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Changing Prejudices About The Poor

Seeing and Making Culture: Representing the Poor, an article written by Bell Hooks, also

known as Gloria Watkins, analyses societys unfair judgements, misrepresentations and

uncritical attributes associated with poverty. Brought up in a family that could be regarded as

poor, she has deep understanding of the issue at hand. Her insight into the subject is further

illuminated by her reading and interaction with a philosopher, Cornel West, who is apparently

an authority on the subject having written books about it. With the negative connotations the

society imposes on poor people as hopeless, lazy and weak, West tries to convince Hooks that

she is not poor but working class, but to no avail.

Since her childhood growing up as one of seven children whose breadwinner was a father on

a meagre salary as a post office janitor, Hooks was not ashamed of their poor situation

neither looking at it with rose-tinted glasses nor letting it stigmatize her but she was quite

realistic and appreciated such values as courage and integrity that were instilled into her by

her folks. She only became acutely aware of her poor situation like most of the society

whom she castigates as having deep-seated prejudices about poverty when she joined

university where the poor were depicted as shiftless, mindless, lazy, dishonest, and
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unworthy. These societal prejudices shocked Hooks and it is what she sets out to correct in

this article; not only among the better-off in society, but among the poor themselves.

This is in line with the other social consciousness works by the author who has written

extensively on various topics such as race, gender, politics and popular culture. She grew up

in a racially segregated, small Kentucky town among her poor kith and kin who noted that

money and material possessions did not define a person but rather hard work, honesty and

integrity. When she got a scholarship and loans to attend the elite Stanford University, her

parents worried how she would cater for transportation, books and emergencies. Despite

these hardships, Hooks proceeded to become a reputed scholar and prolific author having

earned a PhD and published many books and essays. For all her success, she identifies with

the middle-class folks who are connected in economic responsibility to kinship structures

where they provide varying material support for others where the issue is always about

money (Hooks, 432).

Hooks believes the prejudices associated with the poor negatively impact the actions,

reputation and self-esteem of most poor people. The prejudices are captured in a situation

where the Stanford students were quick to assume that anything missing had been taken by

the black and Filipina women who worked there (Hooks, 433). Dissuading the society from

these judgmental stances, she says that she views the world in terms of who has money to

spend and who does not. The author notes that there are poor people who are good and some

who are bad, just like in the rest of the society. Yet, some poor people cheat and steal because

they also hope to escape the stigma of their class by appearing to have the trappings of more

privileged classes. Poverty in their minds and in our society as a whole is seen as

synonymous with depravity, lack and worthlessness (Hooks, 434).

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Hooks tells the poor that they have all the potential and worth like everyone else.

Emphasizing the importance of morals and values over economic status, she notes that

everyone can live a worthwhile life. Whether rich or poor, all people deserve respect and

dignity as espoused by various theological teachings. Hooks cites her own liberatory religious

traditions that were in solidarity with the poor with them being viewed as ready for moral

integrity, being encouraged to share resources with others, and assertion of an individuals

power to change the world so that the poor would have their needs met, would have access

to resources, would have justice and beauty in their lives (Hooks, 434).

But progressive intellectuals from rich classes who are themselves obsessed with gaining

material wealth are uncomfortable with the insistence that one can be poor, yet lead a rich and

meaningful life (Hooks, 436). This is reinforced by contemporary popular culture which has

negative portrayals of the poor. The lazy and dysfunctional are portrayed as consumed with

longing to be rich, a longing so intense that it renders them dysfunctional and (sic) willing to

commit all manner of dehumanizing and brutal acts in the name of material gain (Hooks,

434). The working poor are portrayed as suffering self-contempt, with a wit and humor

masking the longing to change their lot.

Yet the experience and subsequent success of Hooks and other people from a poor

background show that poverty is not necessarily a permanent state and it does not have

certain values attached to it regardless the popular belief. The poor should not allow

themselves to be dehumanized by such negative labels as depraved, lazy, worthless,

dishonest Indeed, whereas the very rich do not have to work, the poor have no choice but

to work very hard, usually for little pay, to make ends meet; selflessly sharing it with others

in similarly tough situations.

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This article by Hooks is written in simple, persuasive language suitable to everybody. It

addresses both the poor and the rich in society. The credibility of the author is depicted in

their upbringing and qualifications, making for good ethos. Employment of popular culture

and beliefs as depicted in quotation of the movie Pretty Woman presents and weakens

opposing views, bringing out the strong logos in the work. Pathos is depicted in the articles

imagery and diction as depicted in the example, I frequently spent my holidays with the

black women who cleaned in the dormitories. Their world was my world (Hooks, 431) and

use of such euphemisms as underclass and professional-managerial class.

In the materialistic and individualistic society of today, appearances are usually used to gauge

a persons character. Yet looks can be deceptive. Taught in a culture of poverty to be

intelligent, honest, to work hard, and always to be a person of my word, Hooks effectively

calls on the society to shun these prejudices that unfairly judge, misrepresent and uncritically

attribute individual failing to poverty. In so doing, the society will be responsible and ensure

that the poor live a meaningful, contented and fulfilled life in spite of their circumstances.

Works cited

Hooks, Bell. Seeing and Making Culture: Representing the Poor. From Inquiry to

Academic Writing a Text and Reader. Greene, Stuart and Lidinsky, April. Boston: Bedford,

2008. Print