizen compared to naturalized citizens. In “Wings”, Shenah Pessah, the protagonist is on adolescent immigrant who looks forward to making something of herself, brimming with joy and aspiration to improve her life. In the new world her life seemingly becomes...

Words: 1214 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Child Hunger Research Paper

...that often Jahzaire was forced to go to school hungry. “I wasn’t able to focus on my schoolwork and that kind of affected my report card grades…it was very frustrating, because it’s all I could think of, food, when I went to school,” recounted Jahzaire (Strauss). Jahzaire is but one of many children who wind up going to school hungry, and it is negatively impacting their chances of success both in the classroom, and in the real world. In schools,...

Words: 646 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Changes

...popular songs, he gives a inside look on his life being an African-American. “Changes” portrays America from a critical non violent point of view, the view of a young black male living in the ghetto committing crime as a survival necessity, while being abused by the system. The chorus says “That’s just the way it is, things will never be the same” Furthermore explaining that inequality will always be rooted in American society. In his first line “I see no changes wake up in the morning and I ask myself is life worth living should I blast myself?” He could be referring to the changes that were supposed to be brought after the civil rights movement of the fifties and sixties. The civil rights movement was meant to put an end to social issues in America such as racism and poverty affecting African-Americans. In his first line he is clearly stating that he sees no changes and that maybe suicide is option out of this life. The same problems that were here before the civil rights movement are still here to this very day. His second line of the song is “I'm tired of bein' poor & even worse I'm black” He could be making a point of how hard life can be especially being a black man in America. In his next verse “My stomach hurts so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch” He directly is linking how poverty leads to crime. Stating how he would much rather go rob someone as oppose to go hungry. In his next lines he is explaining about the connection between police brutality and race “Cops...

Words: 1293 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Public Needs to Know

...February 24, 2013 The homeless population in America, as well as the metro Atlanta region is not what it used to be 20 years ago. The Giving to Live organization is working hard and often to see that the rate continues to decrease as well as offer up as much help as they can to take care of those who are still in need. The Giving to Live organization feeds about 50,000 homeless people per year. 40%-60% of those homeless people are employed but cannot afford meals. This organization not only provides food assistance to the homeless but also to others with varying circumstances on a daily basis. This is not an easy task. Several steps and precautions go into making sure this happens. Sometimes, circumstances that are beyond man's control causes changes to take place without notice and some may suffer still. But Giving to Live works diligently with many community workers and volunteers to see that meals are prepared and food is available for homeless families/children, low-income families with children, the elderly, transitional facilities, and orphanages. The number one benefit of Giving to Live is to decrease the number of hungry people in city of Atlanta and in the southern region of America. This factor, though not the only one, is what keeps our director, Ms. Miriam Wilson and her team working around the clock to take care of so many. As a member of this organization, I have been doing some research on Child Hunger in America. * Did you know that Atlanta, Georgia is...

Words: 1320 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Obesity Linked to Hunger

...My mother always said that being overweight is a blessing because only the rich can afford to be fat. Having lived most of her life in a rural countryside in China, my mother never thought there could be other reasons why people are overweight. America is the richest country in the world, and obesity has become a major health concern. A person is considered obese if their body weight is 20% over the normal weight (1). With obesity on the rise, the health problems that come along with being overweight are major concern in most American households. Being obese carries with it the predisposition to get diabetes, heart disease, and many other serious illnesses (2). Our bodies have biological mechanisms that tell us when we are hungry and when we are full. Do obese people have a defect in their biological mechanisms that control their weight or are other issues, such as lifestyle and psychology, affecting their weight? From a biological prospective, our body must have a way of telling us when we need to eat to ensure survival. People are usually aware of their hunger when their stomach starts making noises. These noises are stomach contractions, but this sign is not the most important indication of hunger (2). The feeling of hunger comes from the hypothalamus, which is responsible for maintaining our body weight by telling us to consume more or less calories in order to have a properly functioning body (4). The mechanism starts when blood glucose levels are low. Then the liver, which...

Words: 1296 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Two Kinds The Daughter Has No Freedom

...with more responsibility. Freedom, in my opinion, is not free, it is more likely to be earned. We are hypnotized into thinking America is a free country, but in reality we as adults have way more responsibilities than freedom. Although born in Guam, I moved to Oregon, where I thought going away from home will let me have more freedom, I was wrong. I had the huge responsibility to take care of my younger sister and myself. In the story “Two Kinds” the daughter has no freedom, but is expected to make something out of herself and be responsible for herself. Her mother tries to teach her to be responsible, because later in the future, she can have more freedom due to having more responsibility when she was younger. She can enjoy all her life's achievements and wealth. As adults, it is expected that freedom must be earned with more responsibility....

Words: 605 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

History Repeats Itself Are the Words of Langston Hughes a Foreshadowing?

...to mid 1900’s. The unfortunate issue of slavery and inequality was very prevalent in the writings of Mr. Hughes. He wrote with a sense of the unfairness he was dealing with, as well as being a voice for those enduring the segregation as well. Only a few of his poems allowed us to see he had a hopeful side and would appear to write on day dream type things, like the sun and the rain. I wanted to point out on two particular poems that Hughes wrote, “Democracy” and “Let America be America Again”. In these poems many of the social indiscrepencies were obviously a huge factor in the way he felt. But as I read through these poems I could almost see a few similarities with the social issues of this present time. Although the segregation and separation was indeed more prevalent in the time of Hughes, the views he shares in these two poems are quite comparable to some of the views that society may very well have today. In let “America be America Again” Hughes says “I am the people, humble, hungry, mean---Hungry yet today despite the dream. He says also “beaten today---O Pioneers! I am the man who never got ahead, the poorest worker bartered through the years.”...

