Producer Blog: 'State of Inequality'

RALEIGH, N.C. — Some say the difference between affluence and poverty comes down to the choices a person makes, but a child has no choice in what family he or she is born into and socio-economics can determine the opportunities that child will have. Children born into affluence are more likely to have educated parents who read to them while children born into poverty are not. Children born into affluence are more likely to have the opportunity to go to private schools and to college while children born into poverty are not. Children born into affluence are more likely to have their parents’ successful friends as positive role models while children born into poverty are more likely not to have any positive role models at all. As a result, children born into poverty are far more likely to stay there. Yes, the choices people make chart their course in life but not all people have the same options to choose from.