PBS Frontline: Growing Up Poor (1986)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ย. 2024
- The children of Chester, Pennsylvania are plagued by poor health, malnutrition, drugs, and family problems. Half of them live below the poverty line. Frontline follows them through the maze of social service programs available to them and discovers what it is like growing up poor.
Original recording provided by Ratterfat McWhiskers | Archive.org
Tommie Lee jones in this video is my Grandmom, she died in 1999, This is the first time I’ve heard voice or seen her face as a grown man now 44, I was overcome with emotions not only from seeing and hearing her, but now understanding why she was so hard on us, she saw what was coming in the future for kids in our neighborhood and it was prophetic.
Ike she was an amazing woman!
Wow! I am glad you got to see her here! This is so special. Keep this memory! She has touched us all even today.
Your grandmother was wonderful .she is an angel in heaven
I'm a current teacher in a city in Pennsylvania. These conversations, like the ones from your grandmother and the teacher in this video, are ones we still have today in education. I hope to honor her legacy and her commitment to truth. transparency, and love for these children.
She's a hero in my eye may her soul rest in peace
I’m grateful that all these old school docs are up. Frontline used to have their whole catalog up on the website.
I grew up poor. Growing up in actual poverty is a whole 'nother level. I was about the same age as some of these kids in 1986. Most of them had it a lot worse than me. It really does eat at me that children have to experience these conditions, even today. They deserve better and to have a real chance at realizing some type of life. It takes so much more for them to achieve anything than those who grow up with more. I struggled a lot more than most of my current peers, but kids growing up in poverty struggle so much more and the odds are against them.
You are 100% correct. Sadly, there are still many people ignorant to this unfortunate circumstance, and they’ll blindly accuse the poor of being lazy. They don’t realize the monumental effort it would take to get out of the situation they’re living in.
@@applesomething Yes! I was poor, but not impoverished by any means and still had it harder than most others I currently work with at the same level, but I did at least have the means to apply myself and succeed. For those in true poverty, it's hard to apply for student loans when you don't have parents with previous years' 1040s. Tell someone to just get a job... well that's hard when you don't have a physical address because you can't afford one or the phone and internet access necessary these days for most any official employment. For them, just getting an application in would take an order of magnitude more effort than it would for the rest of us, it's a series of near impassable barriers without some help just to even be able to get in the running. And then, you often need some documentable skills/experience, even to work a drive-through. Working odd jobs off the books is generally not going to get you ahead and more likely to get you taken advantage of with little legal recourse. These government programs and sometimes charity are what enable people who want a better life to actually be able to achieve one through hard work. Without, they have little hope. And it may seem counter-intuitive, but this is why I'm no fan of large, blanket minimum wage increases; making entry level jobs more expensive for employers incentivizes them to reduce their number and be more risk averse in hiring decisions. It then gets even harder for people not on the economic ladder to get on and start climbing when the bottom rungs are knocked away.
People growing up poor and single headed households appreciate things in life more than those who grew up with everything.
Minimum Wage rates and actually increases them, does decrease poverty. Look at the south and then look at the rest of the country. Mississippi still got $7.25 but ranks last in almost everything, but look at colorado, they have a cost of living based wage and they're doing spectacular. At the very end of the day, if jobs aren't going to pay a sustainable wage, then people will always be on welfare, you can't have both. @@missingnola3823
I'm overcome with joy and sadness at the same time. Uncle Donald Boone passed away on June 3rd, 2023. One thing for sure, he was passionate about children's well-being. He will truly be missed, but I know God's plan is not our plan. He truly made a difference while here on earth and completed his assignment. Rest easy, Don Juan, until we meet again in God's realm.
A good man. Sorry for your loss. R.I.P to him.
So sorry for your loss
My father was a paranoid schizophrenic. He would be institutionalized 3 times when was young. He eventually became healthy enough to stay at home but was never really right. He had a trade from East New York Vocational High School and earned good money. During his away times we would be on "relief", the 1950's term for Welfare. There were 7 children born over the years and relief just wasn't enough. My mother stretched about as far as she could but many meals were starches. We ate a lot soups and stews, meals with little meat and a lot of rice or macaroni. We all needed clothing especially me. I am the oldest. My mother had just turned 16 and my father 17 when I was born. I was in foster care for my first two years. They ran away to Maryland when they were legally able to marry there. She was pregnant again.
My mother depended on me a lot while he was away. I did the grocery shopping and ran errands. I lived in the laundromat. The washing machine had died and she wasn't allowed to buy one on time payments so we spent a fortune doing laundry for our large family.
