Summary:
Examines how the American Dream is depicted in three books: 1)Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson, 2)America is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosan,3) ...And the Earth Did Not Devour Him by Tomas Rivera. Explores the use of cultural stereotypes. Considers if the American Dream is truly attainable by all.
Millions of people of all nationalities came to America during the twentieth century with the hope of finding a new and better life for themselves. These immigrants were lured by the thought of obtaining the American Dream--"life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" in the "land of opportunity." Unfortunately, few immigrants were actually successful in achieving the dream. Most were faced with hardship and discrimination, instead of the expected equality and freedom. The dire living conditions hampered their ability to pursue "happiness" and created what W.E.B. Dubois called "the veil," which refers to the fabric of racism that separates whites from other ethnicities and causes non-whites to see themselves under the distortion of a discriminative society. Thus, the idealized images of America were shattered by a grim reality. The harsh realities that these immigrants found are.....
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