Book contents
- Dangerously Divided
- Dangerously Divided
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Tables
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Part I Fault Lines
- Part II The Consequences – Racial Inequality in Representation
- Part III Immigration’s Rising Impact on American Democracy
- Part IV Seeking Greater Equality
- 7 Democratic Party Control and Equality in Policy Responsiveness
- 8 Democratic Party Control and Minority Well-Being
- 9 Where Will We Go from Here?
- Notes
- Appendix
- References
- Index
8 - Democratic Party Control and Minority Well-Being
from Part IV - Seeking Greater Equality
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 January 2020
- Dangerously Divided
- Dangerously Divided
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Tables
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Part I Fault Lines
- Part II The Consequences – Racial Inequality in Representation
- Part III Immigration’s Rising Impact on American Democracy
- Part IV Seeking Greater Equality
- 7 Democratic Party Control and Equality in Policy Responsiveness
- 8 Democratic Party Control and Minority Well-Being
- 9 Where Will We Go from Here?
- Notes
- Appendix
- References
- Index
Summary
Clementine Matthias, a single African-American mother, was told that her son would most likely never walk on his own. Born prematurely and weighing barely more than a pound, Frankie had little chance of surviving a week. But with his mother’s tireless efforts, Frankie now walks and attends a specialized high school. Life for the family, however, is a real struggle. Indeed, they are never far from being destitute. They lost their Section 8 subsidized apartment in the Bronx in late 2013, and were forced into a homeless shelter. The fraught situation led Ms. Matthias to take desperate measures. She was caught shoplifting, and she then spent time in a correctional facility. She nearly lost custody of Frankie and her daughter, Nevaeh. But Ms. Matthias fought her way out of the shelter and out of the crisis. The family now has an apartment, and Nevaeh is thriving in school, but finances are exceptionally tight. They live largely off of disability, welfare, and food stamps. They could use much more. They are hanging on, but who knows for how much longer?
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Dangerously DividedHow Race and Class Shape Winning and Losing in American Politics, pp. 221 - 245Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020