Growing up working class

"Fewer than one percent of Americans break out f the class they are born into. Despite these grim odds, people like my parents still base their entire lives on the dream of class jumping. The television gospel told them it was not only possible, but normal. To not increase your wealth was more shameful, to my family, than a brown lawn, unusual offspring, and unemployment combined. They considered every day that went by without a yacht and a swimming pool embarrassing. And everyone else in the neighborhood who didn't miraculously obtain a new Cadillac or a vacation home at the beach, or who was still working construction or driving a cab, was equally shameful. To my parents, every day in this working-class neighborhood was temporary. It was just a matter of working hard enough."

Polyestra, in Michelle Tea, Ed. (2003) "Without a net - The female experience of growing up working class", Seal Press.

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Leslie recommended this book; I recommend it too. Wow. Some of the stories are just... amazing.
Quite inspiring.