Holly Sklar

About the author: Holly Sklar writes for Z Magazine, a monthly left-wing political journal. She is the author of several books, including Trilateralism: The Trilateral Commission and Elite Planning for World Management and Poverty in the American Dream.

According to many social commentators, poverty, along with myriad other social pathologies, is the direct result of the increase in single motherhood, especially among minorities. This view, however, is sexist and racist. The "culture of poverty" that worries politicians and social scientists stems not from single-parent families, but from a combination of low wages, exploitation of workers, little government support for families, and racial discrimination and sexism that keep minorities and women out of higher-paying jobs.

The reality is that most poor Americans are white, many married couples are poor, and even if there...