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How Much Does 'Culture' Matter for 'Inner-City' Poverty?

"Culture" can mean a lot of things, and when it comes to explaining the particular phenomenon of inner-city black poverty, it's not the most helpful term in the world.

When talking about particular groups, communities or neighborhoods, it’s a mistake to refer to a single, all-encompassing “culture.” It’s too imprecise. What we call “culture” refers to a broad range of concepts and ideas that overlap and diverge at various points.

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