This Viral Quote From a Man in Detroit Will Challenge Your Views on Poverty

Since the end of the presidential election, Humans of New York's Brandon Stanton has shifted his focus away from his usual metropolitan mainstay and onto Macomb County, MI. The suburb of Detroit is predominantly blue collar, is dependent on the auto industry, and largely voted for Donald Trump. In an attempt to understand the election's unexpected outcome, the photographer has been speaking with residents and giving them a platform to express the financial struggles they face. It should be noted that Stanton did not ask his subjects who they voted for. "Very few of the stories even touch on politics," he said.

One particular interview in the series is going viral for its poignancy. The man, with gray hair, wearing a red and white bomber jacket, speaks about how his views on poverty and self-reliance have changed. Having grown up in the suburbs, the man said his advice for the poor was, "Get a job, save your money, pull yourself up by the bootstraps." Now, things have changed.

He said he began to realize that even working people can be poor. "They're not getting a living wage. There's no money left to save," he said. "There's nothing left if they get sick. Nothing left if their car breaks down. And God forbid they make a mistake, because there's nothing left to pay fines or fees." He added, "You can't pull yourself up when there's nothing to grab onto."

The particularly chilling line was referred to in a comment that has received thousands of "likes."

While the election left many struggling to understand how Trump could have won, this man's testimony serves as a reminder that the working poor have a voice that's just as impactful as anybody else's.