Logan and I had a "debate" the other night about the ability to "get out" for families in neighborhoods like mine. His opinion is that everyone (no matter where they live or the color of their skin) has the same opportunities. He would even say that blacks have more resources than whites because companies and schools are trying to meet requirements for race and gender.
My point- when you live in these conditions with your parents not working, spending time in jail, and having babies all the time its hard to think of what "getting out" even looks like. Most of these children don't have any idea about what it takes to get to college or what having a career (other than McDonald's) looks like. Its hard to get a good education if you miss school a lot or are moving around from one subsidized housing neighborhood to another on a yearly basis.
I think it is easy for upper class whites to say "if they would just get an education and a job and stop living off the government they could support themselves." But you really don't have any idea what you are talking about till you understand what they are going through. Don't get me wrong I would love to not pay for their housing and their food, but it is hard to break this cycle!
Having role models that are successful, law abiding, contributing citizens are SO SO SO important!!
-Miss Hansen
It all starts with the parents: The parents are the ones living off the government, not working, having too many babies, and going to jail. Why? Poor decision making. The kids are the ones truly suffering the consequences. Subtract parents fromthe equation, and everyone's opportunities are more equal.
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