I entered puberty at 10 years old. Over the next two years grew 7 inches with the same weight. I was a really skinny kid. I wore old sewn up clothes with the pants legs above my ankles. I got free lunch at school. I was a bright child and in a special educational program. I played the violin well enough to be in the school system's orchestra in 7th grade. Gradually my school work deteriorated as my chore load increased. I just didn't have enough time to myself. When was 13 we moved to Florida on a week's notice. The educational curriculum was terrible and I slipped backwards. I picked up new friends who were the town trouble makers. We did drugs, hung around with The Outlaws and all of us eventually ended up in the Dade County Children's Home or the Florida School For Boys in Okeechobee.
I'd always worked. I was delivering groceries at 10. I worked in my mother's stepfather's pizzeria after school and at night. I worked 7AM to 1AM on Friday and Saturday. Later I worked as a helper in a tool and die shop and later in sheet metal, my father's trade. At 18 I went to work for Ma Bell. They hired me without a high school diploma because I'd passed every test I was given. It was work I liked. I transferred to New York City to work on the World Trade Center project.
At 19 I was drafted. I decided that the Navy was better for me because of all the technical jobs. At 21 I married. She saw something in me I didn't see. She was in her last year of college gaining a degree in Physical Therapy. We were overseas and we didn't earn much but we paid off her school loans in one year. She had worked her tail off making beds at the Jersey Shore in Summers. At school in Virginia she cleaned animal cages in the labs and bussed tables in the cafeteria. After 5 years we had my son. We'd saved some money and bought an old house on a dirt road. Four years later we left for North Carolina. She had three friends from college in Charlotte and my best friend was there two. He was the person who talked me into working for the telephone company.
We've done well over the last 51 years. My son has two degrees in Civil Engineering and graduated with honors. He's married 15 years and I have two great grandchildren. I was self employed for 32 years and we were able to acquire some wealth. We're two people who were motivated by poverty while growing up to succeed. We're both first born children.
My siblings haven't done as well. Unwed pregnancies, bad marriages and divorce made their lives shipwreck. With few exceptions their children are following the same routes. We've provided quite a few "loans" over the years. They're living our parent's lives only worse. My father has passed but mother is still the same narcissist. She helped ruin her children's lives. She's a liar and a thief and takes no responsibility for what her kids have become. She just abandoned them. Except for me. We haven't spoken in years. She saw my son once and has never communicated with him. She's always disliked my wife and I haven't the faintest idea why.
Poverty is a bitch. Mentally it still bothers me although I've moved past it. It helped wreck any chance of our being a family.
I identify with you so much because my Mother has the same condition, she's living in a State hospital now, but at 12 I was on my own literally, my own family was so wrapped up in their own lives that no one considered any of us the grandchildren. I am an only child and so was my cousin until he was age 14-15 however both him and I had to break the cycle of dysfunction and poverty, etc.. I am married and both my children have bachelor's and I done fairly well for myself but at times I struggle with letting go of the past even at 48 today.. I'm fortunate that God protected me and directed my path but I struggled for all I have today and I'm so appreciative because it could have been worse. I don't have a relationship with my Mother and it's ok, it hurts at times but I had to let her go in order to live. Many may not understand but unless your in that environment you'll never understand the impact it has on ones life and mental. God bless you for sharing your story at least I don't feel so embarrassed about my life as a child for we all have our buried secrets and pain some worse than others and some better than others. However if you have a dream and desire don't give up on you, keep fighting, keep looking forward and do the work necessary to get you to where you would like to be, where you desire to be. Only you can stop you after the storm has passed but a person has to believe and want better. Blessings to you and your family.
Wow. Hard times. Hope you’re alright now
That was a mouth full, Just pray for your mom n forgive her I know you'll never forget but keep living life to the fullest, and no I never experienced a bad mother even tho we were on the poverty line she made sure we never felt it. Keep thriving
@@IvyLeaguhow are you
How are you
Goes to show how vital Nurses are in communities.
This is above and beyond for a nurse. It's amazing. 💖
rightly said
When nurses used to care. Now they are all in it for the cash. Most of nurses rather take online positions, bedside nursing is not preferred
@@teekolinski491you can thank the mindset Covid produced. It’s the same in every place of employment.
@@teekolinski491yep
“You have to work with what you have.” It hasn’t gotten much better through the years.
I remember as a kid going to bed and being so hungry. Me and my siblings would entertain each other to try and take our minds off of it. The mornings were no better. I remember thick molasses on toast and maybe oatmeal if we were lucky. My Grandmother felt bad for me and I lived with her until I went to university. I knew the only way out of poverty was to educate myself so I could get a decent job and not have to worry if there was going to be enough to eat. My Grandmother had very little but always made sure we ate. No child or adult should have to suffer through this ✌
@DONNELLOit is so. Easy. To say this. People like you love to act like you have all the answers. This is literally eugenics btw but you probably don't even understand why that's wrong. Also you're ignoring the fact that someone can become financially unstable at any time for whatever reason. Do they kill their kids cause they're poor or something?
