Dream On

The American Dream, the idea that any person who comes to the United States has an opportunity to succeed and prosper through hard work and perseverance, is effective bait that attracts immigrants from around the world to the “land of opportunity.” However, the American Dream does not always deliver the prosperity it seems to guarantee; people of color often make the displeased claim that the American Dream only applies to rich Caucasian families. Because of its controversial prevalence in American society, the American Dream is embedded into the information people see everyday, from social media to classical literature. The American Dream paints an idealistic image of the opportunities America provides for people of all backgrounds; however, its effects vary among different groups of people.

The "white" experience of the American Dream is well represented by Full House, a television sitcom about a middle-class white family in San Francisco that works hard and benefits from their efforts. This family deals more with everyday, personal struggles rather than dramatic, world-changing problems--a typical stereotype associated with the “white” experience of the American Dream. Full House embodies the positive ways in which the Dream affects the white American population: by allowing them to reap benefits from their own efforts.

Despite its image being glorified and idealized, the supposed equality and opportunity presented by the American Dream may not always apply to all Americans as exhibited in television comedy The Office. The sitcom follows the relatively uneventful lives of workers at a paper company in Pennsylvania. Many characters are looking for self-actualization and something different from their daily routine; however, most never find a way out of the office. The characters of The Office represent Americans who do not receive the same opportunities as those who partake in the American Dream and are stuck with no option but to fantasize about change and improvement. The Office portrays a reality of the American Dream that is often overlooked: not everyone takes part in the Dream, and it does not ensure change, happiness, and triumph for all.

Even though the American Dream promises all Americans equal opportunities for success, people’s experience with the Dream varies depending on what group--such as race or class--they belong to. The generalized, whitewashed idea of the American Dream being fresh-cut lawns and Fourth of July cookouts is prevalent. However, these ideas are only reality for a small percentage of Americans. The Dream affects people of different races, genders, and classes in complex ways; therefore, there should not be a standardized criteria for “achieving” the American Dream. The Dream is what Americans make of it, and whether or not one has “achieved” the Dream should depend on his or her own aspirations.

It's okay, Michael. Dream on!