By Parker Gilkesson

Health care, food, secure housing, and a livable wage are basic human needs. And seeking the help you need to succeed is a statement of human dignity and justice. However, coded language, dog-whistling, and racist stereotypes have reinforced the lie that folks receiving public benefits are exaggerating how poor they really are and that they are likely committing fraud. People experiencing poverty, particularly people of color, have routinely been profiled and policed, leading to higher rates of arrests and fines due to minor offenses. Over-policing and criminalization of people experiencing poverty and hunger also shows up in public benefit programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

At a minimum, those who receive public benefits are forced to endure intrusive questioning, public scrutiny of food choices, and even surprise visits to their homes. However, charges of fraud can lead to disqualification from public benefits and even jail time. This brief will explore the damage of criminalizing hunger through charging SNAP recipients with Intentional Program Violations (IPVs). The report concludes with a list of equitable, anti-racist solutions that shift the focus from fraud and program integrity to dismantling systemic, historical, and structural inequities that exacerbate hunger, while at the same time trusting SNAP recipients to know what’s best for their families.

Of course, no program can survive if it does not take abuses seriously. However, when actions taken in the name of improving program integrity have a strong negative and racially skewed impact on public perceptions of the program, policymakers have a moral obligation to first determine whether those actions achieve their stated goals and then look for less harmful ways to fight fraud. They also must repair the harm these actions have inflicted on innocent recipients’ dignity and trust in government.

Historically, anti-hunger advocates have been afraid to criticize the negative consequences of the focus on “program integrity” and its disproportionate impact on people of color for fear of being accused of defending fraud or legitimizing racist tropes. The reality is that we must properly discuss and address fraud, program integrity, and the over-policing of people experiencing poverty or “aporophobia” to achieve policies that reflect equity, trust, and truth instead of mistrust, mistreatment, and systemic oppression.

Washington DC: CLASP, 2022. 26p.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Health Care Services; Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice; Committee on Unequal Treatment Revisited: The Current State of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care; Georges C. Benjamin, Jennifer E. DeVoe, Francis K. Amankwah, and Sharyl J. Nass, Editors

Racial and ethnic inequities in health and health care impact individual well-being, contribute to millions of premature deaths, and cost the United States hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Addressing these inequities is vital to improving the health of the nation’s most disadvantaged communities—and will also help to achieve optimal health for all. In 2003, the Institute of Medicine examined these inequities in Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care.

Because disparities persist, the National Academies convened an expert committee with support from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Institutes of Health. The committee’s report reviews the major drivers of health care disparities, provides insight into successful and unsuccessful interventions, identifies gaps in the evidence base, and makes recommendations to advance health equity.

National Academies. 2024. 375p..

Edited by Howard S. Becker

Focus on Deviance: The document explores deviance as an interactive process involving both deviants and non-deviants, emphasizing the importance of societal reactions and labeling.

Historical Context: It highlights the evolution of the study of deviance, noting its roots in general sociology and its shift towards practical applications.

Contributors and Topics: The document includes contributions from various scholars, covering topics like drug addiction, legal stigma, and the social integration of marginalized groups.

Lack of Sentimentality: The new approach to deviance is characterized by alack of sentimentality, focusing on objective analysis and avoiding preconceived notions

Free Press of Glencoe, 1964, 297 pages

By Robert A.LeVine and Donald .T Campbell

Origins and Purpose: The book originated from a 1958 seminar oninternational relations, highlighting the lack of cross-cultural data oninterethnic relations. It aims to address this gap by proposing acooperative research project on ethnocentrism.

Ethnocentrism Defined: Ethnocentrism is described as viewing one's own group as the center of everything, with other groups rated andscaled in reference to it. This includes attitudes, emotions, and collective actions that reinforce group solidarity and intergroup conflict.

Theoretical Framework: The book surveys various social science theories about ethnocentrism, focusing on cross-cultural variations in ethnocentric actions, institutions, ideologies, and attitudes. It aims to clarify contradictions and agreements among these theories.

Research Methodology: The authors developed a field manual for ethnographic research on ethnocentrism, emphasizing the importance of understanding both in group and out group dynamics.

John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1972, 310 pages

By Cyrus Harreld Karraker

Comparative Study: The document explores the role of the sheriff in 17th-century England and the Chesapeake colonies (Virginia and Maryland), highlighting similarities and differences.

Research Challenges: It discusses the difficulty in researching English and colonial records, noting the scattered and incomplete nature of sources.