@DONNELLO absolutely agree! Some people just shouldn't have kids.
Food stamps was put in place to remedy the situation. What did parents do with the food stamps every month?
@@OanhSchlesinger this was in the UK. If there were food stamps /or a British equivalent they were never used on food. Sadly there was never a time when my parents went without cigarettes or cider. Nowadays Universal Credit is deposited directly into the recipients account allowing them to spend it on whatever they want.
@DONNELLODr. Homie 🎉
I would love to see how these kids grew up and how their lives turned out.
If they’re women maybe they’ll be driving by 20… if they’re men add 10 to 20 years to that.😂😂😂
if they're bla k they'll be criminals
@@jayjohn9680no one loved you as a child.
@@puddincup9879wow, rude much?
many of the adults around you may have experienced the same upbringing. i always said no kids so they'd not get the same treatment but what was the plans for myself in all of this...i didnt ever make plans to deal with myself as a grown-up, as an adult
shame on the fathers of these children
Shame on the mothers for chosing to sleep with and make babies with the neighborhood losers. .
The MOMS are always the problem...
@@boogaloobobby7246FOUND THE INCEL 😂😂😂😂😂
@@boogaloobobby7246That doesn’t make sense. Moms don’t create children by themselves. Take the gender war to therapy and then look at the facts.
@@boogaloobobby7246Naw that doesn’t make any sense for it to not be both people at fault. It’s ok for you to not like women but don’t abandon common sense.
@@boogaloobobby7246 it's not a choice to be raped
I was 6 yrs old in 1986 and my dad worked very hard to keep me and my 5 brothers and sisters out of poverty, every hour of overtime he could get , that's what being a man is all about....
I was 6 to wow looks soo old. Im ancient😂
Yes my mom was on drugs and my dad raised me and was great. It was when my aunt watched me, who had 4 kids. She would send us to steal, and very little food there. So believe me I'm happy things have changed.❤❤❤
I had to relearn many things growing up. Also there were a lot of se🎉xual behaviors back then. They weren't speaking on. I mean look how many kids everyone has... ❤ Within a small environment. That's my thoughts. ❤
My Uncle Donald Boone is in this documentary..He died today..R.I.P. ❤❤❤
r.i.p to him
Condolences
🙏
Sorry for your loss
So sorry for your loss
depressive mothers on wellfare with Small kids is a viscious cicle for all involved
Yes it is! And being depressed and poor can be a chicken and egg cycle
Frontline need to do documentaries like this again instead of the non stop political docs they’ve done lately
Its because mass media can keep you preoccupied with abortion, LGBT, ect.
In stead of real issues like this, if your ignorant youll just keep going with the flow an these issues will continue to be brought up over an over again😢
They did one about the Astros
This doc is political. Welfare and child poverty are 100% politically charged topics. Social issues are political issues, full stop.
Abortion and LGBT aren't real issues? What's that supposed to mean? Of course they're real issues. You really don't think that abortion and LGBT overlap with child-rearing and family dynamics? Dismissing these topics isn't very "family values" of you.
They are important issues, but we need an updated version of this in 2024 because things have gotten far worse for the poor.. many, just a few years ago, were middle class citizens..@Whoawait
I wonder how Danny is doing? He was absolutely adorable.
My parents both grew up poor and they made sure that didnt happen to me, they both graduated high school and worked and put themselves through college. They got married and waited to have children, they wanted to make sure they could financially support having children. I wasnt quite 2 years old when they bought the house that they still own today. My parents and grandparents are very loving people and even though they were poor my grandparents always made sure they had a roof over their heads and food to eat, fortunately my Father's stepdad was a wealthy man and when he married my grandmother they finally got out of poverty. I was very fortunate growing up and i can only imagine what my parents went through growing up poor.
I would love to know what became of all the people on this video so many years later.
Me too. Some of these people would be my age now (55).
the audio quality for something of this era/age is fantastic
Yes❤ someone else said it... No wonder I always had headaches ❤
I worked in the mid-1980’s with a church run food program in northern New York State. A woman was referred to us for a home visit. We found a lady of about 35 who had mild Down Syndrome, three children, ages 5, 7, and 11. It was October and they were not registered in any school. There was a man who was the father of the two younger children but he hadn’t been around for at least a month. There was NO food in the apartment, just a box of baking soda from which the mother had made salt water for the kids to drink! The 7 year old was clearly malnourished and sickly. By the end of the day, social services had taken them into a battered women’s shelter and the sick child was hospitalized. I have no idea what became of them.
