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America's forgotten working class | J.D. Vance

TED

787.4K Views . 2016-10-17

J.D. Vance grew up in a small, poor city in the Rust Belt of southern Ohio, where he had a front-row seat to many of the social ills plaguing America: a heroin epidemic, failing schools, families torn apart by divorce and sometimes violence. In a searching talk that will echo throughout the country's working-class towns, the author details what the loss of the American Dream feels like and raises an important question that everyone from community leaders to policy makers needs to ask: How can we help kids from America's forgotten places break free from hopelessness and live better lives? TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more. Find closed captions and translated subtitles in many languages at http://www.ted.com/translate Follow TED news on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tednews Like TED on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TED Subscribe to our channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TEDtalksDirector

The speaker, a law student from a struggling southern Ohio steel town, reflects on his own experience as a cultural outsider at Yale and the challenges facing his hometown. He highlights the prevalence of addiction, domestic violence, and a general sense of pessimism within the community, linking these issues to rising death rates and limited opportunities for upward mobility.

Upward Mobility
American Dream
Struggling Communities

  • The speaker describes their early experiences as a law student at Yale, feeling like a cultural outsider from their background in a struggling southern Ohio steel town.
  • The speaker contrasts their own upbringing with the broader struggles of America's working class, highlighting issues like heroin addiction, family violence, and a prevalent sense of pessimism.

Insights from the YouTube Video Clip:

1. The Impact of Social Class on Personal Experiences: This passage highlights how even seemingly mundane interactions can be influenced by social class. The speaker's anecdote about ordering wine at a fancy restaurant reveals a sense of feeling like an outsider due to their background. This illustrates the subtle ways in which social class can shape our experiences and influence our sense of belonging.

2. From Personal Struggle to Broader Societal Issues: The speaker connects their own family's struggles with addiction and economic hardship to the broader challenges faced by the working class in America. They paint a vivid picture of the deep-rooted problems in their hometown, including rising mortality rates and a pervasive sense of pessimism. This transition

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