“The poor, and especially poor people of color, don't have the luxury of raising 'free-range' children without risking severe consequences. Parents of color don't receive a visit and a warning if their children are found playing alone; they are immediately blamed and far more likely to be arrested or lose custody of their children.”

American author and public speaker

Stephanie Land is an American author and public speaker. She is known for writing memoirs about poverty, motherhood, and the work of surviving on the margins, including Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive in 2019. That book was later adapted into the Netflix miniseries Maid in 2021. Her second memoir, Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education, appeared in 2023 and continues her focus on single parenting, poverty, and the strain of pursuing college. She has also written articles on maid service work, domestic abuse, and poverty in the United States.