Hillbilly Elegy Analysis

The article states, “42 percent of American men raised in the bottom fifth of incomes stay there as adults. That shows a level of persistent disadvantage much higher than in Denmark (25 percent) along with Britain (30 percent)”. This statistic explains that 42% American men born in the lower class stays in that class when they are adults but in Denmark that percent is 25%. Another statistic is that 8% of American men born in the lower class rose to the upper class and 14% of Danish men rose from lower to upper. According to the article, the reason why we stay in the class we are born into is because the resources that are needed to move up is too expensive for a lower, as well as, middle (sometimes) class family. So, the families that are in the upper class have a more economic flexibility to send their children to private schools or great colleges whereas the lower/middle class don’t. This stymies their children from getting the same education as the children with upper-class parents. No or poor education can lead to having either no job or a low-paying one.

“In this country American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate” said Toni Morrison. If so, is American Dream only for the White people? In a society where racial inequality was prevalent throughout the country, non white people, especially African Americans were treated severely. Such phenomenon, known as the social reproduction is closely examined by Jay Macleod in the book “Ain’t No Makin’ It”. Macleod closely examines two groups of working class teenagers in Massachusetts. One group, known as The Hallway Hangers, filled with white boys, and the Brothers, composed mainly of African American boys. By laying out multiple social theories and bringing in several sociologists’ theories, Macleod reveals his thoughts on why social reproduction occurs in the United States and why an American Dream is something that only few people could achieve. MacLeod shows that race, along with with class are directly proportional to people’s aspirations. If they belong in the lower class, they would automatically achieve less, no matter how hard they try. This means, working class children usually end up having working class jobs in the future. In order for people to get one step closer towards success, they must learn and develop their own cultural capital. One’s social background such as access to proper education determines one’s class within the society and has huge influence on one’s future life.

Wes making a critical decision in his life, without a voice around to say otherwise entered the drug game. Both Wes Moore’s shared a common thread while growing up. They both grew up in single parent environments, both were raised in inner city neighborhoods, and both had run-ins with the law. As author Wes Moore states in the introduction, “The chilling truth is that his story could have been mine . . . .

In Horatio Alger’s Ragged Dick, Alger writes about a rag-to-riches story and points out valid and key messages that tell of things like hard work and determination can take anyone from the bottom to the top, despite one’s economic class. I do realize that in real life that although these messages hold key to making it in the world, everyone does not have the equal opportunity to succeed or move up in class rankings like Alger says.

The multidimensional expression “hillbilly” carries different cultural significances throughout the book Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance. First, Vance utilizes the term “hillbilly” to refer to the working class white Americans of Scots-Irish descent who have no college degree (3). Second, Vance uses the term hillbilly to refer to a group of people from a specific geographic area, namely the area of the Appalachian Mountains. According to Vance, the area stretches from Alabama to Georgia in the South to Ohio to parts of New York in the north (4). Third, hillbilly indicates the way of life, behavior, or identity of the people of Greater Appalachia.

The book Hillbilly Elegy, A Memoir of A Family And Culture In Crisis written by J.D Vance is not like anything I have ever seen or read about. Vance begins his book by introducing the most important people around him, his family. Mamaw, Papaw and his sister Lindsey were his biggest support system and in many cases, his safe haven. In Middletown, Ohio where Vance spent the majority of his childhood was described as a town that didn’t have much money nor opportunity. What I learned from Vance was that being a “hillbilly” wasn’t an attitude or simply one’s lifestyle they chose, it's a culture. What they saw, learned, heard and adapted to was generational and it was surrounded all around them. One positive aspect of the hillbilly culture was

In the Rusty Belt of America there a minority group of people whose income level has surpassed the poverty line. Inside the state of Ohio lies the poorest white American which describes themselves as hillbillies as they reside in the eastern Kentucky. In his personal analysis of culture in crisis of hillbillies, J.D. Vance tries to explain, in his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, what goes on in the lives of people as the economy goes south in a culture that is culturally deceptive, family deceptive, and in a community, whose doctrine of loyalty is heavily guarded. Like every poor Scot-Irish hillbilly in his community, Vance came from being poor, like the rest of his kind, to be a successful Law graduate from Yale Law school. As result of this transition and being the only child in his family to graduate from a highly respected intuition in the country, Vance thought out to analyze the ostensible reason of why many people are poor in his community.

Since the first page of Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance, perseverance is prevalent. No matter what comes J.D. Vance’s way he always works through it. There are many ways people respond to the adversity in life, and there are many ways people respond each distinct time. Perseverance has been key in my life, not just J.D. Vance’s; I would argue every person in this world as well. Whether it be in the military, like Vance, school, sports, or a job, there is no hiding from adverse situations. J.D. Vance talks about his adversity extensively in Hillbilly Elegy, and if success is wanted, perseverance is a major key in the process. Fighting through the challenging times in life is what will get the job done in the end.

