Social Classes In America

If you selected a small quantity of strangers and asked them to tell you who they are, a majority of those people would start by defining themselves with their name and occupation. The American society is conventionally arranged into social classes founded on income, wealth, occupation, educational successfulness and social network. Social classes are defined as “status hierarchy in which individuals and groups are classified on the basis of esteem and prestige acquired mainly through economic success and the accumulation of wealth.” (“social class”) For most of United States history, social classes have created inflexible barriers, with multiple institutions and businesses, administering rules established on racial discrimination and other …show more content…
Publications such as Same Kind of Different As Me, The Hunger Games and The Heavenly Man accurately describe the social classes the United States have in situ as well as how people from alternative countries view our social segregation. In the book Same Kind of Different As Me, Ron – a man with an affluent lifestyle due to success in the art dealing business – thinks highly of himself and lowly of those who are not a part of his upper-class lifestyle. At one point in the book, Ron says, “Most of them [visitors of his store] were black, and I felt sure they were all alcoholics and addicts, though I had never taken the time to hear their stories – I didn’t really care.” (Hall, Moore & Vincent 9) Then we have Denver, a threatening homeless drifter who grew up in poverty and worked as a slave for part of his life. By the grace of God, these two meet and Ron is quick to judge him and the other homeless men around him. Denver is equally as ill-disposed to Ron as Ron is to …show more content…
An abundance of individuals in this country are too quick to classify and organize other people into groups. Then they determine if they are above or below that person and choose an attitude and appearance to have towards them. Social classes encourage elevating one people group over another and taking away rights of people depending on their social status. In reality, we should treat all people like God instructs us, to “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you..” (Eph. 4.32) Additionally, God warns us about social class and how we must avoid it and focus on His will. He says, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark