Eventually I'll Live

Social Class!!!!!! I’m super excited about this topic today. It was birthed through a “hot” date a while back. For confidentiality sake, we will refer to her as Becky with the good hair. We were out eating dinner at an “upscale” restaurant as I noticed (for lack of better words) a very ethnic group of people.

Me: “Hey, I absolutely love our black culture, especially when we don’t sacrifice our values for success….there’s a sense of freedom!” I exclaimed the security in their actions in an environment where we we are clearly the minority.

Becky with the good hair: That’s true, but what about their elbows on the table?!

Me:(boiling hot) “Interesting observation! Where do you think elbows off the table came from? Where do you think eating salads with the small fork came from?”

Becky with the good hair: “Preservation of perspective for society.”

Me: “Exactly!!! We submit to societies ways without asking ourselves, who is this really impacting the most? ”

Ok relax people, I’m not condemning “proper manners”, nor am I being a non-enthusiast for etiquette! I’m simply challenging you to take a step back and ask yourself why these things are in place? How are they affecting our perspective and decision making? Why do we cling to these societal ways? I’ve been fortunate enough to experience society from the “lower class”, “middle class”, and “upper class” perspectives. I’ve been invited to and experienced seven figure weddings by way of a couple who are former patients of mine. A friendship that has developed over the past two years, so I’ve been able to experience their daily lives. I recently left that job with “high end” patients and now work for an underserved community where my patients incomes are less than $17k a year. I grew up a country boy in Sparta, Georgia with two parents who busted their butts to provide an opportunity for my brother and I!

Through all of this I’ve noticed one startling fact, there’s an agenda to keep society’s perspective of social class as ignorant as possible. While simultaneously forcing our “perspective gap” wider in favor of the “upper class”. Furthermore, we frown upon each other as we strive to make it into the upper class society. One of my best friends/ brother from another had an interesting take on this topic as well. I would like to add his wonderful heartfelt thoughts today and also thank him for taking time out of his excruciating schedule to spend time with us today. Without further ado, Braddon Calloway ladies and gentlemen:

“A question I often ask myself is, ‘Do we consciously separate ourselves when we achieve a certain status in life?’ For example, when we become gainfully employed, do we immediately move out of “our” neighborhoods and take our dollars out of our communities to be circulated in a community that is already flourishing? Do we feel that we must live on a certain side of town to belong, to feel like we’ve made it? When we join fraternities and sororities, does this somehow make us feel “elite” causing further division? When we are promoted or achieve an academic milestone do our new titles somehow make us who we are? Do they give us a new found sense of superiority?

To be completely transparent, here’s one of my internal conversations. Maybe you share some of the same sentiments.
As I continue to improve my financial status by virtue of seeking new opportunities and furthering my education, I’ve considered moving to a “better” side of town? After all, I earned it right? I deserve to live in a better community with better schools and amenities. I mean, I have to give my children the best opportunity to succeed and education plays a large part in that, right? I deserve to live in a “safer” community away from from crime and “low income” residents. Is this reasoning flawed? Maybe. Is this the reason our communities are lacking quality education and economic development? Possibly. Will my presence actually make a difference in my community? Perhaps.
In my heart I believe that it would make a difference, but that it would take more than just one person or one family to make that difference. What I’ve come to realize is that as we advance in life and achieve success, we must invest in our communities. We must share what we’ve learned along our individual journeys with those less fortunate for we are more powerful together than apart.
In order to see change we must ourselves be the agents of change. We must plant seeds and water them in order to reap the harvest. The harvest of quality housing, excellent schools, safer neighborhoods, and a thriving local economy. All of which lead to more opportunity.”

To wrap. Consider the impact of your decisions as you progress through life. Ask yourself if your reasons for making certain decisions are purely for personal gain or for the benefit of others?