Society experiences different social dynamics that impact on the political, social as well as economic aspects that can be traced and linked to the past society history. History enables people to understand the past as well as empower them to make informed decisions presently as well as enable them project about possible future actions and events that are likely to happen. It, thus, can help people understand the individual opportunities available presently and link them to social structures that existed in the past that can help them understand the situation and contexts that transpired in the past that impacts on the present status as an individual and group level. The past societies experienced an intense phenomenon that includes civil struggles, slavery, wars, racism and segregations among other happenings in the society that continue to influence present social structures. Hence, through tracking family history, it can help one understand the variables that contributed to the present status in the society. However, this paper analyzes personal own family wealth story. It does so by responding to several questions that include if anyone in the previous generations inherited property, money or businesses. Also, if anyone used social networks to get jobs, secure loans or open businesses and finally the question of if the family took advantage of formal programs that would facilitate wealth/capital acquisition, like the Homestead Act or the GI Bill.
The first question response is affirmative. My father inherited a house that he grew up in that had been bought by my grandfather Walter Fuller Senior in the year 1949 for $ 2,800 money that my grandfather saved working at a local grocery store. The 2 bed roomed house, approximately 900 square foot with 1 bathroom was on a half acre land that was located at Kingsport, which was the nearest industrial town from his rural areas of Snowflake, in Virginia. After my father inherited the house from my grandfather (Walter Sr.), he renovated the house and remodeled it to improve its status and condition as it was an old house. The house value at the time had deteriorated due to old age as it was an old house despite the renovations. My father later sold the house with an idea of getting a much better house that could cater for our growing and expanding family. The money that my parents received from selling the house they made a down payment of a new house that I was born in and made plans that would enable them to clear the outstanding balance and fully own the house. The family moved in the new house and before it was long my family experienced marital challenges and problems resulting in a divorce of my parents that made situations difficult for the family. The divorce prompted the family to sell the house at throw away money that amounted to the balance owed for the house and, hence, left the family without a house. The following years, the family lived in apartments as both parents focused on saving so that they could buy their own separate houses. My family history of property inheritance is, therefore, brief that was only experienced by my father who later on sold the property due to life challenges and, consequently, our wealth history arising from property inheritance is short and non-impactful in the present times. The family did not engage in businesses activity other than relying on employment to help them earn wages and sustain the family income. Other than employment, my grandparent, for instance, practiced subsistence farming at the time to help supplement his earning and help the family save money that could have been spent on food. It helped him save enough money that resulted in the acquisition of the first property (house).At the time, most of the populations in the rural areas used horses with ploughs and there were limited tractors and, hence, commercial farming was not prominent in the rural area at the time. Commercial farming could be taken as business at the time. Businesses and money inheritance in my family in the previous generations do not relate to my family personal wealth story.
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The second question response is negative. My family did not use social networks to get jobs, open businesses or secure jobs. Engaging in either of the three probably could have improved and increased my family wealth between and among the different generations. My grandfather (Walter Sr.) first job was in the military where he enrolled at the age of 30 years to help cater for his family. The military profession is a unique and dynamic job that requires selflessness. My grandfather was fit and passionately served his country as a patriot that did not require any social networks or connections to get enrolled in the military service. It required strict qualifications that included medical and physical tests that he confidently had and, thus, allowed him to get a chance in the military. The social networks, hence, have not helped our family secure loans and open business when my family wealth lineage is analyzed. In the environment that my father grew and was raised, including my father, there was no segregation of any kind as it is a rural set up with homogeneous characteristics and limited diversity. My grandfather only encountered segregation challenges when serving the military during the Second World War (WWII). My grandfather second job as a manager at a supermarket was also not influenced by social networks. His competency and aggressiveness that enabled him to confront life issues bravely as well as his veteran status gave him an upper hand in securing the jobs that he got. It is because of the respect and appreciation that many people have for veterans and the military experience that they bring alongside them in job setups such as discipline and honesty among others. Walter Sr. aggressiveness in the job market and daring adventure enabled him to move to Kingsport that was the nearest industrial town to look for better job opportunities where he got his third job at a local glass plant. He got his job by simply walking in the organization and applying for the available job opportunities. The veteran status that my grandfather had given him an advantage over other applicants due to the respect that veterans have in the society as well as employment law as in some parts of society that encourage organizations to prefer veterans and give them an upper hand in issues touching on employment. The social network concept, therefore, did not apply in our family lineage relating to employment and wealth history. There was nobody in Kingsport that my family knew other than it was the nearest city and, therefore, the family moved in to explore available opportunities including job opportunities.
My father equally had no social networks that helped him secure a job, secure loans or open businesses. After graduating from high school in the year 1971, he got his first job as a bag boy in a local grocery store that paid him 40 cents an hour. He later worked at Quebecor Press where he rose in status to become a supervisor due to his efficiency in the work set up. The company moved to Mexico. My father transited to another company and started work at Eastman Chemical Company aged 53. He got the opportunity because of the past experience that he has been building and a positive reputation and recommendations he received from his previous employers. Due to his positive reputation, the company offered him an educational opportunity in a local community college where he got his associate’s degree in chemistry that allowed him to become a chemical operator trainer with the company. At the age of 64, he retired due to medical and health challenges where his doctors did not clear him to continue with work due to high blood pressure and stroke among other ailments common with seniors. My grandfather and father job history, therefore, show no social networks influence.
Finally, the response to the question of whether the family took advantage of formal programs that would facilitate wealth and capital acquisition is negative. My grandfather is the only person that had the opportunity to take such offers because of his military background that offered GI Bill but he did not. HIs primary reason is that he joined the military because he saw it as a good opportunity to earn for his family.
In conclusion, the presented factors contributed to the present status of my family in terms of wealth and capital acquisition. It helps one discover the wealth pathways and opportunities and challenges experienced by the family lineage that enables one understand the dynamics in the social structure experienced in the society presently. The families that took opportunities that presented themselves in the past such as investments, networking and government formal programs that were availed at the time have been directly and indirectly impacted by such actions that have determined and shaped the present wealth and capital inheritance pathways that such families experience. It also helps understand links between opportunities and social structure at the time and in the present.
