During the Vietnam war there was a disproportionately higher amount of blacks (mostly lower class- given the time period) being drafted and sent to war than whites (specifically of the middle to upper classes). This obviously has to do with the racism existent in local draft boards- but there is more to it than that. In the link below, James Fallows reflects on the drafts inequities. One inequity was simply that the middle class had the resources to resist the draft, perhaps even in clever ways- while the lower class accepted the draft and accepted the fact that they might have to be shipped off to Vietnam.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Class in America during the Vietnam War
I was researching for a paper I am writing on dissent to the Vietnam War during the 1960's. I came across an article that is SO relevant to what we have been discussing about class, race, privilege, and most importantly, the Lareau article and how it showed that the middle class feels more comfortable questioning authority.
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fabulous connections Sye. Great article too - I especially appreciate his reflections on his own privilege.
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