Abstract The present study will consider how material culture and the standard of living has changed for middle-class Americans over the course of the twentieth century. Such changes were made possible by economic, technological and cultural factors that will be discussed here. The paper will conclude with an assessment of the consequences of such change.
Abstract This paper concerns the ways in which the development of the middleclass and its political impotence have contributed to the inability of America to develop a third party movement with any power to last. The writer notes how most third party efforts are protect movements that run out of steam after the protest. Further the writer maintains that the way the two parties operate and finance elections keeps third parties from gaining power.
From the Paper "The American system is structured on a duality and has been from the first, and this has carried over into the political parties that developed and the political divisions in the country as well. This duality is seen in the division between federal and state levels, between two houses of Congress, and among the original thirteen colonies between North and South. Even today, while there is also an East-West division in the country, the North-South division prevails to a great degree in political discourse, and more recently the country has been divided into the duality of Red and Blue states, based on political identification in the last two elections."
Abstract This paper examines Cose's thesis, which claims that blacks of every economic level feel cheated on and abused by society. His theory focuses on the middleclass, which is torn between its impoverished roots and its aspirations towards economic security. It discusses how Cose hopes to shed better light upon the fact that racism is never purely an economic issue, but a diffuse ideology that permeates the entirety of American society.
From the Paper "Interestingly enough, given his thesis, Cose does not use his book to unapologetically defend affirmative action. One would think that he might, given that one of the most common critiques of the policy is that it benefits middle-class Blacks because of their ethnic heritage and the psychological damage caused by history of discrimination in America. It does not similarly benefit whites who have been impoverished or Asians and other minority groups who may have been discriminated against in American history, albeit not as systematically as Black Americans, or in the form of slavery. However, Cose suggests that while affirmative action does address some of the psychological as well as economic legacies of America's intolerance of Blackness as well as the need for greater workplace diversity in general, he believes that other solutions are necessary to unshackle the minds of all peoples, of the legacy of discrimination. Thus, Cose's overall thesis or theoretical overview is a cautious, moderate one of greater societal education that lacks a central prescription to address the ills he highlights."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that the phenomenal growth of the blackmiddleclass in the past twenty years has created a tremendous need for further in-depth study. The writer points out that essentially, the majority of studies on the black family have been about the underclass and how its persistence affects the family structure. The writer notes that associated with anyone considered a part of the middleclass are a number of stresses. The writer then addresses the issues of some of the stresses that blackmiddleclass families in particular deal with and looks at how they are translated in respect to their relationships. In discussing these issues, it is also important to note whether or not the overall optimism felt for the growth of the blackmiddleclass is justified. The writer concludes that though the data on the economic situation of blackmiddleclass families continues to show that their standard of living is not comparable to white middleclass families, one must admit the rise in numbers of such families (despite these odds) is encouraging.
Outline:
Introduction
Origins of the BlackMiddleClass Psychological Consequences of BlackMiddleClass : Work Ethic
Psychological Consequences of BlackMiddleClass : Guilt
Psychological Consequences of BlackMiddleClass : Identity Confusion
Conclusion
From the Paper "They have been able to access the resources necessary to attain middle class status through their own efforts or the efforts of their families. Yet generally they are very conscious of their status' instability and consider it temporary.
"The "descendant" category consists of those from established Black families with prominent histories. Meaning, their middle class status can be traced back many generations to the Civil War. Many come from families that were either free before the war or freed afterwards. Others are descendants of Blacks with blood ties to Whites who provided special privileges to them. These more established middle class families are known to have a stronger sense of self and belonging than the "nouveau" group. They are not worried about their status due to their profound sense of "having" and sense of "place"."
Abstract This paper examines how one of the biggest problems facing the blackmiddleclass youth today involves destructive cultural patterns: a resistance to academic achievement as acting "uncool", a celebration of "ghetto" street culture, and the normalization of criminal activity and drug and alcohol dependency. It contends that ,because the blackmiddleclass youth are surrounded by and espouse certain destructive cultural patterns, the group, in general, suffers downward social mobility.
From the Paper "Besides the street culture that holds back black middle-class youth, there is also the tendency for many teenagers or people in their early twenties to shirk work and school. As Jay MacLeod, in his book Ain't No Makin' It put it, "to be bad is the main criterion for status in this subculture." Although MacLeod's study focused on working-class youths, what he has to say deals very much with the black middle class as well. MacLeod would disagree with my sentiments because the Brothers, although espousing an "achievement ideology", still did not fare much better than the Hallway Hangers."
Abstract An overview of the causes and effects of the growth of the Blackmiddleclass in post-civil rights movement America, with an emphasis on struggles of racial identity and racial inequality.