Sheriff's Duties: The sheriff's responsibilities included court service, financial duties, and maintaining peace. The role was influenced by local conditions andevolved differently in the colonies.

Historical Context: The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical and institutional background to fully grasp the development of local government in the colonies.

University of North Carolina Press, 1930, 219 pages

by A. G. R U S S E L.L

● Focus on Race and Colour: The document explores the social and economic implications of racial differentiation, particularly within the British Colonial Empire, emphasizing the practical importance of these issues over physical differences.

● Historical Context: It discusses the historical development of racial issues, including the impact of European expansion and the Industrial Revolution on race relations.

● Colonial Exploitation: The text highlights the economic exploitation of colonies, particularly in Africa, and the profits made by European companies at the expense of native labor.

● Educational Challenges: The document addresses the educational disparities faced by colonized peoples and critiques the Western educational system for its failure to adequately serve these populations.

London. Gollancz. 1944. 273p.

By EUGENE L. HOROWITZ

● Study Focus: The research investigates the development of attitudes toward African Americans in white children, aiming for objective, verifiable, and significant results.

● Historical Context: The study highlights the historical evolution of attitudes toward African Americans, noting legal and social discrimination dating back to the 17th century.

● Methodology: The research employs three tests involving pictorial materials to measure children's attitudes, focusing on ranking preferences and imagined social situations.

● Findings: The study finds that prejudice begins early in childhood and is influenced more by societal attitudes than direct contact with African Americans.

NY. ARCHIVES OF PSYCHOLOGY. R. S. WOODWORTH, EDITOR. No. 194. 1916. 48p.

By W.D. Weatherford,

Addresses the complex issue of racial adjustment and is introduced by James H. Dillard. It explores the history and progress of Black people from Africa to America, highlighting the struggles and achievements in the face of adversity. The author emphasizes the importance of mutual understanding and trust between races to overcome racial antipathy and achieve social justice. Historical Context: The book provides a detailed account of the African background, the impact of slavery, and the ongoing challenges faced by Black people in America.

NEGRO UNIVERSITIES PRESS. NEW YORK. 1924. 483p.

By Willard Price

THE BLACK GIRDLE. If an inhabitant of Mars could see the Earth according to the color of its peoples, he could observe a broad black sash about the World's waist. The belt of black, within which most of the 140,000,000 black people of the globe live, follows the equator and spreads about twenty degrees to the north and the same distance south. It is not quite broad enough to take in the United States ith its 11,000,000 Negroesbut all the other important groupings of blacks in the world are within this tropical belt. It includes the 11,000,000 Negroes of Central and South America and the 10,000,000 of the West Indies. Most of the 100,000,000 Negroes of Africa are found within these limits….

NY. George H. Doran Co. 1925. 69p.

Kenneth Little

● This book emphasizes that history and social context are more influential than biological race in shaping cultural differences and racial attitudes. Racial prejudice is not innate but learned through socialization, often during early childhood.

● Global Examples: The book provides case studies from various countries, including South Africa, Brazil, Hawaii, and the United States, to illustrate different racial dynamics and policies.

● References: The document includes numerous references to works by various authors on race and society, providing a comprehensive bibliography for further reading.

UNESCO. 1958. 54Pp.

SHANTON, KAREN L.; WOLANIN, TYLER L.

From the document: "Provisions for a secret ballot appear in all states' laws or constitutions [hyperlink]. Consensus that the ballot should be secret--that voters should not be able to be linked to their selections--is a somewhat recent development in American history. How to preserve ballot secrecy and balance it against other election objectives like promoting transparency, protecting against fraud, and ensuring accessibility for all eligible voters is also an ongoing issue, featuring in current election policy debates."

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE. 5 JUL, 2024 4p.

By Tsering Woeser

Context of Self-Immolations: The book discusses the wave of self-immolations in Tibet as a form of protest against Chinese rule, with no tradition of such acts in Tibetan history.

Tapey's Act: The first recorded self-immolation was by a monk named Tapey in 2009, which marked the beginning of a series of similar protests.

Political Significance: Self-immolations are not seen as acts of despair but as sacrifices for a greater cause, aiming to press for political change.

International Attention: These acts have drawn global attention to the situation in Tibet, highlighting the struggle for human rights and autonomy.

This section provides an overview of the motivations and implications of self-immolations in Tibet.

