Persisting Poverty

In family relations this week, we dallied in the topic of "culture" and the different social classes that come with each. In the American Dream, is it possible to break free of poverty and climb the social ladder? How can someone experiencing extreme poverty change future generations after experiencing multiple generations of poverty, and can it be done in one lifetime?

According to PressBooks, there are four different social classes: upper class, middle class, working class, and lower class. Many Americans consider themselves to be in the middle class, however those incomes can range anywhere from $30,000 a year, to $150,000 a year. Because of this, it is appropriate to break down middle class even further to upper-middle and lower-middle.

I grew up in what I would consider the high end of lower-middle, and the low end of upper-middle, almost a true middle. My dad is a self-employed businessman who didn't receive a college degree regardless, had enough income to support six children. We didn't always have fancy things, but we lived comfortable lives, free from the worry of where our next meal might come from. Because of my comfortable upbringing, I was often naive to the poverty in the world, especially in the United States.

To expound further, in our preparation homework Tuesday, we were asked to watch a video about a lady named Tammy living in Waverly, Ohio. Tammy lives in poverty. She lived in a trailer with bugs crawling around by the dozen, a yard with trash everywhere, and two sons who fended for themselves while Tammy was at work. She was paid $7.25 an hour, for eight hours, and walked 10.5 miles to work, and an additional 10.5 back home from a Burger King for +13 years.

This video touched close to home for me, and brought me back to the country roads of West Virginia where I served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Waverly is either right outside or right on the border of my mission boundaries. Prior to serving my mission, I would have considered Tammy at the lowest of lows. After spending 18 months in the Appalachian mountains, it is obvious to see that isn't true.

The mission borders had several states in it, and I was lucky to serve in many of them. I served in Marietta Ohio, Blacksburg, Virginia, Buckhannon West Virginia, Elkins West Virginia, and Pikeville Kentucky. Although they were far in distance and completely different states, there is a lot of poverty in each location, with the exception of Blacksburg. Poverty reigned in the outskirts of each city like none other. Drugs, cigars, alcohol, it had an effect on many of the people. West Virginia and Kentucky have the highest smoking problems in the US, but with so much poverty, many of them can't even afford their own addictions, and they rely on the government to pay for their housing and food expenses.

So, how do you climb the social ladder? How can so many people like Tammy, change the course of their lives for the future generations ahead of them? The first step is to get an education. Education is crucial. Tammy's son Matt knew this, and wanted to pursue his dream of going to college. Unfortunately, just six months before he was supposed to graduate high school, he dropped out after becoming a dad.

Just having a high school diploma in your hands can be the difference between only having a weekly income of 626 to 809. That's the difference between nearly $10,000 a year. That might not seem like a lot, but when you're in poverty, 10k might be more than what you already get. 

To finish my thoughts, I hope that the Tammys in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio can break free of the cruel cycle of poverty. I hope that in the future of America, we can bring education to the deepest hollers, and find the families that need help. Maybe one day, all of America can experience the fruits of the American Dream.