From the Paper "The phenomenal growth of the Black middle class in the past twenty years has created a tremendous need for further in-depth study. Numerous theories already exist about Blacks? status in American society that attribute their successes (or lack thereof) to race or class. Yet when focusing on the Black family, one must also examine the Black middle class within this framework."
Abstract This paper addresses the crucial issue of political alignment among Blackmiddle-class families. It compares the attitudes of Black bourgeoisie in the 1950s with current Black liberal and conservative viewpoints on economic and racial issues. It contains an outline and a bibliography, with specific cited quotes throughout.
Tags: AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES / SPORTS, CULTURE, AND FAMILY, evolution black bougeoisie
This paper reviews Cathy J. Cohen's "The Boundaries of Blackness: AIDS and the Breakdown of Black Politics", which discusses the debate regarding the absence of a strong African-American vote.
1,820 words (approx. 7.3 pages), 0 sources, $ 58.95
Abstract This paper explains that Cohen challenges the notion of a cohesive African-American vote by noting that African-Americans failed to become a strong political force because their political, business, and church leaders focus on imbibing the values of mainstream, middle-class America. The author points out that Cohen argues that, despite the growing threat of AIDS, African-American leadership failed to galvanize the population around this issue, which affects African-Americans as a group, despite categorical differences. The paper states that the Cohen believes that the attitudes of black leaders resulted in a secondary marginalization of gays and lesbians, who, due to their race and sexual orientation, remained among the most disenfranchised citizens.
From the Paper "Cohen begins by dispelling the notion of a politically-cohesive African American community, one wherein race supposedly overrides differences spawned by class, gender or even ethnicity. Instead, she maintains that this cohesion is "being challenged and sometimes replaced by cross-cutting issues and crises rooted in or built on the often hidden differences, cleavages, or fault lines of marginal communities" (9). There is thus no strong ?black vote,? because the African American community is highly fragmented and factionalized."
An analysis of Frank Webb's focus in his novel, "The Garies and Their Friends" and how this focus helps to define an emerging African-American middleclass relationship with white America.
Abstract This paper discusses the second novel to be published by an African American, "The Garies and Their Friends," written by Frank Webb. It discusses Webb's focus on the lives of middle-class free Blacks and his exploration of the racism of northern white liberals and of the perils of "passing." The paper examines how Webb's novel helps to define an emerging African-American middleclass relationship with white America.
From the Paper "Given these examples, Clarence cannot be seen as being punished in the narrative merely for the act of passing. Instead, Webb figures the problem with passing as a problem with identity. In order for Clarence to be accepted by whites, he must deny his own history. In contrast, Emily is not passing for either black or white; instead she acknowledges her identity as a child of mixed descent. Fortunately, the Black community is accepting of her status. One could conjecture that if she had to pretend to be only of African descent, she would experience the same torment as her brother. The problem, then, is the denial of the self. Race is merely a construction, but personal history is not. For Clarence to deny his own story is to deny what Hanna Arendt and Adriana Cavarero would term his "who." In her work, Relating Narratives, Cavarero illustrates how every human being "is aware of being a narratable self" (33). The "who" is shown "with clarity in the perception of a narratable self that desires the tale of her own life-story. However it is the other - the friend who recognizes the ontological roots of this desire - who is the only one who can realize such narration" (56). Clarence is hiding part of his story, and therefore his "who" is not being acknowledged."
Abstract While middle-class families in America now enjoy higher incomes than they did a few decades ago, they also exhibit more symptoms of personal financial distress and a reduced willingness to support basic public services. An important cause of both changes is the fact that taxes are increasing for middle-class families at a steady rate. We are in the beginning stages of a technological revolution that promises to increase the income and wealth gaps, already very high, still further. As a result, middle-class families will find it still harder to save and still harder to come up with a down payment on a house in a good school district. Their commutes will continue to grow longer, along with their reluctance to support essential services. Savings rates will continue to decline. These problems merit serious attention from economists and America's leaders. While there is no single solution to the woes of America's middleclass, this paper hypothesizes that a feasible tax cut is in order. Many people argue that a tax cut is not the answer, saying that tax cuts usually disproportionately benefit the rich and harm the middleclass. This paper addresses how the American tax system is increasingly disadvantageous to the middleclass and demonstrates why tax cuts are needed and how they could benefit the middleclass.
From the Paper "It has long been said by the political left that the tax cuts of President Reagan and current President George W. Bush have favored the rich at the expense of the poor (Frank, 2000). Critics claim the rich are not paying their fair share of the tax burden while middle and lower class citizens are struggling to pay for health care, education, and other basic necessities. The obvious solution for big government advocates to level the playing field is to raise taxes on the rich. However, despite the political rhetoric denouncing the Bush tax cuts as a windfall to the rich at the expense of the poor, recent empirical evidence finds the rich do actually pay a substantial amount of the federal tax burden."
