A thoughtful and lucid distillation of Dr. Hilfiker's personal experience working as a medical doctor in urban centres for the last twenty years, together with his readings in academic and popular writing on the subject of poverty and social welfare, this insightful book carefully argues that American welfare programmes, while effective in their aims for the middle class, do little to help the urban poor. Divided into six sections that deal with history, causes and solutions, this book will break down the myths and legends surrounding black poverty in the U.S.