What is the irony of the story not poor just broke?

Answer 1

One example of irony is when Gregory says, “I wonder about my Momma, who walked out of a white woman’s clean house and came back to her own where the lights had been out for three months, and the pipes were frozen.” The irony here is that Momma was a house cleaner, but she didn't like to keep her own house clean. She never liked to keep her own home clean because she was always busy keeping other people's homes clean.

Answer 2

The irony of the story "Not Poor, Just Broke" is that the protagonist, who identifies as middle class, realizes that despite his financial struggles, he is more content and fulfilled than his wealthy friend. This challenges the traditional notion that wealth equates to happiness and fulfillment, highlighting the theme of perspective and gratitude.