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Mother Tongue

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In her article, “Changing the Face of Poverty: Nonprofits and the Problem of Representation,” Diana George depicts the portrayal of poverty in the USA by non-profit organizations. These organizations want their ad-viewers to believe that the neediest people are being dealt with and do so through the usage of pictures capturing the hungriest of children in tattered, ragged or clothing. Furthermore they show “fallen down shacks and trashed out public housing, broken windows, dilapidated porches, barefoot kids with stringy hair, emaciated old women and men staring out at the camera with empty eyes.” The poverty that is shown by these organizations are the “deserving;” those people that should be receiving help and aid. George argues that poverty is not limited to just those factors. There are many individuals, whom, although do not look as if they have been struck by poverty, are factually in dire need. Georges quotes Bell Hooks saying that in this culture poverty “is seen as synonymous with depravity, lack and worthlessness. I talked with young black women receiving state aid, who have not worked in years, about the issue of representation. They all agree that they do not want to be identified as poor. In their apartments they have material possessions that indicate success (a VCR, a color television), even if it means that they do without necessities and plunge into debt to buy these items.” This is an image of poverty, although hardly, but it is enough to question if they are ‘worthy’ applicants of organizations such as Habitat of Humanity. Habitat of Humanity is an organization which provides shelters to those who are in need of it, mainly circling around those who live on the streets and in shabby shelters as shown in their advertisings. The fashion in which poverty is illustrated, limits ones understanding of poverty and one’s qualification to receive aid.

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