Carol Stack’s Call to Home Essay - 1443 Words

Progress and individualism are very much celebrated in American culture. Many people migrate to urban cities in the search of economic prosperity and to achieve the elusive â€Å"American Dream.† City life can often come as a shock to individuals not accustomed to a fast-paced lifestyle; conversely it can change a person. Such change can transform a person to lose the values and beliefs they were raised with which consequently attribute to losing the bonds that they once held with their families. This is not the case with the families portrayed in Carol Stack’s ethnography Call to Home. The book depicts Southern African-American families living in rural, North and South Carolina’s towns – which migrate to northern urban cities for economic†¦show more content†¦While in the north, individual’s sustained close bonds with their families and home. The adults often flocked home during summer vacations or whenever possible. Moreover the children were key players in maintaining close relations between the families in the North and South. Children were often sent to the South for summer vacations, semesters during the school year and some for most of their childhood when their parents moved away. It was not that parents did not want to take them but it was that they wanted the grandparents to raise their children as to instill and not lose sight of family values (Stack, 1996). Although most children were left for grandparents to rear, the children and the young adults were also caring for the elderly by helping them cope with ailments due to old age. In turn the adults in the north were helping their communities back home by sending their hard earned money. Family values and traditions are very important in maintaining social bonds in African American families. In addition, it is clear that African American families are matrifocal and matriarchal. Matrifocality is present in Burdy’s Bend – Miss Pearl is a great example – (Stack, 1996), in the film The Language You Cry In, and as discussed in Dr. Stevenson’s in class lecture (J. Stevenson, personal communication, November 18, 2013). The community members in Burdy’s Bend, all knew they could count on Miss Pearl whenever they needed help. As notedShow MoreRelatedUnderstanding Of Society s Portrayal Of The Poor1565 Words   |  7 PagesHarlem Nights, Boomerang, Pretty Woman, and The Jeffersons. She references outside sources to compare their takes on this issue to hers to point out the similarities and dissimilarities in their arguments. bell hooks concludes her essay with a strong call to action, saying that poor people can lead meaningful lives despite what the media and the privileged classes say, but educated individuals must work with the poor to change their circumstances. She argues for society to acknowledge its misrepresentation