Chapter 12

Chapter 12: The Culture of Poverty

Thesis:

            Everyday struggle of the poor and things they fear or that intimidate them.

Summary:

            The poor are defined in different ways from being kind and independent to evil and criminal. The culture of poverty also is seen as a subculture that is passed down from one generation to the next because children are used to the lifestyle at an early age and don’t take advantage of opportunities that are given to them as they grow older. It starts to become a repeating cycle.

            The chapter explains that the poor produce very little wealth, don’t have any type of savings, are illiterate, have a low level of education and basically don’t participate or make use of government agencies. They also have trust issues of legal enforcements and people of higher positions. In some ways I think the poor have these issues is because they fear someone is always trying to deceive them. Then marriage is another issue among the poor because now it’s an issue of relying on someone and having the freedom to do whatever they want. The living arrangements are usually crowded and sometimes temporary. I don’t want to say that the poor are all lazy, but they have to step it up in order to get somewhere to free them from the stress of the everyday struggle and always feeling intimidated by something or someone of a higher position.

Personal Reflection:

            As I read through this chapter I just kept getting more and more upset because the poor want so much, but don’t do anything about it. I, myself come from a poor family and hearing about the same complaints over and over gets tiring. I live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and from the poor culture living here it’s the same thing described in the chapter which I found amazing. My siblings and I grew up to want more out of life and not ever settle for less which I’m greatful for. I don’t want to live the way I do now which is the daily struggle to survive.