The Panther. (Atlanta, Georgia) 19??-1989, May 01, 1950, Image 18
18
THE PANTHER
unrelated things. For instance, a stu
dent wished for money, marriage, and
education, and in another wished he
would desire a home and the welfare
of others. Consequently the things
wished for had to he picked out singu
larly. increasing the number of wishes
for some students by as many as
eight.
Table 1
The percentage of students in each
group (better, middle, poor) whose
wishes fell into six categories: riches
& luxury, education, welfare of others,
marriage and family, travel and mis
cellaneous.
Riches and Luxury
Better
Middle
Poor
%
%
%
Home
35
68
76
Car - .
2
2
20
Money
2
2
20
Education
40
86
40
Welfare of others
28
27
44
Marriage & family 33
82
36
Travel
I
23
1
Miscellaneous
30
25
36
DISCUSSION
The findings
show
that a
large
percentage (76) of the stated wishes
of the group judged as “poor” are
to own a home. It is likely that the
“poor” and the “middle” groups, in
large measure, are renters and the
possibility of being put out is a real
threat. In proportion to their income
and the accommodations afforded the
rents are high. Paying high rents
and being forced to live in slum
areas may account for this high per
centage. The “better” for a goodly
part own their homes and those who
rent live in areas with a pleasant
environment and it is more likely
that the family income is sufficient
to meet the payments of the house.
A wish for a car was not expressed
so often by the “better” (2'/ ) and
the “middle” (2%) group as com
pared to the “poor” group (20'/ ).
Whenever the kind of car was men
tioned it was always a Cadillac. A
car seems to be a symbol of prestige.
The “better” and “middle” groups
probably manage to get an auto
mobile. but the “poor” can only wish
because their incomes are insufficient
to afford mie.
The findings show that a value is
placed on education as compared to
wishes for cash money, with the for
mer being favored. Studies show that
the highly-educated or the intelli
gentsia make up the highest class in
the city of Atlanta. Judging from the
various papers used in this study it
is believed that if one is very well
educated he is in position to demand
just about what he thinks is a “good
living.” Tin' “middle” group for the
most part has been somewhat out of
“touch” with the intelligentsia. Davis’s
analysis of class behavior shows that
there is a tendency for a large per
centage of the “poor” group to pos
sess an anti-attitude toward anyone
who represents authority or who ap
pears somewhat educated. From the
“better” group it is almost understood
that they are supposed to finish high
school and college. They feel as if
it is expected of them. Many in the
various groups would like to he suc
cessful but few desire fame. In wish
ing for the welfare of others the
“poor” group has the largest per
centage. For the most part the “poor ’
wish to he able to take care of their
parents. They wish also for job oppor
tunities and the elimination of racial
prejudices. All groups wished for
world peace.
When it came to marriage and the
family, the “middle” group domi
nated. Eighty-two per cent of the
“middle” group showed a strong de
sire for marriage and a family. This
study shows that the “poor” group
is not as desirous of marriage and
a family, that is. it did not show up
in the stated wishes of the subject.
It may he that the overwhelming ten
dency of the “poor” group to wish
for a home implies a wish for mar
riage and a family. When it came to
travel the “middle” group is in close
association with the “better” group
and perhaps has traveled vicariously
with the “better” group who is in
more favorable position to travel or
know those who have traveled. Fail
ure of the “poor" group to reflect in
their wishes a desire to travel may
result from the potency or urgency of
more immediate self needs. Below are
stated wishes representative of each
group (better, middle, and poor).
Paper Marked “Better”
I Female Age 1 7 )
“If I had only three wishes I would
wish first of all for a higher edu
cation. so that 1 would he able to get
a good job, and not work in the white
folks' kitchen. Next, I would wish for
an opportunity to open my own kin
dergarten nursery school. And my
third wish, 1 would some day like to
get married and have a home and
car of my own. To rear children.
With a good education I should be
able to teach and help train other
children as well as my own some of
the things that it takes to he a suc
cessful person.”
Paper Marked “Middle”
(Male. Age 15)
“I would wish first for a good
education so that I could get a good
job and the second thing 1 would
wish for would he a house and car
and some clothing and the third thing
I would wish for would he a great
football player and they are three
things that I wish for if I had only
three wishes.
Paper Marked “Middle”
( Female. Age 14 )
“Ah. the thought of wishes brings
to my memory many things, hut most
of all. a quick original poem:
“If I had only wishes, three, to he
given promptly to me,
An education would be my first:
A happy career, or I’ll burst.
My second wish, if would be granted,
A beautiful home, and kids in
panties;
My last wish, in God, would he:
A better world for you and me.”