African Americans And The American Dream - 1355 Words

The 1950’s were a time of happy days as idealized by the popular television series of the time. The â€Å"American Dream† was becoming a reality for all, or so it seemed. Unfortunately, life for one portion of the population of the United States was less than desirable. Although they received full citizenship and all its benefits with the passing of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments, African Americans led a life that was subpar to that of their white counterparts. Their American reality tainted their American dream. When there is a denial of freedom, those wanting will seek freedom passionately. African Americans found the strength to fight the oppressive system they survived in for years. The Constitution and its subsequent amendments spell out the rights of all Americans. The 13th -15th amendments ended slavery, granted the former slaves citizenship and the right to vote. The Reconstruction Era saw an emergence of African Americans in politics and positions of power â€Å"Sixteen blacks sat in Congress from 1867-77.† (ushistory.org, 2014)The former slaves wanted to be a part of the country they had helped to build. However, the journey to equality was going to be a long one. Reconstruction offered new hope that the people of African had never seen in this country. With their freedom, there was a shift in plantation system of the south; the main source of wealth. Traditions are hard to break and this is evident as Reconstruction ended and the conditions of life as an AfricanShow MoreRelatedThe American Dream Of African Americans1400 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is the American Dream? To many people across the globe, the United States of America appears to be a pl ace where one can be proud of. America the land where dreams come true and there is always a chance for any person to succeed. People who are not from the United States have been painted a beautiful picture of what life in our country is like. Not only do they think that there is a special place in American Dream of African American soldiers after WWI American Dream of African American soldiersRead MoreAfrican Americans And The American Dream1935 Words   |  8 PagesIntro: The American Dream attracts many people from all over the world, people have an image that living in America grants them the life of their dreams, but does living in america really grant people the perfect life? The Case For Reparations by Coates explains how African Americans have struggled in the past with racism and discrimination. He goes on to talk about their lives during slavery and post slavery, and how African Americans are unemployed and undereducated. Aja ET AL.’s essay From ARead MoreAfrican Americans And The American Dream1793 Words   |  8 PagesEven though the optimal American Dream doesn’t promise that all citizens will achieve personal success, it offers equality and fortunes for them to pursue dreams through hard work. However, during the Industrial Age, the American Dream didn’t apply to the lower class. Most immigrants from southern and eastern Europe arrived in the United States to escape religious persecution and poverty in their home countries and also seek new opportunities. But, they realized the brutal reality after their arrivalRead MoreAfrican American Dream1039 Words   |  5 PagesThe American dream is an elusive idea for many Americans; it allows access but does not provide equal opportunity to achieve it for every American citizen and varies wildly throughout different social classes in America. Inequality plagues society throughout these social classes, providing or denying certain opportunities throughout them. 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Angelou’s American Dream is articulated throughout her five part autobiographical novels; I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Gather Together in my Name, Singin’ and Swingin’ and Getting’ Merry Like ChristmasRead MoreAfrican Americans : The American Dream Game Cartoon By David Horsey Essay1687 Words   |  7 PagesThe United States is famous for its American dream, which ensures equal opportunity for all, but African Americans experience a more diluted form of the dream due to their innate reductions in socioeconomic mobility.   African Americans differ from White Americans physiologically only in skin pigmentation;   however, as depicted in The American Dream Game cartoon by David Horsey, a political commenta tor and cartoonist with extensive experience in social and political issues, various race-induced obstaclesRead MoreAchievement of the American Dream of an African American Family in The Cosby Show1801 Words   |  7 Pagesoverarching achievement of the American dream through an African American family. According to Marvin Riggs’s 1992 documentary Color Adjustment there were two types of images of African Americans in the media. On one hand, the news showed the social and racial tensions that enveloped the post-civil rights era. On the other hand, primetime television depicted social harmony among the races–an image that most Americans understood as inaccurate. In the 1980s, most African Americans lived below the povertyRead MoreAfrican Americans Must Work to Achieve the American Dream Essay1438 Words   |  6 Pagesappears to be a place where one can be proud of. America the land where dreams come true and there is always a chance for any person to succeed. People who are not from the United States have been painted a beautiful picture of what life in our country is like. Not only do they think that there is a special place in America for them and the perfect career for each individual, but unfortunately this is not always true. The American dream is not necessarily to get rich quick, it is more along the lines of