>I wonder what it would be like to be born in a low-income community in the US where social mobility is difficult.
I fit that description.
In short, my personal, anecdotal experience says immigrants often place a greater value on education, recognize more viable options for success, are more supportive of each other and have less fear of stepping out of their comfort zone.
I saw no shortage of people hamstrung by each of those things growing up, particularly the de-valuing of education.
Yes, immigrant communities historically have been known to be more collaborative and to have more upward social mobility because of that.
When I worked in East Palo Alto, which is a low-income community in the heart of Silicon Valley, I sometimes felt like it was like living and working in a bucket full of lobsters. Instead of being helped up out of the bucket, we'd get clawed down.
But slowly and surely, the work of community leaders, nonprofits and community organizers are changing this landscape and building up a new generation of kids who think differently.
I fit that description.
In short, my personal, anecdotal experience says immigrants often place a greater value on education, recognize more viable options for success, are more supportive of each other and have less fear of stepping out of their comfort zone.
I saw no shortage of people hamstrung by each of those things growing up, particularly the de-valuing of education.