The Borgenicht Family

The classic American success story of rags to riches has captivated those around the world causing immigrants to rush to America's shores since the birth of the country in efforts to establish themselves through their relentless hard work, often fundamental traits from their native countries. Through the high immigration rates in the United States, the idea of higher competition rates in the workplace and employment remains a worry for American born citizens. Consequently, these fears have become a reality, as recent statistics show those who acquire an American citizenship are 36 percent less likely to fall below the poverty line (Giridharadas). These statistics enrich Gladwell’s narration of the Borgenicht family, immigrants who established …show more content…
Since 1964 when president Lyndon B. Johnson made a declaration on a “war against poverty,” many Americans have remained in dire need of financial help, with more than 46 million Americans living below the poverty line (Gabriel). McDowell County, West Virginia has claim to lowest median annual household income in the nation of $22,000, trapping its 20,000 inhabitants in the cycle of Appalachian poverty (Gabriel). With an inability to escape the hardships since one’s family background and wealth play a role in one’s success, the lives of those in McDowell County relate to Chris Langan, a poverty stricken citizen of Montana and a genius holding an IQ of roughly 200, unable to graduate college due to his minimal financial resources. Kent McGuire, the president of Southern Education Foundation, notes that an inequality has been established between students due to the economic prosperity of one’s background, and an emphasis by school administrators has begun in order to improve the system in these regions as early on as preschool, so that children have better means of reaching their academic potential (Layton). This provides commentary on Gladwell’s idea that being a genius does not …show more content…
. families with higher incomes tend to be those in which the parent(s) are highly educated. This has long been true, though the link between parental educational attainment and family income has grown stronger in recent decades, as the wage returns to educational attainment have increased since 1979. Because highly educated parents are more able and more likely than less educated parents to provide resources and opportunities for their children to develop cognitive and academic skills in both the preschool years and the school-age years, children of parents with college degrees may have higher academic achievement . .