Thank you, Neto. Interesting.Neto wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 2:12 pm I cannot remember now in which thread I mentioned that this young lady was of American Indian descent. And I also do not now recall which tribe it was, but I think it was one of the original "Five Civilized Tribes" that were moved to Indian Territory (from the Eastern States). I mentioned it in the context that she was "home people", not from people who had moved into Oklahoma in recent years.
What difference does that make?
People who are from Oklahoma going way back will know. (Like I said, "She was home people.")
But while it its true that American Indians are repressed in many areas of the USA, I would not consider that to be the case in Eastern Oklahoma (The former Indian Territory), and especially not in an Indian town like Owasso. (Maybe it has changed a lot more than I think, since I went to school there, I don't know.)
In my growing up years there, Indian families were no more likely to be poor, or broken than the average 'White American' family.
Owasso was a Cherokee town.
Some of the Cherokee who came on the "Trail of Tears" were already in professions like medical doctors.
(Will Rogers' father was such a one.)
Some of my school teachers were Indian, probably more than I know, but I do recall for certain that my 6th grade Science teacher was probably a full-blood Indian, and one of my best friend's father was a HS teacher, I think Science as well, but they moved away before I got up to HS.
You also only needed to be 1/8 in order to receive a free college education from the state of Oklahoma, so even those whose parents might have been on the poor side had opportunities to work their way up. (Another of my childhood friends is on FaceBook, and he & his wife are often going on cruises, generally to be considered an indication of some sort of wealth. Also full-blood Indian, Cherokee, as I recall.)
Another factor is that the Cherokee especially were as a majority Christians, so in that sense also, less likely to be broken families. (Maybe I'm just "living in the past".)
When it comes to suicide, it seems no demogrphic is left out, nor socio-economic status. How often do suicide reports appear from young, healthy, talented, wealthy individuals? (Often, these are drug/alcohol abuse related.)
Same with divorce. For children of divorce, or abandonment, wealth is not a comfort.
Many grandparents do a tremendous job of raising their grandchildren. Evenso, i think hurt remains in the child’s heart.