Rags to riches

He has it all. In five years of professional football, Marcus Rashford has scored a staggering 74 goals for Manchester United and England. He takes home £200,000 a week, owns a £2m mansion in Cheshire, and drives a fleet of flashy cars. He is beloved by fans and touted as a future United captain. And he's still only 22. He is living the dream.

But Rashford has not forgotten his roots. In a heartfelt letter to members of Parliament, he has written about his childhood in WythenshaweAn area of south Manchester, England. At one time, it had the largest council estate in Europe., relying on breakfast clubs, free school mealsThe government is facing widespread criticism and possible legal action for refusing to extend the food voucher scheme into the summer holidays., food banks, and soup kitchens.

He thanks his mum, a single parent, who "worked full-time, earning minimum wage to make sure we always had a good evening meal on the table". Without her struggle and sacrifice, he says, "there wouldn't be the Marcus Rashford you see today".

It's one of the most popular stories ever told: the tale of rags to riches. The poor kid who finds money and fame. From CinderellaThe American writer Kurt Vonnegut described it as "the most popular story in our civilisation", and drew a graph to explain why. See the Expert Links to find out more. to the X-Factor, from Dick WhittingtonThe pantomime story of the poverty-stricken boy, who goes to London to make his fortune, is based on medieval Lord Mayor of London, Richard Whittington (1354-1423). The real Whittington did not come from poverty - but that wouldn't make such a good story. to Jay ZShawn Corey Carter grew up in the Marcy Projects, one of the most deprived parts of New York City. He is now one of the most successful music artists of all time. - it is in our society's DNA. It appeals to our sense of fairness and justice. It doesn't matter where you start in life, if you work hard and follow your dreams, you will succeed.

Except, Rashford writes, that hard work "was not enough. The system was not built for families like mine to succeed, regardless of how hard my mum worked". He argues that society is not fair and that the barriers to success are higher for poor families and children from ethnic minorities.

The latest research backs him up. "Persistent racismA major new study carried out by the National Centre for Social Research has tracked 70,000 people from the 1970s through to the 2000s. It shows ethnic minorities are far less socially mobile than their white counterparts." and "virtually stagnant" social mobilityA person's ability to move between classes. In 2013, more than 161,000 people took part in the Great British Class Survey, which revealed that there are seven classes in Britain, ranging from the 'elite' down to the 'precarious proletariat.' is preventing millions from achieving their potential.

Rashford describes himself as "a 22-year-old black man lucky enough to make a career playing a game I love". But is he the lucky exception or an inspirational role model?

Of course, he's a bit of both. But regardless of how he achieved his dreams, many are being inspired by his compassionShowing feelings of sadness, sympathy and genuine care for other people's suffering. .

As the Covid-19 epidemic hit, his thoughts were of the 1.3m children in England on free school meals. With schools closed, he raised £20m to provide three million meals. And now he has used his public platform to ask the government to "protect the vulnerable" and help the estimated 200,000 children going hungry in England.

So, is Marcus Rashford an exception or an inspiration?

Some say he is an inspiration, in so many ways. No one ever said life was easy and it takes great sacrifices and incredible determination to be successful. His story is remarkable, but it shows that, regardless of where you start in life, you should always aim high and dream big. He also shows that you should never lose sight of where you came from and who helped you along the way.

Others say his story is exceptional and that should make us as angry as he is. It shows that hard work is never enough, especially if you are born poor and from an ethnic minority. How can you aim for the sky, when you don't know where your next meal is coming from? As Rashford says, "This is England in 2020" - and it is unacceptable.