People don't 'tell' themselves they are poor and stuck. People learn they are poor and stuck when that has been their experience from their youth. Some people

People don't 'tell' themselves they are poor and stuck. People learn they are poor and stuck when that has been their experience from their youth. Some people's circumstances are a result of systemic racism that has kept them from succeeding. Some people have been deliberately kept from better jobs, better schools, and better neighborhoods. Some people have consistently bad experiences from the power structure. Possibly it could be argued that many of these barriers can be overcome in the modern age but that is a questionable assertion and the experiences of one's parents and grandparents is not easily overlooked.