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

by Andrea Elliott

Maslow’s hierarchy is often taught as a pyramid. At its base are the things needed for survival: air, food, water, shelter, clothing, and sleep. 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. Dasani has seen this with her mother. Even when Chanel is sober, she is so preoccupied with feeding her children or staying sheltered that she is always on high alert. Her brain is consumed by the project of survival. Chanel cannot thrive like this any more than a race car could win on an empty tank. Only at the top of this pyramid of needs would she find things like “confidence” and “creativity,” which keep a person believing that the base will hold.