Dear #poverty scholars, it is time for a reckoning. It is long overdue. #Discrimination, #structuralinequality & the lived experiences of the poor is not a tangent, it is core to "mainstream" poverty scholarship.

@nyuwagner L. Mead’s @springerpub Society paper "Poverty & Culture" perpetuates inaccuracies, ideologies & power imbalances that distract productive discourse & policy innovation. This treatise insults poverty scholarship; no matter political leaning. (see more from @lennan77)

It needs to stop. Stop blaming the poor. Stop assuming that history & context do not matter. Stop unfounded explanations such as “culture.” Stop ignoring the developmental needs of children & the nurturing of families.

As poverty & social policy scholars, what can we do?

Assume racism. #childpoverty progress hinges on each child born on a level playing field. @theNASEM, how about hosting a companion consensus report that opens with racial discrimination to reduce child poverty by ½?

Publish testimonials. Longstanding #tanf senior experts on the anti-black, racist history of welfare reform, I’ve listened & learned from your wise words! Time to publish them.

Publicly funded research @opre_acf @iesresearch @nsf every investment comes with a condition to #black #hispanic #latino #minority #inequality considerations. Full stop.

Professional organizations @appam_dc @aera_Edresearch @sreesociety @srcd feature & sponsor speakers & panels; hold yourselves to a not all white; all male standard.

Faculty. How is race & inequality baked into your everyday scholarship? Teaching? Research & study design? Who are the collaborators you work with? What viewpoint is missing?

Research practitioners, this is your opportunity to lead. How does the public profile and output of your work framed? How is shaped and informed by race and inequality? @mdrc_news @mathematicanow @abtassociates @rti_intl @RANDCorporation @urbaninstitute @childtrends

Peer reviewed journals. @jpam_dc @j_humanresource @srcdtweets open doors to scholarship on race and inequality. Make more room for descriptive & interdisciplinary work. Be the forum for innovation. @JEconRacePolicy thank you @garyahoover!

Applaud scholars @sopolicyscholar @pamela_herd @prof_buenachica @zparolin @donmoyn, just to name a few, thank you.

Read & re-read qualitative portraits @kathrynedin on making ends meet, fathers & deep poverty; @hiroyoshikawaNY on immigrants raising citizens; S. Halpern-Meekin on social poverty

To the many esteemed generations of #poverty & #socialpolicy scholars—you know who you are! Thank you for your incredible work. Speak up on #racism.