Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival, and Hope in an American City

by Andrea Elliott

“Because when you take care of the children, you are taking care of the nation of tomorrow.”

Without these things, a person struggles to rise to the next level: “physical safety.” After that comes “belongingness and love,” satisfied by friends and family. Then comes “esteem,” which allows for self-respect and the respect of others. Finally, at the top of the pyramid is “self-actualization”—the ability to reach one’s full potential, to be moral, to lead a life of purpose. One cannot reach the top of the pyramid without possessing the things at its base.

Many of these adults have known only failure. Their sole accomplishment is the child they must give away, like a half-made sculpture to be finished by another artist.