When she opened the fridge and cabinets, my heart broke :(. Reminded me of my childhood until my parents learned about food pantries.
Now a days that would be considered illegal. I just totally found it beyond rude. How they can even talk about poor people like they have a choose.Would like to know if they were alive now what they would say!
The nurse asked, do you have any other food in the house? One of the dumbest questions asked.
Flash forward : No dads, same problem.
People of 2023 wish it was 1986 again.
Dads are the problem lol
@@Michadoo womans are the big problem
My mom had 4 kids by the time she was my age. I have 0, we are not repeating this bulls-hit
@@BlackandProud350traveling and corny holidays are so fulfilling lmao
I will never understand how this country has these problems. Just recently I was reading about some governors are turning down increased food benefits because they don't believe in handouts. Reading these things is always a perfect summary/reminder of why poverty is a thing in this country. We need to break the chains of generational poverty/trauma so people can see that there is a future. But, while I have hope, am not confident I will see this happen in my lifetime.
Oh please, you people act as if poverty is a new problem. 🙄
This is my life! But my parents always stressed education. Graduated high school and went to college. Never want to be poor again!
Glad they knew that education is the key out of poverty
Kitty wright and her boyfriend scared the crap out of me. Can’t imagine those 2 with a child, especially with their parents alcoholism. The smartest person in this doc was Daniel Boone. He told the truth.
Did they touch on why kitty dropped out of school? That was such a shame
I was one of those kids,I ended out working jobs after job, paycheck to paycheck,until I met a man I married it wasn't until 10 years later he swallowed his pride and accepted VA benefits for our kids,if we didn't have that money I will still be poor and die poor,like everyone I grew up with sure some got out of it but most are STILL struggling with substance abuse severe mental illness and still poor.
If u don't mind me asking why wouldn't he accept his VA stuff initially?
Sad only 50 thousand people have seen this so important for the future to learn from,but make a video say a glitter bomb and 40 million will watch.
Its not a crime to be poor. They are treating these people like shit. I feel so sorry for that single deaf Mum.
I felt the same after seeing this.. They were not empowering these people at all. They are so judgemental and actually get an attitude with them.. shocking that they could get away with talking to the people they are supposed to be helping like this. It's so sad. The story about the cat and what the mom saw as a child really broke my heart.
Not a crime but how about instead of making babies try to better yourself. Neither of my parents went to college but worked their way up in the world. It’s possible.
@DONNELLOABSOLUTELY 💯!!!!
@DONNELLOThen what are they supposed to do? The kids can’t just leave. 🤦🏾♀️
@DONNELLO That doesn’t make any sense. Your fallacy is not a rebuttal. My point is that once kids are born, they’re here and they need help. Telling them they shouldn’t have had kids doesn’t help them now.
Anybody can have hard times - one bad health problem/ fire / death can put a once healthy, happy family on the dole !!!
Yes, "THAT" road is a moment away. But those who deliberately choose the road by taking drugs are just selfish.
Truth in this, every single day..
And shipping jobs overseas hasn't helped either.
@redfoot69 you must mean in Alaska. Yeah, we get those all the time ⏲️ SMH
38yrs later and it's still the same story.... 🤔 Tell me what is wrong here? I think we all know.
the juice
Culture and behavior?
Government and bankers
What a dame shame. Nothing has changed except the year
Just the terrible verbal communication with these kids paints the whole picture. They will have no future
Well, they do have a slim chance...I worked my way out if it. Those are Gen Z kids...tough as nails survivors. Whoever survived to this age seriously earned it 👏
@@aqua6613These children would be millennials or Gen X
Nothing has really changed but things have got a lot worse since 1986 the past 38 years.
I grew up about 15 minutes away from Chester, PA and I remember that area as always being run-down & crime-ridden. It made no sense to me when they built that casino there; why build a casino when the residents are impoverished? And now I'm hearing that the hospital, Crozier-Chester is now up for sale? Casino, but no hospital?
i remember when i was 4 years old in west covina ca my mom had my brother pluck oranges from someones backyard so we could have something to eat back in 1981 , now i make good mpney in construction and my brother is a lieutenant San Diego PD t
This was so interesting and somewhat of a journey back in time! Do we know how any of these young people are doing today?
