When I was in high school, I was taught that the American Dream was “a husband and wife, 3.5 kids, a white picket fence, some cigarettes and a dog.” That was it. Exaggerated, funny, but the ideal of moving up in the economy, owning a house, starting a family, living comfortably was the American Dream. I believe it might have been around since the 50s, into the 90s, but maybe it only existed the way we were shown it. They created a problem, now they sell us a “solution,” a dream, as if it is attainable.
Only certain people could’ve owned a house, for instance, at any point; men who had money to, white men who had money to, white couples, and then people of color who had money to, after, of course, jumping over various hurdles. What of those who never had that chance, or still don’t. What of those who are turned away despite of laws. I think my version of the American Dream is much like those from the video we saw in class, of those in New York. I would like to fantasize about becoming a clinical psychologist, owning a house, starting a family, but at this point, I feel like I’m only getting my hopes up. I know at least some of my immediate needs, like eating, affording rent, helping my family get around, be healthy, are realistic and do-able; that is my American Dream. Living within my means, to the next day.
Sometimes I think the “American Dream” wasn’t made for us, but for people desiring to come here, that change is drastic and the American Dream, then, serves as a motivator to keep going despite the hardship. Also as mentioned in class, however, us Americans, may only ever see it as a reminder of lofty (sometimes unattainable) expectations. In this housing market, I may never own one unless specifically passed down to me by relatives, or I get really lucky. It’s been an ideal/value to work hard for things, never expect the work to be done for you, I’d agree. Yet with these trends of inequality, poor income distribution, wealth gaps, and the various other barriers to success for much anyone not born into the upper class, these things like the “American Dream” seem to act as a de-motivator, a mocking of progress not good enough to move up. “Just work harder” “Get a better job” (as if the one currently doing isn’t worth it or needed, $14 isn’t livable) or “That’s just how it is” do nothing to encourage change in face of the growing statistical evidence that something isn’t working.
I’ve heard all of these things time and time again but it only shows me that those people either don’t reflect, or don’t care to change. I remember watching an interview once, asking people when they felt most “American” that was usually followed by the peace after tragedy or unity, like 9/11 or WW2, maybe the housing crash of 2008. But people my age didn’t seem to have a moment. I suppose we are all American in the way we all recognize that something needs to change, that we are all struggling. But something in that interview implied pride. I don’t think I’m there yet. I’ve also heard that the most prideful thing is to want to make things better. Leave the world better than I arrived at, I wish more people also strived for that in spite of their conditions.
Maybe the American Dream isn’t real and never was, maybe it’s only manipulative, maybe it only exists for a select few, maybe it has just changed.
