In his essay “Race Over” Orlando Patterson talked about a shift in the underclass that will include more whites or “European Americans” if you want to use the politically correct jargon. He wrote about the exodus of the middle class to gated communities or rebuilt urban centers and racial mixing (Patterson). I believe this is true not only in the Northeast but across the country because of the shrinking middle class. The decimation of the once-prosperous backbone of American society cannot be blamed on any single element. I believe the contributing factors are: corporate America's practice of busting unions, a poorly educated younger generation and resulting inadequately skilled workforce, and the housing bubble and subsequent foreclosure scam that followed. Ever had those Gold Star biscuits or cookies at your grandma's house? Not bad for a store-bought cookie or pastry. That's because since 1930 they were produced by a family-owned company that paid people a living wage. The Stella workers were members of the union. They had benefits, paid vacation, sick days, all the nice things that you don't have if you work at Wal-Mart or Sears, Kmart, most restaurants. These people knew each other very well as some of them worked together for thirty years. Most of them were women immigrants from Latin America, some from Italy, Greece and Africa. The family that owned the company sold the company to the Nabisco/Kraft corporation (yes, Tom Brady's boss) for 100 million, who then sold it to Brynwood. Corp. fourteen years later for 17.5 million. Brynwood is known for buying companies, gutting them to make them look profitable, and then selling them at a markup. When it came time to renegotiate the workers' union contract... half of the document... Arnold, Chris. “Freddie Mac Bets Against American Homeowners.” http://www.propublica.org/article/freddy-mac-mortgage-eisinger-arnold January 30, 2012. April 7, 2012. Dwyer, Liz. “Detroit High Schools Teach How to Work at Walmart.” www.good.is.http://www.good.is/post/detroit-high-schools-teach-how-to-work-at-walmart/February 12, 2010. April 7, 2012.Fulton, Edithe A. “ The Wal martyrization of education”. www.blackcommentator.comhttp://www.blackcommentator.com/75/75_walmart_njea.htmlJanuary 29, 2004. April 7, 2012.New York Educator. “The Wal martyrization of education”. nyceducator.comhttp://nyceducator.com/2007/12/walmartization-of-education.htmlDecember 3, 2007. April 7, 2012. Toppo, Greg. “How Bush's Education Law Changed Our Schools.” www.usatoday.comhttp://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2007-01-07-no-child_x.htmJanuary 8, 2007, April 7 2012.