Search the Fresh Air Archive

Close Search

Poet Lloyd Van Brunt on Growing Up Poor and White

Brunt writes in the The New York Times magazine section, "To be poor in a country that places a premium on wealth is in itself shameful. To be white and poor is unforgiveable." He says poor whites have no defenders, and they are made to feel ashamed of themselves because of the assumption that they "should" be able to make a success of themselves. Brunt's father abandoned the family; his mother died when he was eight. Brunt spent years in foster homes and orphanages where he was abused. (Rebroadcast)

22:59
Queue

Guest

Host

Related Topics

Other segments from the episode on January 20, 1995

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, January 20, 1995: Interview with Lloyd van Brunt; Interview with Brian Benben; Review of Helen Merrill's album "Brownie."
Queue
15:11

Actor Brian Benben on Living His Acting "Dream"

Benben co-starred in the new movie, "Radioland Murders" as a radio scriptwriter trying to save his marriage. He also stars in "Dream On," the HBO comedy series. The FOX network recently started airing reruns from the series first season. "The New York Times" has called his "Dream On" character "an adult Charlie Brown," with "offbeat charm." (Rebroadcast)

Interview

Transcript

Transcript currently not available.

Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

You May Also like

Queue
22:51

Poet Lloyd Van Brunt Discusses Growing Up Poor and White.

Poet Lloyd Van Brunt. He grew up poor and white in Oklahoma. He writes, in the The New York Times magazine section, "To be poor in a country that places a premium on wealth is in itself shameful. To be white and poor is unforgivable." (March 27, 1994). Van Brunt says poor whites have no defenders ("white trash" they are called) and they are made to feel ashamed of themselves because of the assumption that they "should" be able to make a success of themselves. Van Brunt's father abandoned the family, his mother died when he was 8.

Interview

Did you know you can create a shareable playlist?

Learn How
Advertisement

Recently on Fresh Air Available to Play on NPR

52:30

Daughter of Warhol star looks back on a bohemian childhood in the Chelsea Hotel

Alexandra Auder's mother, Viva, was one of Andy Warhol's muses. Growing up in Warhol's orbit meant Auder's childhood was an unusual one. For several years, Viva, Auder and Auder's younger half-sister, Gaby Hoffmann, lived in the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. It was was famous for having been home to Leonard Cohen, Dylan Thomas, Virgil Thomson, and Bob Dylan, among others.

Queue

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

43:04

This fake 'Jury Duty' really put James Marsden's improv chops on trial

In the series Jury Duty, a solar contractor named Ronald Gladden has agreed to participate in what he believes is a documentary about the experience of being a juror--but what Ronald doesn't know is that the whole thing is fake.

Queue

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

See All Recent Segments

There are more than 22,000 Fresh Air segments.

Let us help you find exactly what you want to hear.
Just play me something
Your Queue

Would you like to make a playlist based on your queue?

Generate & Share View/Edit Your Queue