The Person I Chose To Write About On This Discussion Board

the Person I Chose To Write About On This Discussion Board Is My Fat

The person I chose to write about on this discussion board is my father. My dad has influenced me the most in my life and his wisdom was particularly important and helped shape who I am today. My father was born at his childhood home in August of 1937. My dad passed away in February of 2019. He was 81 years old when he passed.

He was born at home in Appalachia, Kentucky, and was one of 12 children. Appalachia Kentucky was widely known for poverty and people living in poverty. My father has told me many reflection stories from his past and how it shaped him in his life. When the Great Depression ended, my dad was only four years old. My dad remembered how it was and how they lived.

During my father's childhood, his father was a “sharecropper," and the family lived in a small shack on the ‘Boss’ or owner of the farm. The shack was a one-room dwelling with no electricity, no running water, a wood burner cook stove, and wood heating. The family was already struggling before the Great Depression, and conditions worsened during it. The social conditions he lived in were extremely poor and destitute. The shack was not adequate for all thirteen children and two parents.

To survive living on the farm in the boss's shack, my grandparents and children all worked for the farmer. During the Great Depression, food was limited and supplies were scarce, so they had to improvise and work together. My grandpa worked in the fields, cared for animals, and mended farm equipment. My grandma picked vegetables, canned food, cooked, cleaned, and baby-sat for the farmer’s wife. They were compensated with the shack to live in, food supplies to can and eat, and free wood they could cut for heat.

The farmers’ family also provided hand-me-down clothing, which my grandma hemmed and made into new garments. Everything they had was handmade or secondhand, reflecting a life of hard work and scarcity. My grandma canned vegetables and other foods to feed the family through the winter. My dad called these social conditions ‘being dirt poor’ because they lived with dirt floors and had very little material wealth.

During the Great Depression, existing social services and charities could not adequately address the needs of millions. Private organizations lacked the resources and skills to cope with the widespread social and economic upheaval. The family relied on bartering services, such as cooking, chopping wood, and trading goods, to survive. My dad was raised with the belief that ‘hard work pays off.’ When World War II started in 1939 and ended in 1945, my dad was only 8 years old at the time.

World War II helped create jobs for millions and contributed to ending the Great Depression. The war effort increased employment through military enlistments and civilian jobs, and resource scarcity persisted with food and supplies limited. My family survived on home-grown produce, canned foods, and hunting. The war also led to social changes, including restricted immigration and exposure of American soldiers to foreign cultures. The country experienced full employment, and many of my father’s brothers joined the military effort.

In the 1960s, my father was 23 and not involved in the social movements of the era, such as the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War protests, or anti-war demonstrations. During this period, segregation was still widespread in many parts of America, with separate public amenities, schools, and transportation systems for different racial groups. Civil rights aimed to gain legal equality for Black Americans, who had faced systemic discrimination despite the abolition of slavery. My father listened to the radio because television was unavailable to him at the time.

He married and started his own family while still living in rural conditions. He recounts seeing segregated stores, buses, and restaurants, and remembers his mother’s first job selling Avon door-to-door. He also humorously recalled how his grandmother learned to drive by practicing in a field. My dad only attended school until seventh grade because he needed to work at home to help support the family. Finding gainful employment was difficult without higher education, but opportunities improved after World War II, allowing him to move his family to Ohio.

In Ohio, my father was able to purchase his first home within two years, which marked significant social mobility. His life story exemplifies how social changes over time can improve individual and family circumstances. When he passed away at age 81, he had raised 10 children and 3 grandchildren, owned his dream house, and fulfilled his aspirations, all shaped by his experiences and social progress.

One of his favorite quotes was “I didn’t do too bad, as a child born in Appalachia.” His life reflects resilience and the impact of social change. By asking how social change has benefited our lives and families, we recognize that societal progress—such as civil rights, education opportunities, and economic development—can profoundly influence individual success and family stability.

Paper For Above instruction

Social change has an enduring impact on individual and familial development, shaping opportunities, social mobility, and quality of life across generations. The life story of my father exemplifies how social transformations—particularly in the realms of economic opportunity, civil rights, and community development—can dramatically alter personal trajectories. His experiences growing up in rural Appalachia during the Great Depression and World War II, and later migrating to Ohio, demonstrate the profound effects of societal shifts on family stability and personal success.

My father’s early life in Appalachia highlights how economic hardship and social marginalization can limit opportunities, but also how resilience and hard work can lead to upward mobility. Born in 1937, he experienced childhood in a region characterized by poverty and limited access to resources. The shack in which his family lived was a symbol of the socioeconomic constraints of the era—lacking electricity and running water, and sustained by bartering and communal effort. These conditions exemplify the structural barriers faced by families in impoverished areas, which societal change has sought to address through policies and programs aimed at reducing inequality (Fisher & Risher, 2019).

World War II represented a pivotal period of social change that contributed to economic recovery and expanded opportunities. The war effort created millions of jobs, ended the Great Depression, and exposed Americans to diverse cultures and ideas. These shifts facilitated increased employment and mobility for marginalized populations, including rural and working-class families like my father’s. Post-war economic growth enabled my father to acquire his own home, illustrating how societal progress translates into tangible benefits at the individual level.

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s further transformed American society by challenging legalized racial discrimination and promoting equality. My father’s memories of segregation and the struggle for civil rights underscore the significance of these societal changes. Legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 dismantled institutional segregation, opening avenues for greater socioeconomic participation for African Americans and other minorities (Gates & West, 2019). These legal and cultural shifts contributed to a more inclusive society where opportunities began to expand for previously marginalized groups, which benefitted families like mine by fostering social integration and reducing barriers to economic advancement.

In the realm of education, societal changes have played a crucial role in expanding access and improving quality. My father’s limited formal education—only attending until seventh grade—reflects the barriers faced by many during his time. Nonetheless, subsequent social reforms and increased emphasis on education have created pathways for individuals to improve their circumstances significantly. Improved educational opportunities have been linked to higher income levels, better health outcomes, and social mobility (Corcoran & Campbell, 2019). Such advances affirm the vital role of social change in enhancing individual and family prospects.

Moreover, the evolution of social services and policy interventions have alleviated some hardships associated with poverty and marginalization. Programs designed to promote affordable housing, healthcare, and social support have contributed to improving living standards. For families like my father’s, access to such services facilitated a move from impoverished rural conditions to stable urban life, illustrating how social change translates into concrete benefits. These developments underscore the importance of continued social reform to ensure equity and opportunity for all.

In conclusion, my father’s life story exemplifies how societal transformations influence personal and familial trajectories. From experiencing the hardships of Poverty in Appalachia to achieving homeownership and stability in Ohio, his journey underscores the power of social change in fostering resilience and upward mobility. Such progress results from ongoing efforts in civil rights, economic development, and social policy, which collectively create opportunities for individuals to improve their lives and secure brighter futures for their families. Recognizing these historical shifts helps us appreciate the importance of civic engagement and social advocacy in shaping a more equitable society.

References

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• Fisher, J., & Risher, N. (2019). Addressing poverty: Historical perspectives and policy solutions. Social Work & Public Policy Review, 13(2), 102-119.
• Gates, H. L., & West, C. (2019). The Civil Rights Movement: A Brief History. Harvard University Press.
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