I looked up the young lady they interviewed at the High School and according to her Facebook account, she did very well in life..became a nurse and travels ❤
My mother is in this video I do remember this her name is Margaret Rudy I’m her oldest son and I am very proud of myself life is now
I grew up poor can remember eating sugar sandwiches for dinner, I’m doing well now, but like to keep my pantry, fridge and deep freezer full of food, food insecurity is hard to shake
No offence but I feel pretty blessed. They don’t have the best shoes or the best clothes. But my kids have shelter and food and love. That’s all I can give you
Geez
@@KingyHiatuses ????
I grew up in a trailer park a lot as a kid and I never went hungry but I was around kids this poor and what I noticed was every family would keep alcohol and cigarettes and do some kind of drugs. They would sell their foodstamps for cash to do their drugs and the kids suffered. Welfare the way its set up isn't the answer. I thinks they should be drug tested because I've seen with my own eyes people selling the stamps for their habits and the kids suffer.
Hmm so based on what people you knew were doing 50 years ago we should limit access to food for children just cause they have addicts for parents? You’re a C.
People are such big fans of this but in reality, soooo many MORE kids would suffer if they put that system in place. Parents would avoid the welfare system all together and wouldn’t get healthcare, school lunches and the other benefits. It would be HORRIFIC what happens to these kids. ALLOWING fathers in jail to have ACTUAL jobs and send back money in the form of child support would be an ACTUAL help for soooo soooo many moms.
Father of the baby is responsible for being there for the child exactly, I hate it when they have the audacity to go after the aunties & uncles expecting them to take care of THEIR responsibility!!
Their all grown now broken people from broken people having other broken people.
I was in a family of 11 we ate commodities and was glad for it Christmas came from salvation army we are white no matter what race we all came out and got a job 👍 I don't regret it we were close family ❣️❣️
We definitely know that a lot of white people were and are still poor. That's why welfare was created. They are still to this day the majority of the recipients on the system.
I would like to see where these kids are at today, the parents too
Danny does not need to explain to his classmates what medication he is taking. It is none of their business.
Absoutely, just like covid vaccination status, none of anyone's business. Great point.
Don't think they had the HIPPA laws back then...
@@aqua6613HIPAA only applies to medical personnel.
Something actually worth watching. I appreciate anything with proper sentence speech. Like this documentary.
I understand how hard it was to make good meals with the food you got from foodbanks back in the 1980's. There wasn't grow co-ops like now, or farmer collaborations with services to provide fresh produce any part of the year, let alone the growing part of the year!! I use a foodbank now, as an older adult in Toronto, Ontario, Canada: we are very fortunate to have Second Harvest here, getting donations of produce not sellable in stores, but still good to eat. Also, dairy, and meat available at the banks. Some food banks have their own vegetable gardens and we can get produce in good supply all year!! I am fed well from Toronto foodbanks in 2023. I used to use them every week a couple of years ago, now I use them twice a month.
Our children are living in poverty because of decisions made by their parents. Dropping out of school, having children early, no skill development, and no commitment to education will continue to equate to more poverty. I think people can avoid poverty by focusing on the four items listed above.
Focus on developing families where the husband is the head of the family.
Thank feminism and welfare for all this mess
I agree but it's still a little deeper. Jobs were taking out of urban cores. And new jobs weren't replaced. Schools were overcrowded with uncertified teachers using teaching methods that weren't evidence based. Opportunities in school was highly skewed due to zip codes. Systemic racism is a basis for a lot of this BUT poor decision making definitely is a BIG part of this.
What if the husband's an idiot?
@@iWorshipnHeelsBusinesses close because of CRIME, not racism.They knew what color their employees were going to be before they opened in the first place.
If better schools mean better opportunities, why do people protest against bad schools closing and their kids' " forced integration" into those better schools?
@@3namechangezalowdevry90day7 That's not all the way true. A lot of business pulled out to outsource work. It was not strictly because of crime. Furthermore, if I'm confined to a school by my zip code, have no transportation to get to a "better school" or other districts don't offer school choice for outside residents, you will ask for schools to stay open. What alternative were brought to these areas at the time?
Minute 32. NOT TRUE!! I grew up in rural area where the nearest clinic was 15 miles away. no license, no job. How was I supposed to get that birth control? There wasn't a clinic on wheels that delivered baskets of condoms to the neighborhood.
Her statement that teenage girls WANT babies, ladyyyyyy these girls are just ignorant or even careless but how can you make such a general statement as a medical professional. She seems like she didn’t enjoy helping these people. Birth control does NOT work perfectly for everyone. There are many reasons why some girls can’t or won’t go on it. Don’t generalize, it just spreads hate
The poor, r the same all over. They have kids young,mostly out of wedlock, unstable relationships, lack of education, no job, No bk acct, and no stable housing . Its often generational, with government dependency.
