Introduction
The idea of the American Dream lies at the core of American culture, but historically, it has not been equally achievable for everyone, especially African Americans. In his piece “The American Dream Deferred,” Senator Cory Booker describes how his father went from poverty to middle-class status, highlighting the challenges and achievements faced by black men in a divided America (para. 1-56). According to Hochschild, the American Dream is the conviction that morality and prosperity can be attained through hard work. Still, she argues that society has neglected to address its consequences, including racial and socioeconomic inequalities (15-38). As a result, the first article essentially states that the American Dream is attainable even under racism, whereas the latter piece claims that it is reserved for the privileged.
Critique of the American Dream
My response is that the American Dream has always been a tool utilized by the upper classes to give false hope to the poor and marginalized to preserve their superiority. The Senator’s story is anecdotal one-case evidence – it is unreliable since he cannot be sincere on behalf of his father. I agree with Hochschild’s take because it correctly shows that the American Dream has worked only for the few, most of whom are racially or socioeconomically privileged. I believe that the idea is part of our political culture, which is used to justify inaction in the face of inequity.
In the article “Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation” John Lewis states that politicians claim that hard effort may lead to wealth by citing the American Dream, rather than raising the minimum wage (Lewsis, 2023, para. 15). At the same time, the video “Black Voices Speak Their Truth” clearly showcases how the American Dream consistently failed Black people (Great Big Story). Every improvement in the community’s life was a result of protest and movement, and the Senator’s father’s story is rather an anomaly than a norm.
Conclusion
In sum, the American Dream is a failed concept because it propagates a lie that hard work will lead to success for every American. Historically, it has always been true only for already privileged groups. The mere idea that “hard work beats everything” is racist since it would mean that African Americans are disadvantaged because they are ‘lazy.’ The American Dream will become a reality for all if the existing structures ensure equity, equality, and opportunity for everyone.
Works Cited
“Black Voices Speak Their Truth.” YouTube, uploaded by Great Big Story, 2020.
Booker, Cory. “The American Dream Deferred.” The Brookings Institution, 2018.
Hochschild, Jennifer L. “What is the American Dream?” Facing Up to the American Dream, edited by Jennifer L. Hochschild, Princeton University Press, 1995, pp. 15-38.
Lewsis, John. “Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation.” Bill of Rights Institute, 2020.