On the topic of poverty and culture as it relates to African-Americans--I always found it interesting that Colin Powell's family was from Harlem, but of voluntary immigrant (West Indian) stock. Ditto Obama's Kenyan roots. I know there are many success stories of black Americans who have family roots in slavery (Condaleeza Rice comes to mind), but I do think there is a certain correlation between the mind-set of "land of opportunity" vs. "middle passage."
It was back in the 1960s that Daniel Patrick Moynihan wrote of the impending crisis in the black family, because illigitimacy had topped 25%. Now that rate is 70%+, and the rate among whites is over 25%. It's a HUGE issue.
As the recent economic upheaval has gone on, there has been much discussion of the Great Depression and FDR. I would welcome a return to New Deal-era "workfare" (CCC, WPA, PWA, TVA, etc.) that would tie aid to doing productive work, even if that work was a boondoggle. As an earlier poster wrote, you'd be a fool to work for $300 if you could sit home and get $400. I'd say you would also be a fool to work for $300 if you could sit and get $250. But if your workfare job paid the $250, it would make good sense to trade up for more money, or even for the same money with better long-term prospects.