Struggle To Achieve The American Dream - 1777 Words

â€Å"It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain the fullest stature of which they are innately capable†(Adams). The dream discussed in this quote is called the American Dream. The American Dream is meant to be accessible by every American citizen but history has shown that this is not necessarily true. People have struggled to achieve the American Dream throughout history mainly because of racial discrimination and socioeconomic discrimination. One of the main reasons that people have struggled to achieve the American Dream for hundreds of years is because of race. Prior to the creation of the United States, colonists brought slaves to America†¦show more content†¦Also, an Irish girl named Rose arrived in America and was met with discrimination for being Irish. While looking for work, a man told Rose â€Å"There’s a boatload of you greenhorns landing every day, an d you all think you re going to make a fortune in America. Well, don t hold your breath, girlie, because it s not going to happen†(Auch 68).The man made assumptions about Rose and made her feel worthless. Many other Irish people were subject to this type of discrimination at the time. Throughout history, people from different racial or ethnic backgrounds have faced many challenges to try and live a good life. Another main reason that people have been discriminated against is because of their socioeconomic status. People have lived in poverty throughout the history of America. These people are often looked down upon because wealthier Americans see them as inferior to themselves. During the Dust Bowl in America, the Joad family moved west to try and find a better life in California. They were met with discrimination because they were Okies. While bathing in a river, a man told the family that â€Å"Well, Okie use ta mean you was from Oklahoma. Now it means. . .you re scum†(Steinbeck 205-206). The Joads faced discrimination for being poor Okies looking for a new life in California. Another family was subject to similar discrimination while in America. The Younger family lived in an apartment and had a dream to live in a house in a White neighborhood.Show MoreRelatedLorraine Hansberry s A Raisin1278 Words   |  6 Pagesrepresent the play s theme. The play focused on black American struggles to reach the American Dream of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness during the 1950’s and the 1960’s. The idea of everyone having the chance to achieve a better life should exist for all. Hansberry created her title using a line from Langston Hughes’ poem â€Å"A Dream Deferred† the original poem was written in 1951 about Harlem. Hughes’ poem further suggested that when dreams are deferred â€Å"Does it drp up like a raisin in theRead MoreEassy About The American Dream948 Words   |  4 Pages to speak the certainty about the American dream, and the truth is this: the American dream is not as easy of a feat to accomplish as you think. Ever since July 4th, 1776, America has fought many wars, overcome the great depression, and had conflict within the nation. With all these great dangers the Americans still have no idea of what the dream is or how to achieve it. Americans may think they are living the American dream, but the reality is that the American people will be faced with challengesRead MoreThe American Dream : What You Love And You Won t Work1412 Words   |  6 PagesThis quote is a key aspect of the American dream. The American dream can mean something different to everyone. Many people do what they dread rather than what they love. They are always counting down the days until they can retire. The American dream can be taken in many different ways. To one person the American dream could be becoming a CEO of an organization and to another it could be getting as much money and owning the nicest house and car. The American dream is based on what people value inRead MoreA Raisin In The Sun American Dream Essay1669 Words   |  7 Pagesfree† and home of the â€Å"American Dream.† According to James Truslow Adams in Epic of America, the American Dream is defined as â€Å"that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each accordin g to ability or achievement.† It is based on the foundations of the Declaration of Independence: the rights to Liberty, Life, and the Pursuit of Happiness (Amadeo, What is the American Dream?). People have the right to pursue their dreams and acquire a betterRead MoreThe American Dream : A Toxic Fantasy910 Words   |  4 Pages The American dream is full of promises and aspirations, that every American someday shall have opportunities and potential to attain self-actualization. To make this has not been the case owing to the challenges brought about income inequalities, jobless and capitalistic ideologies that pose active and reactive forces on men and women of the lower cadre. The American dream gives men the hope that one day they shall own a decent home, live an ample neighborhood, save income money for golden yearsRead MoreThe Age Is The Idea Of White America1701 Words   |  7 Pagesthe World and Me, as well as the struggles he has as a black American. For many years, people have been pushed or pulled to America in hopes of finding the American dream everyone talks about. The dream of coming to America and exploring the new frontier. Eventually, to become wealthy and become an upper class citizen are all factors of achieving the dream. Although, little do they know that the dream is not obtainable by everyone. Coates asserts the American dream revolves around being white. OftenRead MoreMoney And Success : The Myth Of Individual Opportunity By Gary Colombo Essay1661 Words   |  7 Pagespeople who struggle to get their dream job and live an American dream but due to the fact that everyone is applying to the exact same job they cannot accomplish the dream they have always dreamt of. This means that there is plenty of competition between people chasing the same dream. In â€Å"Money and Success: The Myth of Individual Opportunity† Gary Colombo discusses how many people live in the myth of an American dream. People assume the American Dream will make them happy by having the dream job andRead MoreImmigrants and the American Dream Essay1631 Words   |  7 Pagescommon, they all had a dream, that dream was the American Dream. In the present day the desire to achieve the dream hasnt changed. However, the idea of the American Dream, brings up a lot of questions. What is the American Dream? Who defines it? Can it be achieved? Lastly, should everyone have a chance to achieve it? What is the American Dream? When this question was asked on the first day of class, there were many different answers as to what makes up the American Dream. Some people said havingRead MoreThe American Dream And Its Effects On Society1356 Words   |  6 Pages the American dream is immeasurably becoming a whistle to a dream. Individuals that are working class in America are experiencing hardship in the face of a declining economy. An economy which disallows parents the security to maintain a job in order to sustain a progressive household. Due to the lack of jobs within the economy as well as the rising costs of living. With people dreams and aspirations each individual daily are deferred. Instead of being able to strive and attain their dreams of wealthRead MoreDo You Believe In The American Dream?. When Reading The1717 Words   |  7 PagesBelieve in the American Dream? When reading the book T.C Boyle’s â€Å"The Tortilla Curtain† you get a visual of two different classes of people that are trying to achieve the â€Å"American dream†. One side is an upper class white married couple and the other are an illegal immigrant couple. The dream is displayed in many different directions in this book. T.C Boyle’s, The Tortilla Curtain, illustrates the reality in which social class you are a part of will depend on the types of struggles you will face