I was raised in the DC area, but my mother’s entire family lived in NY.  Back then, our driving route between the two cities took us through an impoverished section of Baltimore.  I remember being fascinated with all the people gathered on the marble steps of the row houses (read tenements). Around the same time, I noticed down-at-heel types on the subway. 

Growing up, we had wonderful, fun-loving maids.  They were women of great dignity and presence, so in my child-brain, it never occurred to me they were "poor."  I never actually knew any people of limited means until I went to college.

I was born into a military family.   We lived in a city in Virginia that was populated with mostly military families.   The neighborhood I grew up in for 15 years of my life had only military families.   There was no class difference.   All of our fathers went out on deployment at different times and we were well aware of our equal status in our community.  Looking back, it was a wonderful upbringing.

I did notice class difference when I went to college.   None of my roommates had fathers in the military.   I had to get a part-time job off campus to earn spending money and they didn’t.   So, it became apparent to me my freshman year in college that there was another world out there!  I loved clothes and admired their wardrobes!   So, I began babysitting on weekends to enhance my meager wardrobe! 

I didn’t grow up in a poor family.  When it was time for me to get my own car (at age 15) my father sat me down and talked finances with me for the first time…a serious talk.   I was working after school and weekends at a hospital emergency room as a clerk so he looked at my expenses and said, "Sis, I think you can afford a $30.00 a month payment on your car and your insurance."   I simply said, "Okay."   The next day he brought home an 8 year old 1956 Chevrolet, Carolina blue, and he said, "Hope you like it, Sis.   Now write me a check for the first payment and the next one is due 30 days from now."  

I was raised in a personal responsibility family.   I had everything I wanted and needed, however, I had to participate in the cost.   Good life lessons from my wonderful father. 

Our family today is a multi-cultural, diverse set with as many mixes as possible in these "United States." However, when growing up in the post Korean conflict era and tumultuous civil rights movement era of the 60’s, I noticed class differences quite early.  The first experience I recall was when we moved from the progressive San Francisco Bay Area of Alameda County to a small rural community in Contra Costa County. I remember witnessing a conversation between a neighborhood bigot and my feisty, politically astute dear Mama…The woman clearly declared to my Mom, " Honey, I am representing your neighbors…I am supposed to tell you you are never, under any circumstances, to tell people you all are Mexicans…You know we don’t allow their kind(ya know greezie, low life, shiftless, dirty, too many kids, no speaky dee Eeengleesh types) in this neighborhood…Certainly, not light skinned, pretty people like you all! If you are pressed, sugar, jus’ tell ‘em you all are Spanish…Mind you, I’ll vouch for you…But, best you keep you alls background where it belongs…in the background!"

I remember my Mom standing up to these uneducated bully-bigot, showing her the door quickly, and retorting, " Mame, I real don’t know how you think you can come to our home which we purchased, by the way, and did not rent and try to dictate to my family. We are fiercely proud of our cultural heritage and polite upbringing, as full citizens of the United States with Mexican roots. My brothers and husband have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and we are as patriotic as you and they(other neighbors) are or preport to be.  Do not attempt to "darken my door step" again with your rascist, bigoted and presumptuous ideas. You are not welcome here. Good-bye!"

I thank my dear Mother for being the brave and strong woman she was…She developed into a community leader and political activist shortly after this era, seeking politcal, social, and economic justice for all Americans, regardless of race, color or creed or socio-economic background.  Our home was a haven for anyone that needed help, temporary housing or a job lead…She was that kind of woman with a trendous sense of brotherhood and community activism!