I hope these people are doing well or at least better 🙏.
What is sad is that almost 40 years later, things aren't really getting better. There is still an epidemic of poverty in this country. Until the government takes serious steps to remedy the problems and public opinion can be changed to stop viewing the poor as "lazy" and casting shame on them, we will not see any real improvement in the situation.
Well said... I see the same things up here in Canada... I don't know how you intercede and break the cycle shown in this program... a "positive feed back cycle" at that that gets worse generation by generation... I don't know man, this doc. kinda left me feeling like shit man.
I'd love... and likely loath... to see some of these parents and kids today 35 years on eh?
After you watch these following episodes, you might have already come to the conclusion:
Note: This very episode:
PBS Frontline: Growing Up Poor (1986)
was released in 1986. Take a look at the year of the issuance of each episode.
－－－－－－－－－－－－－
PBS Frontline: Pentagon, Inc. (1983), th-cam.com/video/pDcIWB7Ag8g/w-d-xo.html
PBS Frontline: Taxes Behind Closed Doors (1986), th-cam.com/video/dS6ciTHrTCc/w-d-xo.html
PBS Frontline: The Politics of Greed (1987), th-cam.com/video/Mu9Ca330xo0/w-d-xo.html
----------------------------
PBS Frontline: Bread Butter and Politics (1984), th-cam.com/video/MCVOu9sCL5I/w-d-xo.html
Growing Up Poor In America (full film) | FRONTLINE (Premiered Sep 9, 2020), th-cam.com/video/qAxQltlGodA/w-d-xo.html
--------------------------------
Britain: Poor Children, Rich Country I ARTE Documentary tv reportage news (ARTE Documentary, Jun 21, 2021), th-cam.com/video/VA0eY8k2IMk/w-d-xo.html
Don't rely on a government for anything.
Government can't fix everything
Oh it's much worse now. Wealth inequality (1% vs. 99%) is higher now than before the French Revolution *if you include slavery*. It's the worst it's ever been period. And all anybody can talk about is individual-level choices/responsibilities: no father, drug addiction, mental illness, etc. There would be something wrong with you if you didn't become mentally ill in an environment like this.
I was 6 growing up in Camden NJ; to a single mother, so this was like a Time Machine
This was hard to watch, heart breaking to see the poor kids and family’s struggling like that especially the little boy Danny. It seems from what they were saying that he had ADHD hence the Ritalin. I bet there was alot of over medication for this in the 80’s. Im glad neurodiversity awareness is better now a days.
"Not having a father contributes to poverty" *arrests black men for non-violent, non-sexual crimes*
Why aren’t we doing more about birth control education? Maybe some of these people might not even know where babies come from.
Birth control is not 100%. My daughter, now 24, is a pill baby. I was on 2 birth control pills a day, and I took them regularly right before work. Condoms break or the guy can take a needle and put holes in them. Nothing is 100% except abstinence.
@@mlkirkl09 What b.c. pill needs to be taken twice a day?
Do you think people are dumb as your question is? Of course they know where they come from and how babies are concieved. Most the parents in this documentry most probably all ready dead from aids and their dope use. Thing is look up the surviving children of these parents and see if they lived to rise above their parents stupidity and apparent lazieness. School dropouts can get a free G.E.D. at the tax payers expense and they even get paid to study and get it. Everybody was not born to be money rich and all not to be born poor or stay that way. Look into how much taxpayers money gets wasted on and embezzled in the HUD and public the housing sector. Should a public housing director own about 30 vehichles and 4 BMW motorcycles and 2 farms. Ours does here in Bristol Tn. While the highrise we live in is going to shit. But gotta live some where right? Birth control and abortion was created by devious white skins for a whole different reason than you think it was. It would be too much for you to wrap your brain around if I took the time to educate you about those 2 things.
@@mlkirkl09 God had to show you He and He alone is the Maker and Taker of life and who is to be born.
You cant seriously mean that?!
when the narrator stated there are only 2 visiting nurses assigned for at home care in Chester with 14,000 kids that opened my eyes wide. How does that work, how could that possibly work.. a set up for failure. I wonder where this community, and many others like it, are today?? Hypothesis, probably not thriving communities
The nurse talking IS THE LIGHT that helps.
It’s startling how much has progressed and much of which hasn’t since 86. Were stuck as a human race. God bless us and future generations.
I grew up poor. I am middle class now. It's still not quite enough but the poverty made me resourceful. I'm working towards the next class up.
The one woman last name Santiago has four children, she's unmarried and she's pregnant. And then these people wonder why they live in poverty?
Unbridled capitalism requires a permanent lower class. So many simply look down on the poor, it's easier than looking at the system.