Words: 630 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

A Long Walk To Water Analysis

...dangerous animals in Africa. One morning Salva had been awoken by Uncle that his friend Marial had been killed by a lion in Lion Country. “A lion had been hungry enough to approach the group as they slept. Afew men had been keeping watch, but in the dark of a night…” (41). They had seen lions everyday they walked in Lion Country. People couldn’t keep up with watching over people because their bodies had been exhausted from not enough food and water in their system. “Everyone was always hungry, and there was never enough food” (85). The lack of food made Salva decide to walk back to the refugee camp, but things were not that much better. “They are going to close the camp. Everyone will have to leave. Not just this camp, all of them” (73)....

Words: 725 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Creativity Anagram

...He said these stones would represent the three biggest islands in our country," Tura explained. "What are you going to do with them?" Marta asked. "I don't know," Tura answered, seemingly peeved. “Mister Remulla said that with these stones we'll soon have something to eat, and that is all I care about. He told us we ought not to be hungry. We have as much right to eat and live as the proprietarious have." Marta had ceased to ask further questions. At the mention of rice she had suddenly seemed satisfied. But this morning, before Tura left, she asked again, "Are you sure there will be no trouble?" "How could there be? Mister Remulla knows what he is doing. He said that is what they do in America. He came from America. He ought to know." And slinging the jute sack with the big stones across his shoulder, Tura left his wife on the threshold, while his three children, ill-clad and ill-nourished, looked sheepishly on. Out in the street Tura wondered how things would have ended for all of them had not Mister Remulla arrived, but there was no use of that now. Mister Remulla had come. That was the important thing. And soon they'd no longer be hungry. They'd have rice; Mister Remulla said so. And thinking of this, Tura felt his unshod feet become lighter and nimbler, and in a short while he had covered the length of the narrow unpaved street of...

Words: 2348 - Pages: 10

Free Essay

Forest People

...component is extremely different then what we do in today’s society, there are definitely some valuable lessons that can be learned through reading and understanding the Pygmies culture. The Pygmies have one rule to follow when thinking about gathering food, “No one goes to bed hungry”. This quote is interpreted exactly the way it is written. When the men and women typically go out to hunt, which is normally one time every week or two weeks, they always keep the amount they are feeding in mind. Unlike Americans, who normally go out and prepare food for just their family or household, the Pygmy’s make sure that every single individual in their tribe is fed. It is very rare to hear about women helping the men hunt but it is a refreshing thing to hear that they take part in this responsibility. The job of the women is not actually to kill the game but they simply put the net around it. This is also important because it minimizes the amount of animals being killed for no reason. The Pigmy’s respect both the animals and their landscape, so anytime they can improve both of these attributes they will do so. The way they don’t abuse their landscape, and not let anyone go to bed hungry is truly an admirable trait and should be portrayed in American society. There are...

Words: 1284 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Rice and Bullets

...He said these stones would represent the three biggest islands in our country," Tura explained. "What are you going to do with them?" Marta asked. "I don't know," Tura answered, seemingly peeved. “Mister Remulla said that with these stones we'll soon have something to eat, and that is all I care about. He told us we ought not to be hungry. We have as much right to eat and live as the proprietarious have." Marta had ceased to ask further questions. At the mention of rice she had suddenly seemed satisfied. But this morning, before Tura left, she asked again, "Are you sure there will be no trouble?" "How could there be? Mister Remulla knows what he is doing. He said that is what they do in America. He came from America. He ought to know." And slinging the jute sack with the big stones across his shoulder, Tura left his wife on the threshold, while his three children, ill-clad and ill-nourished, looked sheepishly on. Out in the street Tura wondered how things would have ended for all of them had not Mister Remulla arrived, but there was no use of that now. Mister Remulla had come. That was the important thing. And soon they'd no longer be hungry. They'd have rice; Mister Remulla said so. And thinking of this, Tura felt his unshod feet become lighter and nimbler, and in a short while he had covered the length of the narrow unpaved street...

Words: 2129 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Causes Of The Great Depression

...Without the banks, no one could get their money back. If there was any money left, “ In 1930 and 1931, many banks failed,customers lost all their money.” (Hayes) Since this happened “ Banks stopped lending money.” ( Hayes) All of the negative and horrible things went on for ten years. When the banks had no more money, everyone was hopeless. Americans were going through so much after the stock market crashed. When it crashed they could not do anything but be force to stay at home, if they still had a home, which most people did not. They would be bored, tired, hungry, and miserable. In the article “Firing, Not Hiring”by Hayes it informs that “ Stocks were selling for a small fraction of what people had paid for them.” (Hayes) Also, “ Americans were in debt even before the stock market crashed.” (Hayes) Hard trials came upon everyone during this time. They all had to live in such poor conditions too. Sickness broke out because of all the human waste and bugs. No one had the right clothing, “ He often cuts strips of cardboard to stuff in the soles of his shoes and keep his feet warm.” ( Hastings) The things people did to keep themselves warm. Most people lost their house and were forced to live on the street, “ Unable to pay the rent or to find work, some people found...

Words: 459 - Pages: 2