The Kids With The Dirty Clothes

We can spot them anywhere in the US.  Their hair may be unkempt.  They may be in the back of the class, dozing off, completely distracted from school.  Other times, they are wandering up and down the streets in town aimlessly and unsupervised, even when maybe they’re supposed to be in school.  Most have a distinct bulge coming from the feet being too big for the small, beat-up shoes they are wearing.  Some may have a couple holes in their shirts.  These are the kids with the dirty clothes. 

We see them.  We may notice their imperfections.  We may even give them a thought.  But we don’t look at them….. not REALLY look at them.  We live in a world of Instagram Filters, so we don’t want to take too much notice of the ugliness in the world.  But, if we did take the time to really look at these kids; we would see the real problem with these kids. 

These kids are sleeping in class because it is hard to get a good night’s sleep when there is no heat; or you are sharing a twin bed with your brothers and sisters.  These kids are roaming the streets because there’s is nothing to entertain them at home; or they’re too embarrassed to invite their friends over.  They may get a new pair of shoes at the start of the school year; but there will be no replacements until the next Fall.  Hand-me-downs are standard; and if they are lucky- there won’t be too many holes.  And throwing a load of laundry on takes lots of consideration when there is limited water. 

Statistics show that there are 50 million people in the United States living below the poverty level.  About 15 million of these people are children.  Research shows that poverty is the single greatest threat to children’s well being.  Its affects spread into every facet of becoming a functional member of society, from education to mental health.  Mississippi had the highest poverty rate of the nation for 2019. So, these children are our children. 

It is easy to put this on someone else’s shoulders. ‘Maybe the kids’ parents should do better. Maybe they should get a job. Maybe they should be better parents.’ We can blame the parents and, in some cases, we wouldn’t be wrong. Let’s face it- in EVERY walk of life, there are some real garbage parents out there. The only difference is that, when a child is living in poverty, there are 10x as many disadvantages already stacked up against him. They say it takes a village to raise a child. When that child is born deep down in a hole and has all the cards stacked against him. The village has to take steps to pull them out of the hole. This should be the first step.

These kids don’t need a new Nintendo. They don’t need the latest Jordans. These kids need consistency and stability. They need a sense of pride in themselves, despite the circumstances they were born into. It is only through consistency, stability and pride that they will develop into thriving members of society. The lack of these foundational assets of life is the reason we are seeing this ongoing cycle in our community today.

So, the question is this: If the children of our community cannot build upon a foundation at home, how will we as a society start to SEE these children and help them build a stable foundation to grow elsewhere? I’ve preached to my own children that it doesn’t matter what the outside world does or takes from you. And it doesn’t matter how much help you receive along the way. Ultimately, the level of success you achieve depends on what’s inside of you. There has to be a sense of self-worth, a desperate drive for success; and a sense of dignity within each person for them to become a contributing member of society.

The possibility and the hope is there. There are countless people who have overcome childhood poverty and gone on to become some of the most successful people in the nation. Somewhere, at some point in time, for these once impoverished children, someone REALLY saw them and acknowledged their worth. As we walk around this town, with its neglected buildings and houses, and we gripe about the lack of business opportunities and the lack pride in our community, let us take a moment to stop and really see the children also being neglected and their own lack of pride within themselves. For, if these children are not seen now, we will be griping about them in the future. The current state of our community is proof.

Do I have all the solutions to help these children? Heck no!!! But when I am faced with a problem, I try to find a solution. So, I guess that is what today’s blog is about. Who has a suggestion on how we can really see our community’s children and instill in them the self-worth that every one of God’s children is entitled to?

If you are reading this and have a suggestion- please comment. If you are reading this and have no idea what we can do about it- please share this blog. We are the village. These are our children. This is our community’s future. We can point fingers. We can get angry with the system. We can get angry with each other. But none of these things will improve the situation.

And because I always find comfort in food. And because everyone is entitled to a good meal without breaking the bank. And in sticking with my blog’s format. And because it is SO GOOD… I’ve found a recipe for this week that everyone can enjoy for cheap!!!

POOR MAN’S BURRITO BOWLS (www.budgetbytes.com)

Ingredients

• 2 cups uncooked long grain white rice ($1.32)
• 1/2 tsp salt ($0.02)
• 2 15 oz. cans black beans ($0.98)
• 1/2 tsp cumin ($0.05)
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder ($0.02)
• 1 16 oz. jar salsa ($2.37)
• 6 oz. shredded cheese* ($1.27)
• 1 bunch green onions ($0.89)
• 1 jalapeño (optional) ($0.15)

Instructions

• Add the rice, salt, and 3 cups water to a medium sauce pot. Place a lid on top, turn the heat on to high, and allow the water to come up to a full boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down to low and let it continue to simmer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, turn the heat off and let it sit, with the lid in place, for an additional five minutes. Fluff just before serving.
• While the rice is cooking, make the beans. Add both cans of black beans (undrained) to a small sauce pot, along with the cumin, and garlic powder. Heat over medium, stirring often, until heated through.
• Slice the green onions and jalapeño (if using).
• Once the rice is cooked, build the bowls. Add one cup cooked rice, 1/2 cup warm black beans, 1/3 cup salsa, and 1 oz. shredded cheese (about 1/4 cup) to each bowl. Top with a few sliced green onions and jalapeños, then serve.