..
PO T RE­
that it is not only
mor lly hameful but also
conomically foolish for our
rich n tion to allow children
to be the poo t group of
citizens. Future I s to the
economy from the effects of
just on y r of child poverty
at the curr nt lev 1 r timated to r n betw n 36 billion
and 177 billion. And that d n't include the costs of special
education, lifelong health problems, violence, and long-term
welfare use tha poverty leav in its wake.
And make no mistake, our high child poverty rates result
from our nation's misguided prioriti . America has waged
wars abroad while ignoring the wars going on in our str ed
homes, decaying school , and violence .. ridden neighborhoods.
The nation chooses to spend $23 billion a month on our defens
budget and to giv away billions in tax breaks to the richest
one percent of American ach y r, whit we skimp shame­
fully on critical inv tm n for childr nand famili .
For too long w have 1 t politi 1 I ders define our priori­
ties. We must demand that el t d officials put children first,
and that has nev r b n mor important than it will be in 1995
when congr debat reform of th nation's welfare system.
NO 1 than th futur of million of Black nd brown and
white children will b at ak in this d b te. '
Iso n ed to be 1 de in our own homes and our
- commu hll, no 0
commi in ha no hi
behind. Writ ntative and Senators
demanding that th y put children' n first on our national
agenda. Tithe a portion of your time, talent, and money for our
children. Become a Big rother, Big Sister, or fost r parent.
If you ar too busy to m ntor or u r, end a needy child to
camp, p' y colle tud nt tutor, or provide a summer job
for a t enager. Mak a diff r nc in th lift of t I ast one child.
Dr. Martin Luth r King, Jr. w right when he id anybody
can serv -with or wi hout du tion and with or without
mon y. PI a e erv childr n in ny w y you can.
Views / Opinions
y
mum m.
Th prison-industri I com­
plex i being fed by th war on
drugs, th war on crime and
gro ing anxieties over pe onal
ecurity.
Ace rdi ng to Rev. J ac on,
the danger is tha th prison-in-
T TE GOVE E T
pending on prison co
h increased by hopping
"612 percent, djusted for infla-
tion, bet n 1979 and 1990."
t
I
,'".WAY
SEHINI>,;
WE�GM
STANt'· SEHINP
OUR TRUCKS .. ,
Marian Wrtght Edelman L the presulen t (If the Children'. Deren. e Furul, (l
uling voice fur ciuldren, und (1 lead r or IIu> Blacl: community Cru ad. for
Children (8 Le). who e mi IOn LS to leau no child b hind. For addiuonal
informauoa 011 how you can jotn I he em .. tuie. roll J -BOO-ASK- JJ C .
lync
not r -cor . ot fl-
·1 7 1 �3
TE.
\ 1'1'11
DID YOU KNOW? .
The earliest Black banks evolvedfrom church
and fraternal group .
wa
ooler
b
By James E. Alsbrook:
worn
ul
nds mor
Ii and
I Il I I H • • 11 h ., f
READERS WRITE
Aisha Shule seeks aid
behind charter strain
DEAR EDITOR: