When we hear the words "social class," we think of old-timey England where kings ruled and paupers drooled. While Slam isn't quite like that, social class is still a really big deal because Alicia's family treats the Sam's fam like second-class citizens. Why? It has something to do with the fact that Sam's folks had him when they were sixteen, didn't go to college, and aren't as book smart as they are. In fact, they think this means Sam is dumber than Alicia. Yikes.
We get that all parents think their kids are the best at everything, but the Burns take it too far. They make Sam feel like he's less than they are simply because of his background, and that's not cool, even if they aren't wearing crowns.
Questions About Social Class
- Why do Alicia's parents think they are better than Sam? How are they similar? How does this impact their reaction to Alicia's pregnancy?
- Do Sam's folks treat the Burns as though they are better? Why do you think Sam thinks the Burns are really cool at first?
- How does Sam's dad view social class? What do his comments about Europeans tell us about his views?
Chew on This
Alicia's family might want to believe they are better than Sam, but in the end they are in exactly the same position. Social class means nothing in Slam.
Sam might think it's unfair of Alicia's parents to treat him like he's dumb, but he doesn't have a track record of making smart decisions.