This study presents findings from an ongoing study of urban childhood on public assistance. The study used interviews with aldermen, social workers, police, public housing and ghetto neighborhood residents, and medical personnel as well as the collection of field study data from local institutions and their representatives. The results appear in four vignettes or "ghettoscapes" that capture different but related aspects of collective poverty. The first vignette, "Artist and Pastor," is a stand-alone interview statement of the Reverend Jacob. In the second vignette, "White Boy's Exit," thoughts and feelings are used to create a word picture that describes the suicide death of a white youth in the emergency room. The third vignette, "Doctor Mike," is a stand-alone interview statement of a local doctor in the community. The fourth vignette, "Black Man Goes to Jail," exhibits a family struggle among an elderly mother, an adult daughter, and an adult son. The data indicate that enforced minimum personal and social control causes poor people to face losing both their heritage and the privilege to work their culture out little by little to their benefit. Poor people's systemic violent action directed against themselves and others is a sign that American society treats its poor in unjust ways. Included are 17 references. (JB)