Abstract The paper examines "Road to Whatever: Middle-Class Culture and the Crisis of Adolescence" where Currie explains why problems of delinquency are occurring in a white middleclass society that for the most part is idealized. The paper explains Curries' ideas on the unrealistic expectations facing these white middle-class youths that cause them to feel flawed and thus participate in risky behavior. The paper also discusses how Currie believes middle-class parents align themselves with the perfect stereotypes projected by the media and allow their adolescents too much autonomy. The paper then points out the problems with the evidence Currie uses to support his thesis but concludes that the book opens up an important discussion on how members of today's society can help the troubled middle-class.
From the Paper "In the book The Road to Whatever: Middle-Class Culture and the Crisis of Adolescence, Elliot Currie proposes that the white middle-class of today's American culture are in danger. The appearances of these troublesome signs are in the "widespread alienation, desperation, and violence" that we witness in the today's youths. Our current culture usually does not attribute these problems to the idealized white middle-class adolescent, butt Currie argues that the problems of drugs, delinquency, and violence are more prevalent in white middle-class adolescents than they are marginal groups with less socioeconomic opportunities. In his book, Currie examines how and why these delinquent problems of delinquency are occurring in a white middle class society that for the most part is idealized."
Abstract This paper is a discussion of the book "The Politics" by Aristotle. In this book Aristotle introduces the idea of a middleclass, and argues it's significance for the good of mankind. Aristotle argues that the middleclass is the most suitable class to be rulers since unlike the rich who do not want anyone to rule them, or the poor, who do not have the means to rule, they live in the middle and have seen the best qualities of both the rich and the poor.
From the paper:
"The poor, conversely, cannot be good rulers because their attributes usually consist of being overly indigent, weak, or lacking in honor. These qualities make it difficult for the poor to follow reason, and they usually become malicious and base in petty ways. If the malicious were given the entitlement to rule, it seems that their hateful and wicked ways would cause a tyrannical, or master/slave society. As was said before, the poor are full of envy for the rich and could, perhaps, attempt to revenge on those they resent. Either the rich or the poor can commit Acts of injustice. Whether it is through arrogance or malice, both are groups likely to act against the best interest of the city. The middlingclass must rule because both the rich and the poor, if given the claim to rule, are likely to cause nothing but injury to the cities."
Abstract This paper defines the income and social levels of the middleclass in the United States and examines the effects that the rising costs of healthcare have had on the middleclass. The paper examines the growing trend which seems to lessen the availability of the individual in attaining care while at the same time increasing the costs and access to healthcare -effectively barring many in the United States middleclass from receiving proper care for their health.
From the Paper "The healthcare crisis as well as the unbelievable costs associated maintaining a health insurance policy has resulted in 43.6 million individuals that were covered by insurance in 2001 losing or forfeiting their coverage due to the inability of either the individual or the individual's employer to pay for the healthcare insurance. The national middle class household income is stated to be $42,049 while the average family healthcare insurance premium is the approximate amount of $9,066 a year. Households with incomes between $25,000 to $50,000 a year are among the 43 million individuals who are presently without insurance."
A look at England in the 1850's and the class struggles which existed between the landowners and the middleclass, and the working class against the industrial revolution.
Abstract An examination of the chaos existing in 19th century England and the causes and consequences. The paper states that England's development of a dual class struggle -middleclass vs. aristocracy and working class vs. middleclass - arose for several reasons. The most immediate and obvious cause was the industrial revolution, which impacted the country economically, socially, and politically.
From the Paper "The year 1850 found England in the midst of some remarkable transitions. First, in the wake of the Industrial Revolution, England was in the process of evolving from being an agrarian society into being an industrial one. In fact, the year 1851 would mark the first year when the number of people in England's cities and towns was greater than the number of people in her rural areas (Hibbert 67).
"Second, for the first time in the country's history, the landowners, also known as the gentry or aristocracy, found themselves losing political ground and cultural influence to the middle class. The Middle Class, strengthened by the Industrial Revolution, had battered its way into the House of Commons and successfully passed several reform measures, such as the Prison Act, and the Lunacy Act, measures that the aristocracy would not have undertaken if left to their own devices."
Abstract By examining the struggle of the American MiddleClass, we can see how the American economy grew into a major world power as result of two World Wars, McCarthyism and the advent of the suburban world that now dominates much of America's middle stratum of Pluralism of the economy. This paper will discuss the struggling middleclass of American within a fifty-year period of time.
