I know this has made the rounds but it's so relevant to what's been happening over the last few weeks I thought I'd mention it. So many people seem to be afraid to say this is about race (thankfully many still aren't), but class and race intersect in some pretty huge ways in North America. I wonder why people are afraid to call it out?
Some that I thought were poignant:
- "Being poor is people surprised to discover you're not actually stupid.
- Being poor is having to live with choices you didn't know you made when you were 14 years old.
- Being poor is getting tired of people wanting you to be grateful.
- Being poor is knowing you're being judged.
- Being poor is people who have never been poor wondering why you choose to be so.
- Being poor is running in place.
- Being poor is seeing how few options you have." -from John Scalzi "Being Poor"
I don't believe that money buys happiness by any means, but it does buy certain kinds of choices and opportunities.
The first book I bought (not read) by bell hooks is called "Where We Stand: Class Matters." It's an interesting read about the politics of class and the intersection between race and class. From the preface:
"Caring and sharing has come to be seen as traits of the idealistic weak. Our nation is fast becoming a class-segregated society where the plight of the poor is forgotten and the greed of the rich is morally tolerated and condoned."
I don't want to give the impression that I'm getting up on my moral high horse here because I am not special or better than anyone else when it comes to any of this. I just hope people keep talking about class, about race, and about this culture we live in, shape and create.