Poverty

Once again in the U.S., the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Is history repeating itself? In this edition of the Journal, Bill Moyers interviews Steve Fraser, author of Wall Street: America's Dream Palace, about the modern parallels to and differences from the first Gilded Age, the big disparity between the wealthy and the impoverished, and the increasing strain on working Americans. The program also analyzes the growing inequality gap as illustrated by union workers in L.A., who recently marched to call attention to how hard it is to stay in the middle class or to join it. An interview with Holly Sklar, coauthor of Raise the Floor: Wages and Policies that Work for All of Us, about what current economic conditions say about the state of the American dream, rounds out the program. Broadcast date: June 13, 2008. (58 minutes)

In one of the poorest and most dangerous communities in America, three children reveal their hopes, dreams, fears, and frustrations. This two-part series of ABC News programs presents their stories, examining the economic and personal conditions facing inner-city kids in Camden, New Jersey-or, for that matter, in any struggling urban center across the U.S. The first program introduces the children and their situations; a follow-up episode shows how their lives have changed in various ways. 2-part series, 29 and 42 minutes.

Filthy clothes, needle marks, panhandling...is this an accurate picture of teenage homelessness? Going behind common stereotypes, this video tells human stories about human beings-most of them young people who know homelessness firsthand. Amber and Tieshi describe the harsh reality of life on the street, clearly demonstrating the same needs, fears, and hopes that all teens have. Andy explains what it's like to live in a car and why homeless teens should never give up or lose hope. Cindy and others describe the effects of homelessness on families, while Liz Murray describes her personal journey from homeless teen to Harvard student and New York Times journalist. (16 minutes)

Combining scholarly analysis with a human-centered approach, this three-part series looks at the causes and effects of economic hardship in the United States while suggesting ways for society to combat the cycle of poverty. Situational, multigenerational, elder, and child poverty are all addressed through conversations with those who know hunger or homelessness firsthand. Leading socioeconomic experts and frontline activists are also interviewed, including David Broder of the Washington Post, Alan Berube of the Brookings Institute, and Jessica Bartholow, a community food bank administrator. 3-part series, 56-60 minutes each.

While poverty has traditionally been a problem only for the unemployed, a new demographic of Americans has emerged-the working poor. This program explores the disturbing realities that many people in low-wage jobs face every day-such as having to decide whether to pay the rent, buy groceries, or see a doctor. Viewers will learn how standards of living are often measured, how suburban areas have fostered a particular type of economic hardship, and how welfare-to-work programs have, at times, led to more resistant poverty. The film also draws connections between America's immigration challenges and the swelling numbers of working poor. (57 minutes)

An eye-opening journey through the cradle of Southern culture-and much of the American way of life in general-this three-part series illustrates the political, economic, musical, and spiritual history of the Appalachian region. Each episode presents a provocative chapter in the saga of the mountain people, examining their ties to the nation's cycles of boom and bust, war and peace, and hope and despair. Interweaving comments from historians, political leaders, and artists such as Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and a host of others, the series shows viewers how the raw materials of America coalesced along its first frontier." Viewable/printable instructor's guides are available online. 3-part series, 53 minutes each."

This program examines the 20th-century history of Appalachia through the prisms of economic hardship, spiritual perseverance, and the region's rich musical heritage. Showcasing the power of the traditional string band, the video chronicles the rise of modern country music by way of the radio and phonograph. It also highlights the resonance of long-standing church traditions and documents the Appalachian experience in connection with major historical events and forces: the Great Depression, the New Deal, the WPA, the Tennessee Valley Authority, World War II, strip mining, the postwar migration of mountain people to the mid-West, and LBJ's War on Poverty. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. (53 minutes)

This program explores a century of conflict and tragedy in the Appalachians, beginning with the cultural oppression and forced exodus of the Cherokee. Documenting Appalachia's role in racial and ideological tensions leading up to the Civil War, the video examines the prevalence of slavery outside plantation culture and the unpredictable divisions among mountain communities that followed Secession. Discussions of race- and class-related strife-linked to the arrival of railroad, lumber, and mining interests in the region-culminates with the bloodshed of the Coal Wars, accompanied by authentic folk songs from the period. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. (53 minutes)

This program examines the first waves of settlement in the Appalachian mountains, beginning with the region's earliest inhabitants-the Cherokee people and other Native American tribes. Illustrating how these indigenous populations were eventually overwhelmed by the arrival of Europeans, the video focuses on the influx of Scots-Irish immigrants, their crucial role in the American Revolution, and their equally defiant stance against the fledgling U.S. government during the Whiskey Rebellion. The Appalachian origins of country music are also examined, with particular attention to the influences of African-American and revivalist religious culture. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. (53 minutes)

Most elementary-age children exude innocence and optimism. What about kids who face extreme poverty? This documentary focuses on the plight of underprivileged nine-year-olds across the world-revealing their hardships and challenges as well as the light-hearted spirit they often exhibit in spite of their surroundings. Traveling to Egypt, Rwanda, India, Cambodia, Romania, Brazil, and New York City, the film presents a case study of a child in each location through compelling interviews, tours of struggling schools, and visits to barely livable homes. In every segment, the most illuminating moment follows the question, What would you do if you had a lot of money?" (55 minutes)"

Welcome to Camden, New Jersey-one of the most economically depressed and crime-ridden cities in America. Even so, children here have hopes and dreams that compete daily with terrible hardships. This ABC News program documents the lives of three young Camden residents over the course of 18 months: six-year-old Moochie, who has vowed to get straight A's in school; Billy Joe, a teenager determined to be the first in his family to graduate from high school; and a four-year-old named Ivan with one big dream: to escape homelessness and have his own room. Through these stories, the program raises awareness of children and young people across the country who struggle daily to succeed despite near-impossible odds. Original ABC broadcast title: Waiting on the World to Change. (42 minutes)