Verso Books, 2016, 114 pages

By Scott Poland

Importance of Training: School personnel, especially counselors, need proper training to effectively handle suicidal students and understand the warning signs.

Administrative Support: Gaining support from top administrators is crucial for implementing a successful suicide intervention program.

Family Involvement: Notifying and involving parents is essential when dealing with suicidal students.

Confidentiality: While students expect confidentiality, it must be broken if a student's welfare is at risk

Guilford Press, 1989, 213 pages

By Alexander Murray

Historical Context: The book exploressuicide in medieval Europe,focusing on the period from the millennium to 1500.

Three-Part Structure: The book is divided into three parts:The Violent against Themselves, The Curse on Self-Murder, and The Mapping of Mental Desolation.

Sources and Evidence: The author uses a wide range of sources, including legal records, chronicles, and religious texts, to examine attitudes and cases of suicide.

Limitations and Scope: The study is limited to medieval Europe, excluding earlier periods and certain groups like the Cathars and Jews.

Oxford University Press, 1998, 485 pages

Edited by Paul Slack

Recurring Themes: The document explores popular protest and rebellion in early modern England, focusing on social, economic, and cultural changes.

Historical Analysis: It includes reappraisals of significant rebellions like the Pilgrimage of Grace and Kett's Rebellion, highlighting local grievances and loyalties.

Youth Involvement: The role of youth groups and apprentices in protests and their impact on political and social movements is examined.

Elite Influence: The document discusses the interaction between elite and popular attitudes, noting how political disputes and elite involvement influenced rebellions.

Cambridge University Press, 1984, 339 pages

By Tahar Ben Jelloun

This book provides a comprehensive understanding of racism, its effects, and the significance of education and representation in addressing racial issues. Racism involves mistrust or disdain towards people with different physical and cultural characteristics. It is not inherent but learned through societal influences. The book emphasizes the importance of educating children about racism, as they can be more receptive to learning and changing attitudes than adults. Contributors share personal stories, reflecting on how racism has affected their lives and the lives of their children, highlighting the need for ongoing dialogue and education. Finally, the book discusses the evolving representation of diverse groups in media and the importance of inclusive imagery to combat racism.

New Press, 1999, 207 pages

By Mark K. Updegrove

Presidential Crises: The book discusses eight U.S. presidents who took office during times of crisis, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy.

Leadership Qualities: It highlights the unique leadership qualities anddecisions these presidents made to navigate their respective crises.

Historical Context: Provides historical context for each president's term, detailing the specific challenges they faced and how they addressed them.

Acknowledgments: The author expresses gratitude to various individuals and institutions that contributed to the creation of the book.

Macmillan, 2009, 292 pages

By Angela Bourke

Historical Context: The book details the harsh winter of 1894/95 inIreland, which led to economic hardship and unemployment amongagricultural laborers.

Bridget Cleary's Illness: Bridget Cleary fell ill in early March 1895, leading to a series of events involving traditional herbal treatments and beliefs in fairies.

Tragic Outcome: Bridget was burned to death by her husband, Michael Cleary, who believed she was a fairy changeling. Her body was discovered on March 22, 1895.

Legal Proceedings: The document outlines the subsequent legal actions, including the inquest, trial, and imprisonment of those involved in Bridget's death.

Pimlico, 1999, 279 pages

By Vernon Bartlett

This book discusses the economic and social aspects of racial prejudices, highlighting that they often stem from deep-seated biases rather than factual differences between races. It emphasizes the 'colour problem' as a significant global issue, with economic disparity and historical domination by whites being central themes. The text delves into the complexities of apartheid in South Africa, exploring the country's unique racial dynamics and the search for solutions. It also touches upon the challenges of immigration in Britain, including public attitudes towards immigrants and the impact on social services.

Chatto & Windus, 1969, 211 pages

By William Johnston

Abe Sada's Story: The book explores the life of Abe Sada, a woman who transitioned from being a geisha to a prostitute and later committed a notorious murder in 1936, which made her an infamous figure in Japan.

Cultural Context: It delves into the cultural, social, and historical context of Japan during the early 20th century, highlighting the intersection of traditional and modern sexual values.

Gender and Sexuality: The narrative examines the boundaries of sexualmorality, gender roles, and the changing perceptions of love andsexuality in modern Japan.

Primary Sources: The book includes translations of Abe Sada's police interrogations and investigation reports, providing a detailed account of her life and the crime she committed.

Columbia University Press, 2005, 245 pages