Summary Of Burger Barn

Too often than not, when an individual hears the word “poor” unsettling images of destitute poverty and homelessness are the disturbing, and at times inaccurate, depictions that come into one’s mind. Another common image that tends to come to mind when speaking of people in the poor community is the pitiful imagery of a lazy group of people looking for handouts from the government. It seems as if the admirable image of a group of low-wage working citizens attempting to move into better living conditions to support their families, is unrealistic. Stereotypes tend to make that depiction nonexistent as an option. Stereotypes favor the images of drug dealers or public assistance riders, rather than an honest working person in an unfortunate economic
His situation, although interesting, was not uncommon. Jamal, just like many struggling young citizens in Harlem, is working low-wage at a company named Burger Barn. These young workers often get trapped into this unfortunate work situation due to it being a last resort. The job is so horrid, that only those who have no other options would work there. Due to this, the Burger Barns in Long Island raise their pay rate three dollars above minimum wage. Workers in the inner city are having a hard enough time finding a job in general, therefore the Burger Barns in those areas keep their pay rate at minimum wage. The workers in those areas often times do not surpass minimum wage pay rates despite the fact they are working for jobs that only those without an option would apply. Jamal and countless others could only get so many hours at Burger Barn, and with the company already paying him low-wage, four to five hour shift reductions just were not feasible, especially with him having a family to support. Jamal and his common law wife, Kathy, live in conditions many would call unfit. Jamal's education level and lack of work experience keep him stuck at low-wage positions, making it almost impossible for him to create a better living circumstance for him and his wife. Although specific to Jamal, this is not an unordinary scenario for many young citizens in Harlem. The remarkability