Vox, January 26, 2016: Flint children never had a fair shot, even before lead poisoning
“On one level, the Flint lead poisoning scandal is about a state mismanaging a city under financial duress and moving the city to a water supply that turned out to be unsafe. But on another level, it’s also about something deeper: the vulnerabilities kids face when they grow up in poverty. They are more likely to have lower test scores, become teen mothers, and experience violent crime. And it’s not just a lack of opportunity: A recent study found that the stresses of poverty actually stunt brain development. Add to that lead poisoning — which also stunts growing brains — and that’s what you have in Flint, Michigan.”