The Learning Center for Francie Mae’s Blog
Author James Baldwin is quoted as saying “Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor.” It’s also hard to be frugal when you’re poor. As a person who lived in poverty, I can think of many ways that low income Americans pay more and have less. People …
Two of my favorite authors are James Baldwin and Richard Wright. I grew up reading their enlightening books. These literary trailblazers wrote about living black in America. They were both world renowned authors who wrote about the plight of black Americans. They disagreed on some issues but both wrote about memorable and liberating moments in …
I was born and raised in the United States of America. I am a black woman who grew up in poverty in Jim Crow’s racist south. My father served in the Army during WWII. After he was discharged, he was not able to obtain meaningful employment. As a result, we lived in poverty. Two of …
My family and I lived in poverty. We did not have healthcare until the Medicaid Act of 1965. We relied on home remedies when we got sick because we couldn’t afford to go to the doctor. When my brother became too ill for the home remedies to be effective, my father and I walked to …
What are health disparities? A health disparity refers to a higher burden of disability, illness, injury or mortality experienced by one group relative to another. Factors that contribute to health disparity include economic stability, education, access to healthy food, community engagement, access to health care systems, neighborhood and physical environment. People who live in poverty …
Health Disparities and Poverty: A Disastrous Union Read More »
I learned about the power of voting as a child growing up in poverty during the civil rights era. I was too young to vote but I remember the tireless works of the civil rights and voting rights activists. Sometimes poor people may feel powerless and may not think their voice or vote matters. My …
In my professional career, I was privileged to work with the vulnerable and underserved population. Many of the clients we served were struggling with low levels of literacy. Some clients were immigrants and English was not their first language. Almost everyone had difficulty accessing and understanding health information. Some were unprepared to make informed health …
It is my passion to help empower others to change their mindsets from a poverty mentality to an abundance mentality. It is my hope that sharing my story will help change the mindset of how people living in poverty are viewed. I lived in poverty my entire childhood. I believe it is important to know …
I grew up during the Civil Rights Era of the 1960’s. Many civil rights leaders and workers were beaten and killed. National leaders were assassinated. Innocent children and adults were tortured and killed. All these people were black or white people who supported the plight of black people. I was a child during this time …
Many people may think they are not racist or racially biased. It’s easier to hide a belief or attitude about a certain group of people. It’s easier to deny there is a problem. These biases overflow throughout society and contribute to poverty. We all have a role in making a difference for the good of …