Well, yes. I would assume that is true for white and black people. Where did the attitude come from? WHAT, actually, is it? Is it a belief that you cannot get ahead because someone is determined to keep you down? I can see that black people could easily feel that way if it is what they are told by their family and society (and some are being taught this). Is it the same for the white underclass? Who are they blaming their troubles on? The rich? Minorities?
Is it something else? Maybe a rejection of the value of hard work and being accountable?
Like I said, this was shocking to me. I grew up lower middle class and our parents were very ambitious for us. They didn't demand college, but by damn, you were going to have skills and be a responsible person. Through my adulthood, I have NEVER met a parent who hasn't had a desire to see their children achieve and encouraged it.
I don't know what the problem is exactly, much less an idea of how to combat it.
I think it's not being shown how to work. Like you, I grew up lower middle class. But my parents always told us that if we wanted better, we had to get more education and work for it.
The majority of the poor today are people who don't hear that message. Young people who don't have even high school diplomas, teens who have babies, and young people who get diverted by drugs are all likely to wind up poor.
We have to find a way to have fathers, or even just male mentors, convince these kids to look for a good life. Women can't raise good kids without men. And, yes, I know I will get hammered for saying that.