Kenny Dai
Ashley
03/05/07
People come to America and bring with their perfect American dream. They
believe America can give them a better life and more job opportunities. However, I found
out the truth is not as same as they expect:
The wealthiest 1 percent of the American population holds 38 percent of the total
national wealth. That is, they own well over one-third of all the consumer
durables and financial assets. The richest 20 percent of Americans hold 83 percent
of the total household wealth in the country (Gregory Mantsios Page 195).
This source shows me that the wealthiest 1 percent of the American population is very
rich. I believe those people are Hollywood super stars, owners of companies, and famous
people in American. Those rich people are about 38 percent of the total national wealth.
However, poor people in America are another different story. Some poor people, who are
cashiers, cleaners, and drivers, only make little money for 1 year. I found out the
information;
Approximately 241,000 Americans, or approximately three quarters of 1 percent
of the adult population, earn more than $1 million annually, with many of these
individuals earning over $10 million and some earning over $100million. It would
take the average American, earning $34,000 per year, more than 65 lifetimes to
earn $100 million (Gregory Mantsios Page 195).
The distance of American poor and rich people is as far as the sky and floor. This
economic appearance makes America only have upper class and lower class, and the
middle class is disappeared. There is only about 17 percent of the total household wealth
in the country for more than about 80 percent of population of America. Therefore,
American society becomes like few rich people and more than poor people. Because of
those problems, “the two models are presented without causal relation to each other: one
is not rich because the other is poor” (Gregory Mantsios Page 194).
“Racial and gender domination are other forces that hold people down” (Gregory
Mantsios Page 204). Racial and gender are still one of biggest problems in America. In
this society, white male hold most dominances and black female are on the bottom. For
example, “if you are black and female, you are much more likely to be poor or working
class than you would be as a white male” (Gregory Mantsios Page 204). The reason most
female being poor more than male is because men have more job opportunities and
women do not earn enough as men because of their gender. And the other reason most
white people make more money and have a better life than black people is because white
people have their own privilege. “Similarly, a wealthy black man faces racial oppression,
is subjected to racial slurs, and is denied opportunities because of his color” (Gregory
Mantsios Page 204) I realized white people have more job opportunities. . Most people work in
the government buildings are white men and the Presidents of the United States are
always for White people.
Years and years, the distance of poor people and rich people is getting farther then
before. White people are being richer and richer and Black people are being poorer and
poorer. White families have more job opportunities because of their skin color. Therefore,
most of them are in the upper class. They are able to give their children a good education.
So, their children will have a better future. However, Black people are different to White
Americans. Most of Black people are poverty. They do not have a rich family and their
income is only enough or not enough to support their family. These parents will send
their children to help their families. Even though these children are helping their family,
they lose their education at the same time. They do help their family, but they do not
really help themselves; they cannot make good money without a better diploma. In this
case, White people have the advantages of education and job opportunities that people do
not have.
When we think deeper, rich people really have so many great qualities and
chances to be rich. Their childhood, adulthood, and their future jobs are like a successful
way that makes by their rich background.
Although some upper-class children may attend public high school if they live in
a secluded suburban setting, or go to a state university if there is one of great
esteem and tradition in their home state, the system of formal schooling is so
insulated that many upper-class students never see the inside of a public school in
all their years of education (William Domhoff).
Children in upper-class can get into some good schools and have a better education.
To become a doctor one needs to learn the skills and knowledge of practicing
medicine as well as the attitudes and values of the medical profession.
If there is an American upper class, it must exist not merely as a collection of
families who feel comfortable with each other and tend to exclude outsiders from their
social activities.
From infancy through young adulthood, members of the upper class receive a
distinctive education. This education begins early in life in preschools that frequently are
attached to a neighborhood church of high social status.
Although some upper-class children may attend public high school if they live in
a secluded suburban setting, or go to a state university if there is one of great esteem and
tradition in their home state, the system of formal schooling is so insulated that many
upper-class students never see the inside of a public school in all their years of education.
“I hate [the term] upper class. It is so non-upper class to use it. I just call it ‘all of us’,
those who are wellborn” (Gregory Mantsios Page 193).
“We are, on occasion, presented with glimpses of the upper class and the lower class
(language used is ‘the wealthy’ and ‘poor’)” (Gregory Mantsios Page 194).
“In either case, the two models are presented without causal relation to each other: one is
not rich because the other is poor” (Gregory Mantsios Page 194).
“The wealthiest 1 percent of the American population holds 38 percent of the total
national wealth. That is, they own well over one-third of all the consumer durables and
financial assets. The richest 20 percent of Americans hold 83 percent of the total
household wealth in the country” (Gregory Mantsios Page 195).