Description
The ethos of the American Dream is considered to be the cause and the foundation of the United States of America. However, many people, especially those who are part of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community criticize these notions, arguing that if the dream ever existed at one point in time, it no longer exists. On one hand, America is hailed as being the land of freedom and opportunity for immigrants. But on the other hand, America is also thought of as being the land built on the enslavement and exploitation of especially the BIPOC community. As a result of these criticisms coupled with current events, the complex and contradictory notions of the American Dream is more relevant than ever. This research will first explore how notions of colonialism and capitalism serve as the origins of the American Dream in relation to both conceptions of land and freedom. It will also explore different representations and attitudes that various members across the BIPOC community have of this American Dream through case studies of literature, media, and personally conducted interviews. But ultimately, it aims to shed perspective and light on why the American Dream continues to carry saliency despite its criticisms and the consequences that the BIPOC community would face pursuing it.
The American Dream as the BIPOC Nightmare
The ethos of the American Dream is considered to be the cause and the foundation of the United States of America. However, many people, especially those who are part of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community criticize these notions, arguing that if the dream ever existed at one point in time, it no longer exists. On one hand, America is hailed as being the land of freedom and opportunity for immigrants. But on the other hand, America is also thought of as being the land built on the enslavement and exploitation of especially the BIPOC community. As a result of these criticisms coupled with current events, the complex and contradictory notions of the American Dream is more relevant than ever. This research will first explore how notions of colonialism and capitalism serve as the origins of the American Dream in relation to both conceptions of land and freedom. It will also explore different representations and attitudes that various members across the BIPOC community have of this American Dream through case studies of literature, media, and personally conducted interviews. But ultimately, it aims to shed perspective and light on why the American Dream continues to carry saliency despite its criticisms and the consequences that the BIPOC community would face pursuing it.