I work in a school in a rough part of town but grew up fairly affluent. I would never pretend to understand how it is to grow up without having much, and I enjoy all the students and staff I work with. In my position now, it's clear that having poverty described in words compared to seeing how deperate people cope are two different things. Being poor is a lot more than just not having money. When I am back with old friends, they ask how bad is it? "You wouldnt believe...." is usually how I answer.

This movie sounds like it offers the images of the things people in and around poverty in American cities have been trying to explain(scream) for years. These are the same images that people outside of poverty never want to see(cant I just write a check?) "Poverty Porn?" well excuse me very much. Dont worry, this is just a movie, it isnt really like that, is it?

What is worse than a movie is when you work with a young, intelligent, and yes, poor black teenage girl only to find out the happy-go lucky kid was raped when she was four, along with her sister beside her, by dad Or the fourteen year old girl that gets pimped and controlled through crack. Its much worse than a 2 hour movie. Everyone has their stories. My point is, when these things happen to people you know and care about, you cant ignore it. And you cant get past it and help the situation unless you at least look at it.

Most families in urban poverty are made up of good people. But too-much-for words drama is still around them, or next door, or down the block. You always "know someone who...."

I dont think that, as a majority, anyone f'n cares. Its just "poverty porn," and 'how dare they make me watch it.'