By: Daniel Nardini
The U.S. Census has further revealed some very disturbing and truly sad data. It is obvious that Latinos are now the largest and fastest growing ethnic group in the country. Because of this one in six children in this country is Latino. The data also reveals that now there are more Latino children living in poverty than any other group. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, 37.3 percent of all children living in poverty are Latino—compared to 30.5 percent of all children living in poverty being non-Hispanic white and 26.6 percent being African American. Even though 16.5 million Americans are Latino, Latinos and especially Latino children are now the largest single group living in the highest percentage of poverty.
The consequences of all this are quite clear. It means that Latino children will most likely not receive the health care they need in the early years of childhood when they need it. It means that they will not receive the quality education they deserve. It means because of their surroundings they will most likely be victims of violence and crime long before they turn 18. And as I have mentioned before the Latino children of today will be the parents of tomorrow. Right now Latino families face the highest unemployment rate of just about any ethnic group with more and more Latino families having to go to churches and soup kitchens for aid, and more and more Latino families are losing their homes and belongings. Yet by 2050 Latinos will comprise one-third of the entire American labor force. If current trends like this continue, then how will the Latino children of today be able to be prepared for a better future?
Latinos make up 16.3 percent of the total U.S. population at present. Yet Latino children make up 23.1 percent of all children in this country. Of that number, 6.1 million Latino children are living in poverty. Before the Great Recession, the largest number of children living in poverty were non-Hispanic white. Now Latino children make up the largest group of children in poverty. And at the current rate of this level of poverty our country’s economy will eventually get worse if an ethnic group this large is left as a permanent under-class. Along with the lack of a quality education, poverty will doom millions of our children to a cycle of hopelessness, violence and despair. On a more personal level, how do you tell a child that they cannot have enough to eat, go to a good school, are unable to live in a good home (or any home at all), have to deal with violence and crime, have to worry about what to do if they, their siblings or parents get sick, and wonder why they are suffering all of this in the land of plenty?
The Poorest Little Angels
By: Daniel Nardini
The consequences of all this are quite clear. It means that Latino children will most likely not receive the health care they need in the early years of childhood when they need it. It means that they will not receive the quality education they deserve. It means because of their surroundings they will most likely be victims of violence and crime long before they turn 18. And as I have mentioned before the Latino children of today will be the parents of tomorrow. Right now Latino families face the highest unemployment rate of just about any ethnic group with more and more Latino families having to go to churches and soup kitchens for aid, and more and more Latino families are losing their homes and belongings. Yet by 2050 Latinos will comprise one-third of the entire American labor force. If current trends like this continue, then how will the Latino children of today be able to be prepared for a better future?
Latinos make up 16.3 percent of the total U.S. population at present. Yet Latino children make up 23.1 percent of all children in this country. Of that number, 6.1 million Latino children are living in poverty. Before the Great Recession, the largest number of children living in poverty were non-Hispanic white. Now Latino children make up the largest group of children in poverty. And at the current rate of this level of poverty our country’s economy will eventually get worse if an ethnic group this large is left as a permanent under-class. Along with the lack of a quality education, poverty will doom millions of our children to a cycle of hopelessness, violence and despair. On a more personal level, how do you tell a child that they cannot have enough to eat, go to a good school, are unable to live in a good home (or any home at all), have to deal with violence and crime, have to worry about what to do if they, their siblings or parents get sick, and wonder why they are suffering all of this in the land of plenty?