I need a dolla, dolla, dolla is what I need. Hey Hey. To be honest I need about 1 million dollars. Again, honestly, a lot of people need a million dollars. Or even just one, because they don't even have a penny. Living on the streets or crap housing, tattered clothing, destructive environments, limited nourishment, and absolutely no outlets. The aforementioned is the stereotype for poverty or just being poor. I know about being poor. How? Because I am poor. Not afraid to say that if it's the case. Now here's a question. Is it me or my family's fault for being in poverty? Not necessarily so. The same goes for others.
Sure, you hear those stories of people who poorly manage their money or run away from home or don't/fail to pursue a good education or live a criminal lifestyle and resort to being in the situation I described. But those stories are rarer than you think. Majority of the impoverished people on this Earth had no choice. It was clearly just something circumstantial. Let's use impoverished African-Americans as an example. Go back to 1865. Civil War ended, all slaves are free by late June. Think about it. Millions of people, who own absolutely nothing, have nothing and really still can't pursue an education, are left basically to fend on their own. That's the equivalent to being thrown out home at 11 in modern times. The former slaves who became sharecroppers became indebted to the property owners (legal form of slavery after 1865). The former slaves who went up north had to struggle to survive almost as badly as the Negros in the south, fighting for jobs, dealing with high rent, and much more oppression than you would believe. Plus they were confined to certain areas within cities (Harlem, Roxbury, Camden, Bronzeville, 9th Ward in NO, etc.) still with almost nothing. How did these two parties survive? Borrowing and credit (which you have to pay back, oops no cash) and welfare, said as the poor man's saving grace. And now it brings up today's topic of are poor black people freeloaders and lethargic. Current unemployment in the US is down to 7.7% but that's still a lot of people out of work. Well, why don't they do well in school or choose better careers you say? Public schools systems around the nation aren't in the best shape, especially CPS (Chicago Public School). And it's not a stretch to say that schools have failed to really reach many youth, mostly within the inner city, to keep them motivated to stay in school. And even if people were to get a college degree, it doesn't guarantee anything but that you will have a plaque/diploma on your shelf forever. I can't speak for everyone, but I definitely think it's unfair to make that assumption. Yes, there are people who just
One thing concerning the issue of poverty is that it can be beat. There have been tons of rags to riches stories that have brought tears to our eyes and inspired us to achieve greater. But the key is within. Do people possess the determination and will to rise above their circumstances to bring about significant changes in their financial situation? Many do and have done it. As you see with lots of people who have become athletes, actors, musicians, doctors, lawyers, businessmen, inventors, etc, all it takes is one to break the cycle of poverty. But those one are so few within communities poverty is a forever reality for so many and will continue to be that way until changes are made. Everyday people are born into poverty and they have no control over it. So is poverty a choice? I don't think so.
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