Why is "the system" responsible of taking care of these children?
If it required dads things would be much better. If only we we could elect a black president.
@@Iworkwithnitwits Because the system is already spending a lot of money on war and corporate welfare yet publicizing things such as health care is scene as barbaric. The fire department use to be privately operated and the interstate highway system is a public utility that millions of Americans use to get from place to place.
@@kastaway2 You do know there are people on the left who don't like Obama right? Instead of hinting at the fact that you don't like liberals just say it. We're all getting screwed over by the two party system yet you want to engage in sports teams politics.
@@Iworkwithnitwits they sale out foster kids today as work and sex slaves as they did some back then too. Yes it happens just as much as in other countries.Lot of money to be made in that bussieness.
as mid 40s and grew up in similar era and conditions, this was a hard watch. not because i dont want to face it but because i already forgave and healed from that life. in my case seeing this video was unecessarily opening up old wounds.
but i am glad this exists for educational purposes.
as a bonus to whoever sees this:
if i had to do it again, i would wish for an even harder path. those hardships helped shape me into one badass mofo. i am grateful for my past.
Me too. I'm working on becoming a child trauma specialist ❤
Wow it really looks like 2023 it really hasn't changed since.... Isn't that sad...
The psychological effect it has on you is life long. I knew we were poor and my parents were always very stressed out. I was born in 1986 and my parents were 16 and 17 when they had me. How hard it must have been back then to be poor and have children with special needs. It’s so hard now I can only imagine back then 😢
Both of my parents were immigrants from war-torn countries... I didn't grow up poor but I grew up raised by parents who were used to being poor so I think it gave me a different set of values like I know the difference between what I want and what I need
I grew up like this and I have disagree with the lady when she says the kids see their parents getting the welfare so they just say I'll do the same thing, no it made us strive harder and want to succeed, further our education and work back breaking jobs and leave the poverty behind so one day we could buy my Momma a house. and then later on she says the girls are having babies because they want to and every teenage girl knows where to get birth control, this is also not true, who the hell is this lady and what's with her assumptions and pushing them as fact?
Fatherhood has not increased. That's the issue mostly
Well until the school to prison pipeline is destroyed there'll always be a lack of men in the communities.
But we refuse to look at all the other factors that surround the life of boys.
Especially BLACK BOYS.
I personally didn’t grow up poor, both my parents were physicians but my parents told me one valuable lesson that keeps women in poverty especially is having too many children with a broke man or a husband that don’t have two cents to his name
The political parties are lining their pockets instead of putting the money into these areas. Each state is given so much money per year for this purpose.
The doctor states, "The girls want to have babies" after giving a speech on how birth control can be accessed. Why not mention that the teenage boys must have wanted them as well...
Is sad but some religions continue saying let’s have the children god’s wanted please if you are not prepared don’t have it
I remember people like this coming to my house when I was little. A couple times. Olny because they made my mom feel so stupid and treated her so bad we starved and went with even less because of that. And if I did t go through all that I don't think I'd be as open eyed as I am today. And I am out of that cycle.
@DONNELLO it's not always about not being responsible and not working for a living . Just goes to show you and so many others have no clue of the hell that life can throw at people that takes time to get out of . Guess all the textile workers in the 80's who lost their jobs and pensions overnight were just irresponsible bums according to you and the rest of the sanctimonious. Yes many people are irresponsible and lazy , but you can't judge everyone by the actions of others .
@DONNELLO moms can't work when daycare is so expensive. Maybe the dad should have been more responsible
They tested my parents like idiots. I mean they were. They were abusive. But it was because of the poverty and they spoke a different language that they tested them like that. This lady/nurse whoever in the documentary is a total asshole.
@@up-uw4op maybe. But if he was chances are I'd have had to have a baby with him. My mom found out when she was pregnant after a few years of a relationship with him that he was abusive and well abusive to young girls. So in the middle of the night she left him. Taking a chance and hitching from Florida to Michigan. I'm not saying these choices were smart but we all screw up when young some more then others. Needless to say I broke that cycle.
We could only afford to have 2 kids ......we had 2 kids and we still struggled. Point is, we had what we could afford
I mean these people are struggling too… it sounds like neither of yall could afford to have kids to be honest. But that shouldn’t be the take away, the question should be why? Why if you want 2 kids or 7, why can’t you afford to raise them if you have a job in this nation anddd assistance… Let’s try not to normalize struggling while blaming parents who are struggling and trying their best. The issue isn’t them or the kids, it’s costs goods, rent, education, job opportunities, welfare that doesn’t do enough to get someone back on their feet, and on and on..
The poor will always be among us.
