American Dream: Three Women, Ten Kids, and a Nation's Drive to End WelfareIn this definitive work, two-time Pulitzer finalist Jason DeParle, author of A Good Provider Is One Who Leaves, cuts between the mean streets of Milwaukee and the corridors of Washington to produce a masterpiece of literary journalism. At the heart of the story are three cousins whose different lives follow similar trajectories. Leaving welfare, Angie puts her heart in her work. Jewell bets on an imprisoned man. Opal guards a tragic secret that threatens her kids and her life. DeParle traces their family history back six generations to slavery and weaves poor people, politicians, reformers, and rogues into a spellbinding epic.
With a vivid sense of humanity, DeParle demonstrates that although we live in a country where anyone can make it, generation after generation some families don’t. To read American Dream is to understand why. |
Contents
| 3 | |
Mississippi 18401960 | 20 |
Chicago 19661991 | 38 |
Milwaukee 19911995 | 59 |
ENDING WELFARE | 83 |
Washington 19351991 | 85 |
Washington 19921994 | 101 |
Washington 19941995 | 123 |
Milwaukee 19961998 | 196 |
The United States 19972003 | 208 |
Milwaukee 1998 | 222 |
Milwaukee 19971999 | 230 |
Milwaukee 19982000 | 251 |
Milwaukee Spring 1999 | 264 |
Milwaukee Summer 1999 | 282 |
Milwaukee Fall 1999 | 303 |
Washington 19951996 | 138 |
Milwaukee 19951996 | 155 |
AFTER WELFARE | 173 |
Milwaukee 19961998 | 175 |
Epilogue Washington and Milwaukee 19992004 | 323 |
Timeline | 339 |
Acknowledgments | 405 |
Other editions - View all
American Dream: Three Women, Ten Kids, and a Nation's Drive to End Welfare Jason DeParle Limited preview - 2005 |
American Dream: Three Women, Ten Kids, and a Nation's Drive to End Welfare Jason DeParle Limited preview - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
addicts AFDC ain't Angie and Jewell Angie's baby Bill Clinton boyfriend Bruce Reed called Caples caseload caseworker Charity Chicago child clients cocaine crack Daniel Patrick Moynihan decade Democrats DeParle Dick Morris drugs earnings Eastland Ellwood end welfare father federal food stamps ghetto Gingrich governors Greg half Hattie Mae Interview James Eastland Jason Turner Jeffrey Manor Jewell's Jobe Kenny Kesha kids knew later Leutermann living look Mama Marcus Maximus Medicaid Michael Mickey Kaus million Milwaukee Mississippi months moved Moynihan nearly never Newt Gingrich nursing Opal Opal's percent poor poverty poverty line problems recipients Redd Republicans Senate single mothers social spent started story Street talk thing Thompson thought told Tommy Thompson took Turner wanted weeks welfare bill welfare check Welfare Reform Wisconsin woman women workers York