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F*ck this guy. He doesn& #39;t get to decide what poverty has to look like. I grew up in poverty and I know a few things. So allow me to school this motherf*cker on my "privelage"... >>>
I went hungry, A LOT. I did get free lunch at school, which I was mocked by other kids for getting, because at the time, I had to announce to the cashier "I get free lunch." then listen to the chorus of giggles from the girls in line behind me.>>>
The summertime was worse. Sometimes I went days without food. And those days came after at least a week of eating micro-meals, hoping to stretch out what few groceries were there. True hunger is painful. Especially the first few days. >>>
I remember literally crying when that "Aren& #39;t you hungry?" BK commercial played. Yes, there was a TV. A little B&W that someone had given us. There was no cable. Hell, sometimes there wasn& #39;t even electricity. There was usually no car and we were miles away from the city. >>>
When there was a car, it rarely had gas. I was a straight A student, in gifted classes, and couldn& #39;t even access a public library. Sometimes, I couldn& #39;t do my homework because I was out of paper and there was no money for any. The teacher would shame me in front of the class >>>
"I expected better of you." She& #39;d tell me that I could& #39;ve easily obtained paper at the school store for only 25 cents. I guess it never crossed her mind that anyone was so poor as to not even have a quarter, and I was too ashamed to argue.>>>
I didn& #39;t start each school year with a new wardrobe. My stuff came from church donation boxes. Most of my clothes were many years out of style and made me the target of more bullying. The best I could do was make sure I was clean and my clothes were clean.>>>
But, when you& #39;re that poor, kids assume you& #39;re dirty anyway and being your friend is the social kiss of death. I remember desperately wanting something, anything, like the other kids had. Just to feel normal for one day.>>>
Finally, one of the donation bags from the church had a pair of Adidas tennis shoes inside. My heart jumped when I spotted them, then quickly sank. They were at least two sizes too small, if not smaller. But, out of desperation to feel included, I tried to wear them anyway. >>>
If you you curl your toes as tightly as you can, you& #39;ll know exactly how I had to do my feet, in order to get those shoes on. And that is how I wore them to school the next day. I remember being in excruciating pain well before lunchtime. >>>
Walking brought tears to my eyes. I was in 5th grade at the time and there were a few class changes during the day. I& #39;m sure I was walking like a penguin. It was one of the longest days of my life. I never wore them again. To this day, I& #39;ve never owned a pair of Adidas.>>>
I ever got to order from the Scholastic book orders, but I would take home the form and read the book descriptions, like I was browsing the sears catalog. I missed all of the field trips that required money. I couldn& #39;t do and clubs or sports because there was no money for fees >>
and no car to pick me up after school. I never attended a single prom, because I couldn& #39;t afford the dress or a ticket. So I just pretended I thought they were stupid. If I ever did luck out and receive a gift or donation of something nice, >>>
I treated it like gold. One time my aunt tracked down where we were living and brought me two brand new outfits of clothes and a coat! Had a stranger spotted me out in those clothes, they would have never guessed how hard things were at home. People get gifted things. >>>
