WHEN:      Wednesday, February 24, 2010  12:00 PM-1:00 PM

WHAT:       A new analysis, “Hunger by the Numbers Among African Americans” shows that hunger and poverty rates are higher among African Americans than the general population.   The report examines the latest data on hunger and poverty rates among African Americans living in major metropolitan areas. 

One in four African American households struggle to put food on the table, compared to about one in seven of all households. Similarly, one in four  African Americans lives in poverty, compared to about one in eight overall.  “Poverty among African American children is especially alarming; it would hardly be an overstatement to say an entire generation of African American children is at risk of being set back due to the current recession,” said Bishop Don Williams.

Increased rates of hunger and poverty in the African American community correlate with decreased economic opportunity. But race, hunger, and poverty are also related to education and family structure, weaving a web of roadblocks and reduced outcomes that reinforce racial disparity in the United States.

The report will be available online after the teleconference at www.bread.org .

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 CONTACT:  Racine Tucker-Hamilton

(301) 922-8417 or (202) 464-8196

rhamilton@bread.org 

Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. www.bread.org