Educational Media Reviews Online

Born with a Wooden Spoon begins with a bounty of sobering data, giving the audience a real grasp of the epidemic of poverty in the United States. For example, 37% of the US population lives in poverty at least 2 months of the year. More statistics illustrate the impact of poverty on children. The film continues in outlining the contributing factors of poverty including single parent families, drugs, crime, low education, and illegal immigrants occupying jobs and sending money abroad.

The true strength and uniqueness of this works lies in its examinations of the various classes of poverty. For example, asset poverty refers to an attrition of savings and surplus disposable income to a point where the individual or household cannot get ahead of financial obligations. Generational poverty, the discussion of which constitutes the majority of the documentary, refers to an enduring cycle of a lack of resources within a family. Many parents cannot afford to give their children the educational opportunities, or proper nutrition necessary to escape poverty. Furthermore, children in impoverished families are often tied to supporting their parents, preventing relocation and career development. This film features a substantial number of brief interviews (usually less than 10 second bites) of Americans in poverty.

The film discusses the significant hurdles facing poor Americans, such as illiteracy. It proceeds to draw out the government programs and educational opportunities designed to combat the problem, and is rather critical of them. Conspicuously absent in this film, is at least one personal example of a once impoverished American who utilized such government programs to their utmost to break the vicious cycle.

Born with a Wooden Spoon comes highly recommended for its extensively researched data, its detailed outline of the various types of poverty, and its critical analysis of the structural and personal factors contributing to this crisis in the US.