Michael Eric Dyson, “Come Hell or High Water”

HAVE-NOTS.HAVES.

The American economy produces more goods and services than the 163 poorest nations in the world combined.

FACT:

And in the United States, one man alone …

Bill GatesBill Gates

… is wealthier than the 40 million poorest Americans combined.

FACT:Americans spend nearly $1 billion a day eating

out.

A soup kitchen inDetroit, Michigan.

And yet, 20 million Americans a year go hungryat some point because they can’t afford food.

The average adult in the U.S. has had 12 years of schooling.

That makes us the most educated population in the world.

FACT:

And yet, 50 million adults cannot read at a fifth-grade level.

FACT:There are 130 million homes in the U.S. About 18 million of them are vacant.

And yet, 3.5 million Americans will be homeless for at least a few nights this year.

And yet, 3.5 million Americans will be homeless for at least a few nights this year.

MARGINALIZATIONDoes everyone have a shot

at the American Dream?

How deep are the roots of

inequality?

What is the American Dream? • wealth • safety • happiness • What does it take

to get ahead in the world? • values • support • Does race make a difference in

who succeeds and who fails? • less than • more than • Are rich kids more likely

to make it in life than poor kids? • graduation • incarceration • What can be done

to give people equal opportunity to succeed? • chef’s kitchen • soup kitchen •

What is the American Dream? • wealth • safety • happiness • What does it take

to get ahead in the world? • values • support • Does race make a difference in

who succeeds and who fails? • less than • more than • Are rich kids more likely

to make it in life than poor kids? • graduation • incarceration • What can be done

to give people equal opportunity to succeed? • chef’s kitchen • soup kitchen •

What is the American Dream? • wealth • safety • happiness • What does it take

to get ahead in the world? • values • support • Does race make a difference in

who succeeds and who fails? • less than • more than • Are rich kids more likely

to make it in life than poor kids? • graduation • incarceration • What can be done

to give people equal opportunity to succeed? • chef’s kitchen • soup kitchen •

What is the American Dream? • wealth • safety • happiness • What does it take

to get ahead in the world? • values • support • Does race make a difference in

who succeeds and who fails? • less than • more than • Are rich kids more likely

to make it in life than poor kids? • graduation • incarceration • What can be done

to give people equal

put your voice on recordRAWWRITE

How deep are the roots of

inequality?