This month, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Book Club spotlighted Poverty, by America by acclaimed sociologist Matthew Desmond, a powerful and unflinching examination of the systemic forces that sustain poverty in one of the wealthiest nations in the world. Drawing from history, original reporting, and personal experience, Desmond explores how affluent Americans—often unknowingly—contribute to structures that keep poor people poor.

In a compelling virtual conversation moderated by Mark Gearan, President of Hobart and William Smith Colleges and RFK Human Rights Board Member, Desmond expanded on the themes of his latest work. Building on the success of his Pulitzer Prize-winning book Evicted, which examined housing insecurity, Desmond’s new book paints a broader picture of the interconnected challenges that define poverty in America—including unstable employment, housing precarity, and psychological trauma.

Desmond challenged long-held narratives that place blame on the poor, shifting focus toward the systemic failures and policy decisions that perpetuate inequality. Despite trillions of dollars spent on social programs over the last half-century, Desmond emphasized that meaningful change has been minimal—largely due to a lack of sustained political will. He pointed to the brief success of the American Rescue Plan in reducing child poverty during the pandemic as proof that effective solutions are possible when backed by decisive action.

Throughout the discussion, Desmond highlighted how wealth in America often deepens poverty—through exploitative labor practices, inequitable housing systems, and financial structures designed to benefit the privileged. Rather than vilifying wealth, Desmond called for a collective reckoning with how everyday choices and policies contribute to the suffering of others. He proposed that an annual investment of approximately $177 billion—less than 1% of the U.S. GDP—could lift every household above the poverty line.

The conversation also explored how meaningful reform often stems from grassroots movements, drawing inspiration from past struggles for civil rights and labor justice. Desmond underscored the importance of viewing poverty not as a personal failure, but as a national moral failure that demands action from individuals, communities, and governments alike.

Themes of reproductive rights, economic justice, and civic responsibility ran through the discussion, reinforcing the urgent need for a more equitable society. Desmond’s call to action was clear: poverty is not inevitable, and each of us has a role to play in dismantling the structures that uphold it.