Summary:
Argues that the American Dream is no longer obtainable. Provides literary examples of the American dream. Describes how the United States still struggles with economic and racial oppression.
How do you live your life? Do you long for more than what you have? Some people are happy with where they come from, what job they have and never worry about where they'll end up in the future. There are others that struggle day after day to achieve their dreams; the American Dream. The American Dream is all about looking for something better. It can be a better education, job, or environment. The Dream encourages immigrants and a lot of people who aren't wealthy, The American Dream can not be achieved because of racial and economic oppression. It is evident in current society, past historical events and, literature that The American Dream is nearly impossible to obtain.
In the book, Raisin in the Sun, the Younger's an African American family struggle to fulfill their dreams. Raisin in the Sun is basically about dreams. The book which is written in a play form is inspired by a poem. The poem written by Langston Hughes is about dreams that were forgotten or put off, and he wonders if they dry up like a "raisin in the sun." Each member of the Younger family has an individual dream. Beneatha, the daughter wants to go to medical school; Walter the son wants money so he can support his family and invest in a liquor store. The Younger's struggle to obtain their dreams throughout the book, because they experience racial discrimination; one example of that racial discrimination is when Ms. Younger buys a house in a white neighborhood. The neighborhood tries to persuade the Younger's to leave by offering some money but, Ms. Younger refuses to leave. Even though Ms. Younger stays in the white neighborhood, her family is still hated because of the color of their skin.
During the 19th Century the Irish immigrated to America in search of a better life. Life in Ireland was brutal but the voyage to America wasn't fun either. America became their dream; they pursued it knowing that they had no future in Ireland but poverty and diseases. In the 1800's the Irish were the poorest of all groups, no group was lower then they were. The Irish living in New York started a riot once because during a lottery drawing all the names were Irish names. They were put down by almost everyone because they were Irish and were very poor. The Irish came to America in search of better living conditions and something to look forward to, but because of where they came from and how poor they were the Irish were treated as if they were a disease themselves for many years.
My parents came to America in 1980; they struggled to find a nice neighborhood to live in. My family has been economically oppressed by the government, and therefore has been unable to achieve the American Dream. The government measures the benefits people receive using a standard called a poverty line. Anybody who falls below the poverty line is considered poor; therefore, they receive the economic benefits. My family falls right above the poverty line. It's unfair to my family because although we may fall above it, we may have more expenses than other families have.
The American Dream encourages many different people for a better life, however is impossible to obtain. The Dream cannot be obtained because of racial discrimination and economic oppression. The government is the main reason for economic oppression but, racial discrimination is caused by the American people. Economic oppression is caused by the government because; they assume all people require a certain amount of needs. Racial discrimination is caused by the American people because of ignorance and hunger for power. It is evident that in Raisin in the Sun, Irish immigration, and my family's struggles that racial and economic oppression is the main reason their American Dream will not be achieved.
This is the complete article, containing 642 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