Another example of social inequality in Evicted was not in the housing market, but when Desmond witnessed a police officer harassing Arleen’s eldest son, Ger-Ger. Desmond describes the experience by saying, “I watched a police officer pull his patrol car up to Ger-Ger, Arleen’s eldest son, and say, ‘Man you’re fucked up!’...When I came out of the apartment for a closer look, the officer looked at me and drove away. He might have acted differently had I not been a white man with a notepad.” (P. 322). Desmond was not only witnessing inequality in the housing market, but also within the police department. When I read this, I could not believe that the police would rather harass a young black man than keep the streets of Milwaukee clean. Desmond witnessed this inequality firsthand, and I think he saw how unfairly these families were treated. In Hillbilly Elegy, Vance described a lack of social acceptance from the people in Middletown towards the people from Appalachia. Vance described the way that hillbillies handled many problems as “Hillbilly Justice.” This form of problem solving within their community was highly frowned upon by the suburbanites of Middletown. The culture of Appalachia was highly irregular, but that is not a reason to look down upon or discriminate against a group of people. J.D even described that when he was in Middletown, he

Memoirs, and writing in general, reveal a truth about the author. Oftentimes, said truth is revealed intentionally. Universal truths such as struggle, endurance, and agony help authors influence their audiences. These truths cause the readers to become cognizant of and appreciate the authors. It is a writer’s duty to write from the heart—to write about the good and bad sides of a story. Annie Dillard’s An American Childhood fails to use universal truths and instead presents a very superficial presentation of its author’s life. J. D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis display the unconventional upbringing of Vance in order to give the audience a better understanding of the writer. Pure honesty

The American Dream is a concept that has been instilled in the minds of citizens for much of America’s history. The Dream is the idea that everyone is equal and that anyone can start with nothing and become successful through hard work and perseverance. Unfortunately, due to prejudices and discrimination, the American Dream has not been attainable for all races and ethnicities that have immigrated to this country in search of a better life. Instead, it has been quite the opposite: no matter how much hard work and perseverance one puts forth, he/she is always beaten down by those in a higher social class. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird explores the concept of the failing American Dream by examining discrimination, prejudice, and social hierarchy in 1930’s Maycomb, Alabama.

Poverty is an issue which influences the author, Wes Moore, of the memoir “The Other Wes Moore”. This social issue causes academic problems in Wes Moore’s life, leading Wes Moore not to realize what he is competent of, and staying in a state of deficiency. Wes lost concentration on education due to the fact that he was surrounded by distractions caused by poverty. On the other hand, Wes’ mother yearned for him to get out of a bad school environment, which is displayed through the quote, “The price tag to Valley Forge was even steeper than that of Riverdale [Private school].

Also, the mother of Wes's 3rd and 4th children, Cheryl, also became a drug addict. She ended up having a bit of an affect on Other Wes when he realized that his own customers in the drug trade were no different to Cheryl, he was actually the one fueling addictions like her’s. This becomes so important it mirrors the reality in many neighborhoods, such as the Bronx and areas of Baltimore

Starkey explains that it has a great deal to do with the generation before them, and where their parents lived and did. Another graph explains this statement. The graph explains the percentage of blacks and whites living in a poor neighborhood over consecutive generations; 48% black, 7% white (Sharkey 39). This was hard for me to understand at first, I kept wondering well why can’t they just move somewhere else? Why did they have to stay in a poor neighborhood like where they grew up in? They didn 't have to, I know that but I know when I think about these questions I think about how if I was put into that situation I would want to get out, but I would be familiar with it already, and comfortable where I was. I feel like many people are scared of change. I know I sometimes am. This also kind of ties into what Karl Cassell talked to us about, he explained that parents are responsible for leaving their children with some type of inheritance, or a part of their parents life that would benefit their children in their future. People in poor neighborhoods don 't have the wealth to get their children started into a life they deserve so then it’s put on the children to do something with their life and make something of themselves. Chapter 5 of Sharkey I came crossed a graph that saddened me. The section of the graph says, “Parent does

Every year, there are millions of people that suffer from mental illness, addiction, or both. Not only do the people who have a mental illness or addiction suffer, but so do their families, friends, and loved ones. Therefore, mental illness and addiction are two topics that can easily spark controversy when it comes to two areas of concern: blame and solutions. Many people have strong feelings when it comes to the institutions and processes surrounding mental illness and addiction. Ex-marine, Yale Law School Graduate, and hillbilly-at-heart J.D. Vance wrote a book titled Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis which includes parts his connection to addiction primarily through his mother and his personal view on the