Two Americas: Racial Differences in Child Poverty in the U.S. A Linear Trend Analysis to the Year 2010. Research in Progress Working Paper.

This analysis is the third in the Center's series on child poverty in America. The first part of this study is a historical view of trends in child poverty by race and Hispanic origin for children in families below the age of 18 years. The second part presents projections of child poverty rates and levels for the three largest racial groups to the year 2010, based on Census Bureau poverty data. Increasing numbers of corporate leaders are recognizing the critical importance of healthy, well-nourished, and well-educated children for the viability of the work force. There is growing concern over recent findings on the relationships of poverty-related conditions such as undernutrition and social deprivation to cognitive deficits and academic failure. It is also recognized that without healthy and productive families, children in poverty experience diminished opportunities through cognitive impairment, inadequate education, lack of basic skills, reduced job performance, and increased morbidity and mortality. Projections suggest that if current trends continue child poverty will increase dramatically for White, Black, and Hispanic American children. By the end of the first decade of the twenty-first century, half of all Black children and more than half of all Hispanic American children will be impoverished. Three tables and six figures present information about poverty trends. (Contains 25 references.) (SLD)