Introduction to Sociology SO141
Part I - The Sociological Perspective
There are many sociological issues that plague our nation today. From immigration, to abortion and gay rights, there is always some “hot topic” up for debate. An issue in America that directly affects my life is racism.
As an African-American, racism stares me in the face on practically a daily basis, yet it is not for myself that I am concerned. The effects of racism on my four African-American sons is where my concern lies. As a single mother and I do everything in my power to protect them and teach them how to become God fearing men and upstanding citizens in society. However, it seems that society, without …show more content…
In the early years of my life my parents were married and life was good so far as finances were concerned. We were a middle class family. My father was a police officer and my mother stayed home and took care of me until I was school aged. Things did change however. My parents divorced, leaving my mother to raise my siblings and me alone. We were forced from all the comforts of middle-class-America into poverty. I decided early on that poverty was not a circumstance I wanted to live in when I was old enough to be on my own. I consider myself to be a member of the middle class at this point in my life. Immediately after high school I joined the Air Force. Though, military wages will not propel one into the “Fortune 500”, it is a means to honest, honorable income. The honor that ensues being a member of the United States military places a person in high esteem of the public, and therefore a higher social class than the average American that may be in a similar occupational field. Social class, has an impact on the type of education you receive. In my middle school years and beyond, when I lived in poverty, the education I received was sub-par. Teachers were not tentative and students were incorrigible. This is a far cry from the education that I have access to now as a retired military member. Now, at the mere mention of having served, educational institutions are eager to have me enroll. I have the means to attain a quality education in the present and future because of benefits I earned through the