Race, Poverty and Public Policy

Abstract

Poverty rates in the United States vary dramatically by race and ethnicity, ranging from 24.3 percent for African-Americans to 8.2 percent for non-Hispanic Whites. This paper reports the contemporary data and explores the extent to which racial differences in poverty rates reflect differences in family structure and education. Finding residual differences, it the explores the importance of racial stigma, racial discrimination and racial segregation. It places these facts in the context of Catholic Social Teaching, and suggests directions for both government policy and the church.

Keywords: Welfare / Health Care/ Social Policy