"The trajectory of our national economy is a central concern of every American. Our living costs rise as would-be hegemons battle over neocolonial control through tariff policies. And while social media creativity holds our attention, some part of us recalls older ways of storytelling, and we wonder, where do we belong? Most of us, even newcomers to this country-especially newcomers-were taught from an early age that anyone who works hard will eventually thrive."
"The community in which you are born has a tremendous impact on your eventual life outcomes. If you are born into a poor community, you will likely remain poor. If you are born into a wealthy one, you are likely to remain wealthy. Author Isabel Wilkerson and socioeconomic researcher Raj Chetty both describe this grating reality. We want to believe in the American Dream, but our eyes see,"
National economic trajectory affects all Americans as living costs rise amid geopolitical tariff battles and neocolonial pressures. Social media captures attention while older storytelling instincts prompt questions about belonging and the limits of meritocratic promises. Community of birth exerts a powerful influence on life outcomes: being born into poverty tends to perpetuate poverty, while being born into wealth tends to perpetuate wealth. Empirical research documents persistent geographic and structural barriers that hinder social mobility across generations. Narrative shapes perceptions of deservingness, and media, culture, and policy often elevate bootstrapping success stories while minimizing systemic barriers; public attention to structural racism can prompt temporary responses that frequently fade.
Read at Fast Company
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