The Son From America Sparknotes

Thesis Statement: The achievement of the American Dream, represented by social classes and opportunities available for social advancement, is unrealistic. The American Dream is propaganda for capitalism, rooted into the minds of believers that are used for labor. Capitalism’s fixed social classes leave no room for immigrants or for the

A quote by Ralph Ellison states, “Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat”. I choose to open my paper with quote for the reason that, this quote undoubtedly fits with the theme of my paper. African Americans

Money— sweeter than honey but oh so destructive. It facilitates a man’s life, while a lack of it imprisons him in the streets of penury. It raises his social status, while an absence of it leaves him unnoticed. It gives him an aura of superiority and importance among others, while

In Two American Families, a documentary film which produced by Bill Moyers, it follows the two middle class families in Milwaukie, one black and one white, for over a decade as they struggle to achieve the “American Dream”. This documentary reveals the struggle of some American families who work hard and follow the social order in the society, but have fallen as a victim in a struggling economy to a series of policy decisions made. The hand of policy ineffectively steered the lives of the two families featured, the Neumann’s and Stanley’s, despite their hard work ethic and sincere determination to succeed. There are many policy implications that played a role in this documentary, including those around education, institutional racism, taxation, overseas jobs and social security. However, the main factors that drive those policy implications are minimum wage, health care, the foreclosure crisis, and debt dependency. In this essay, I will go into in more details about those main factors that both two American families suffered from the series of economic depression.

America started out as a free land where immigrants would come to start a new life; a life that’s better, a life without oppression. This continuing tradition that’s been going on for centuries is known as the American Dream. Many people dream for the traditional white picket fence, a family, and a respectable amount of money; also known as the American Dream. America’s structure was built upon this foundation, but over the years the foundation began to crack and crumble. Now the foundation only supports the upper class, leaving the poor struggling for their dreams. This idea is further examined, in the famous nationalistic song “This Land is Your Land”, in which the singer Woodrow Guthrie sings about the classic American Dream. Many people sing along to the well known words “This land is your land this land is my land” expressing how America is open to all dreamers. However later in the song the reality of the American Dream comes through in the unknown, never sung lyrics “As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking Is this land made for you and me”. The progression of the lyrics in “This Land is Your Land” accurately embodies the progression of the American Dream and how there’s a shift between the hungry poor and the rich. Although the American Dream is still alive and running, there are some dark truths that are never brought up. These truths of hunger and despair are always overshadowed by the successes of the rich. To further demonstrate this idea, Author F. Scott

Many individuals from another culture strive to live the “American Dream.” In the excerpt from the novel, The Hunger of Memory by Richard Rodriguez, he leaves Mexico to become a middle-class American man and further his education. Sherman Alexie writes “Superman and Me,” which shows how Alexie, a Spokane Indian, teaches himself American literature. Both of these stories intertwine to show how different cultures step out of their own and try to live the American Dream. This leads the audience wondering if culture affects how far individuals go in life? Whereas Alexie describes the ideology of an American Dream as an Indian young boy teaching himself how to read from comic books, Rodriguez describes the ideology of American Dream by escaping Mexico to seek higher education in America.

Hatred for white society was a strong theme among the African American community during the 1950s. These emotions were conveyed through different platforms of the time, ranging from art and music, to articles and books. But James Baldwin, a popular African American writer during this time period, does not obsess over this subject that was so passionately conveyed by so many people like him. Instead of preaching about his hatred for white America, Baldwin utilizes his story of his childhood as well as his early adulthood to illustrate the destructive nature of the African Americans society’s hatred for white society in the very well known essay, “Notes of a Native Son.”

Regardless if we are aware of it or not, not many Americans live the supposed American Dream of having a nice car, big house, well paying job, and have a secure family. In the renowned novel The Working Poor: Invisible in America by David K. Shipler he captures those Americans who live invisible in America that work so hard to suffer from the psychological effects of poverty. Not only does Shipler do that but he also indirectly talks about the “American Myth” and the “American Anti Myth through the lives on these individuals.”

Values of especial importance when discussing this The importance of hard work and earning your way instills a sense of independence within the young generation who was reading the McGuffey textbooks. In the stories “Henry, the Boot-Black” (128) and “Poor Davy” (130) both boys, living in poverty, are praised for their work to support their mother. Working hard to earn a living, even at a young age, is commended and the value of family is reiterated. There is a belief that hard work prepares and enables one to lead a prosperous life. In “Charlie and Rob” (133) and “Advantages of Industry” (97), hard work pays off and is portrayed as the only way to become successful. This core value of work ethic for the American will be important in the changing world of industrialization and effect the attitude of the working class American toward those of wealth, as well as immigrants.

Have you ever wondered what life is like for people in specific social classes and all the baggage that comes with being wealthy? In the article “Amber Waves of Green”, author Jon Ronson has sit downs with hard working americans making a income of $200 a week all the way up to $625,000 a week. In another writing titled “The Mansion”, written by Michael Lewis, allows the reader to get insight on what life is like as a middle class individual taking on a higher style of living. Within the two articles the reader can point out that both Jon Ronson and Michael Lewis disagree on living styles, what wealth can do for you, and how it can affect the people around you.

Different lenses through the same eye James Baldwin and Brent Staples are some of the many individuals who have shaped the ideas of black culture and understood the reality of what many black people go through. James Baldwin is a zealous author who shares his experiences with being black in America, writes about the relationship he has with his father, and even discovers characteristics about himself and in the environment around him. In Notes of a Native Son, James Baldwin puts an end to the black stereotypes from the American society and rather reproves them. Brent Staples, a known author and reporter of New York, tells us his side of his struggles as a black man. In Just Walk By:Black men and Public Space, Staples pinpoints the perspective and misjudgements that the majority of black people face. Through diction and syntax, Baldwin illustrates an angry and reflective tone while Staples uses a softer and humorous attitude which highlights white privilege and the injustice of Black oppression.

The American dream of success can be both a sweet satisfaction and a dreadful nightmare. Richard Rodriguez and his siblings grow up and become successful just as their mother suspected. On christmas, Richard and his siblings spoil their mother just as she wanted. However not all is well as her children and her are not close as they were before. In the following passage by Richard Rodriguez, Rodriguez uses language and details about his siblings, parents, and himself to show the distance created by material success.

The series Untold America: Divided Chicago delves into the issues surrounding urban poverty in Chicago. It showcases various community members from public school students, to school district administrators, and other community organizers. Overall, it offers a credible and realistic analysis of some of the problems in Chicago and also provides insight on the ongoing work to alleviate and solve them.

The Dream and The Great Gatsby    The story of America is an exciting one, filled with swift evolution and an amazing energy unprecedented in world history. In America's short existence, it has progressed from a small collection of European rebels to the economically dominant nation that it is today. Mixed up in the provocative reputation of America is the celebrated ideal of the American Dream, the fantasy of complete independence and self-reliance mixed with the opportunity to attain wealth through one's labors. On the surface, this reverie seems almost enchanted, offering people the unprecedented prospect of achieving success regardless of one's race, religion, or family history. The American Dream is exactly what it appears to

The disintegration of values in American families is shown through Connie’s family. The story introduces parents who do not play important roles in their children’s lives. In addition, the tradition of spending Sundays as a family has become obsolete in Connie’s family. These changes lead Connie to rely on popular love songs to guide her. Showing the effects of how this family operates makes readers aware of the shift in culture in American