Social Classes

2 Pages 492 Words

Social Classes have always been a part of society. Whether or not we choose to admit it, every one of us is a prejudiced against other classes. Many years ago, African-American people were used as slaves because it was assumed that were lower class just because they were different in color. Today, I see a black man who looks like is from a “ghetto” and I am a little scared. Scared not because he is black but because most Caucasian people were raised to fear what society decided is the lower class.
Class and racism are two closely related social issues. In “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, General Zaroff kills “lascars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels” he says, “a thoroughbred horse is worth more than the score of them” (67). He killed them because he thought they so much lower class the he that they deserved to be hunted. They were thrown to the dogs for his entertainment.
Not everyone is out to kill other social classes, however, most of us do not want to mingle with the other social classes either. It is not just the upper class that keeps the lower classes in their “place.” Many people choose to accept being thought of as lower class because it is easier to adopt what they already know, rather than working to hard to reach the upper class.
In “The Lesson” by Cade Bambarn (210), the children are born into poor, lower class families. Throughout the story Miss Moore tries to show them a glimpse of the upper class life, hoping to inspire the children to strive to one day be upper class citizens. She offers these glimpses by taking the children to a fancy toy store. These days this role is filled by school field trips, sports, and after school programs. But is it enough? Many children are not being taught the “lesson.”
Many people believe that class is a relative issue; you are whatever class you think you are. That does not appear to be the case. One cannot simply think...