I Shared My Social Status

people who shared my values. Unfortunately, that did not happen, instead my “blackness” was questioned. I did not talk “black” enough or I didn’t dress “black”. I wasn’t loud enough and I wasn’t tough enough. I was very confused; I didn’t understand why I wasn’t accepted by black people. I realized now that although I was similar in color my social status was different which allowed me to have different experiences. During my time at the all black school my I was still had middle class social status. The predominately black neighborhood I moved to was working lower class. Their experiences on what it meant to be black differed from mine which is why they did not consider me black. I reflected on my views of being black as the better …show more content…
My mother being able to spend time with me because she wasn’t working all the time was also a privilege. Being lower class I do have to be mindful of my spending and I am responsible. I became lower class during high school and while in high school I got a job to try to become more financially independent to help relieve my mother the best I could. My part-time job kept me from asking my mother for money and allowed me to buy some things for myself. Money was always the topic of discussion in my house. I started to understand the financial struggle and when I went to college and came across middle class and rich students I would resent them because they did not know how it felt to struggle financially, however, I was forgetting that I was like them. I am grateful for being able to experience both classes. People from higher social classes have less stress and more resources to afford them different opportunities. When I was in a higher social class I was oblivious to the idea that everyone can’t go on vacations or have a stay at-home mom. Being lower class narrowed my view of life, I no longer felt as if I had opportunities and I had to always think if I could financial do something. I am now responsible and less wasteful. I do always try to keep myself working even if I am spreading myself to thin. Having a steady income, no matter how little is very important to my family and I. My change in social class helped shaped my identity because it made me resilient and hard working. Since high school I have always worked a part-time or full-time job while in school in full time, I have also worked more than one job while going to school full-time. I am resilient because I do not give up. Being lower class I cannot afford to slack or give up no matter how tired I am; people depend on my success. My experience with my changing social class taught me