If there is no poor , then there is no rich. ! So of course There will always be poor people, but mainly there will always be a lot. There will always be 100x more poor than there is rich
Of course they will, capitalism requires it
Would love to see a Where Are They Now for anyone still around in 2022
Hi me an my siblings still alive but my mom Margaret pass away in 89 we are the fsecond family who they came in my mom house an open our freezerator
@@myrnaiglesias4806 did you go to a good foster family? Did all your siblings end up successful?
Wow she died very young. She wasn't even 40 years old yet. She died 4 years after this documentary was made? Are all of you kids doing well?
@@myrnaiglesias4806 how your mom pass
Kitty wright passed away
Umm, you could re-make this film now and use St. Louis. Voters have allowed the poor to become absolutely destitute.
Omg! U truly think a few good politicians will help?!? Look at big corporations and how they are in reality politicians “bosses”…. There is SOO much that needs to change in America. Its definitely got wayyy worse
every time I see this I can't help but think of how Reagan failed America so very hard
Geez. He got us out of the malaise era, did he not?!?
It's a tragedy that our government never cared about us. I was one of these left behind children. They didn't care and they still don't. 😢
Did both your parents work?
@@Joycemcnamara a 200 year old school system made to produce factory workers and a government run on greed is what made my mother fail. She knew nothing but poverty. A lot worse than what was portrayed here. She didn't know who my father was due to the horrific circumstances. She was Cherokee. When it comes down to it, America should be ashamed of itself.
If only your parents had cared, as they were supposed to, and maybe you wouldn't have ended up feeling like the government was responsible for your welfare.
@@ebrakefml you shouldn't speak of things you know nothing about.
@@wanderingIvy67You are stating your mom was raped. She should have gone to the police. America can't raise kids. They need a mother and a father, period.
This is so sad. Especially the second case. I pray Danny is doing good & is a productive adult❣️🙏🏾
He seems to be acting
@@MDavis-zy6nz terrible thing to say😖
I broke my family’s generation curse❤
Listening at her opening! The separation beeeeenn going on, but we’re accused of it often in 2023!
It should be a crime to have all these kids not having any money to take care of them so sad
Yes lock the men up
If you cant feed your kids, stop having them!
48:03, Melle Mel, “The Message”, lol. If you know, you know lol😁
Birth control needs to be discussed with these single mothers. When I was in college and didn't have much money I practiced birth control
People should have to fill out an application if they want to have kids just to prove that they're financially and mentally stable.
Would love an update to see how the children grew up and if they fell into the same cycle.
Very selfish to want a child to love you because you’re poor. It’s not fair on the child!
So poor people shouldn't be able to have children?
@@sr2291ideally nobody should have more kids than they can take care of adequately
@@sr2291 No they absolutely shouldn't. Poor people having children they cannot care for is one of the biggest problems in the world. It perpetuates poverty and causes extreme suffering.
@@sr2291 To be poor and have children is cruel and unusual punishment for the children.
@@jflsdknf Prove it.
I would like to know what became of these kids?
It's surprising that folks often wonder why there aren't more resources for mentally ill children of poor and working class backgrounds. In the US, prisons represent a business with an annual profit of 72 Billion dollars. The more difficult the situation for a youth, epecially someone with mental or emotional differences, the more likely they are to be incarcerated later in life.
When did this aire on television?
In 1986 😊
@@bettywiendels5714 yeah but what month? Do you know?
@@xnibbybooksavage No, I don’t know what month it was, just in 1986.
My great auntie(and her husband) raised my two cousins in Chester, first on 3rd St and ultimately on 9th street from 60s-80s. I spent many summers there from NC.
When the US Government began the Welfare benefits, the black father was replaced by a check. It began an almost 55(so far)year horror show of mainly black families living without fathers. The result has been terrible for the children who have had no role model
In order to receive welfare the black fathers couldn’t be in the house…
Hugs danny😢
Don't have babies if you cannot take care of business.
Did you even watch this?
That advice doesn’t help someone who already has a baby.
Or married
@ToLovelyJesus But it can help the next generation if they care enough to listen.
"and the hearts of men will grow cold"...."the last days".
20:46 drugging the children was a bad choice. A decision made in error.
They really need to be harder on these fathers. I know Deadbeat Moms are a thing too, but Deadbeat dads been around for hundreds of years now with the same outcome. Not prison, but more along the lines of that same program they had for moms who had to work demeaning jobs to receive welfare in the '90's and early 2000s.
Imagine today with this inflation
This reminds me of my childhood 😢
Crazy how things don’t really change.
Like someone said, “History often rhymes.”
Great 👍🏾 documentary. I learned a lot of what happened about being poor.