Poverty in America is a form of murder to the weakest and most innocent of our society. Struggling parents are more apt to take their frustrations out on their children when they are faced with the stress of mounting bills, inadequate housing, or lack of stable and supportive employment. In the last 10 years, America has been home to well over 20,000 children who have been murdered as a direct result of living in an impoverished home. The totals are devastating when compared to the fact that fewer soldiers have died in the entire span of the war in Afghanistan. More than 75% of these children are under the age of four. Over half of them are under the age of one (Ref: Childhelp.org).
Every day in America, there are 2,723 babies born into poverty. There are 1,392 babies born into extreme and severe poverty, and there are 1,837 children who are confirmed as being abused or neglected. Nationally here in America, there are at least 4 children who die daily as a result of child abuse. With so many families now facing crisis situations due to lack of decent employment, adequate and affordable housing and transportation, and a decline of the ability to afford to meet the basic needs of a family, many parents who find themselves struggling will often lash out at the most vulnerable. The children who cannot defend themselves against the abuse, which ultimately results the death of the child (Ref: Childrens Defense Fund).
Tanya Williams, 34, a homeless woman and mother of six children, went on trial in 2013 for the murder of her two month old son Quasir Alexander. Quasir died on December 23, 2010. He was starved to death and weighed just over 4 pounds. Quasir had a twin brother who was found at the same time and was malnourished and close to death himself. Tanya was living in a homeless shelter in Philadelphia at the time of Quasar's murder. She had no family to help her as she faced homelessness as well as trying to raise six children on her own (Ref: Huffington Post).