Poverty

Poverty is something that thankfully I or my brother did not have to endure; but our parents and grandparents did. I would hear plenty of stories from both of my grandmothers, who would remind us how blessed we were. Cars, they didn't have that luxury; they had to walk miles to school and other places just to get around. They stated that families often stayed together, not just immediate, but extended families as well. Today we are able to get medical help and medicines freely; but back in their days, many people died of illnesses because they couldn't afford medical coverage. Sickness relief came from many remedies of "home therapy" with products they had at home such as fatback, etc. My mother was raised in poverty as well, but it wasn't as bad as it was for her mother. Her father left the family dynamic when my mother was young, so that left my grandmother alone and raising four children on her own. My mom was a fashionista, but money would not allow the funds for the family to buy outfits; so my mother compensated by learning to sew and created her own fashionista outfits!! My grandmother had to work several jobs and that often required the older kids to watch the younger kids. Quite different from today as we rely on daycare or babysitters.

The country that I chose was Africa. They are known for issues of poverty as well as hunger, and even diseases acquired because of the health, poverty, and famine issues at stake. Many parts of Africa are places that have very unhealthy citizens because of poverty issues. Presently, ebola is killing many people in Africa, as well as a few in America, who brought the disease with them from Africa. Infant mortality is high, while Life expectancy, literacy, and education are all low. The best educated often choose to leave the continent to seek a better life. Many Caucasians have fled due to employment bias. Poverty is so bad in Africa, that US luxuries like radios, televisions, and automobiles are very rare.