Argumentative Essay: The American Dream

The American Dream was once based on the same principles of The Declaration of Independence, like freedom and equality. That all men deserve “..life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..” (Revolution) Over time, the dream became more materialized and narcissistic. For some, it promised a journey of milestones and accomplishments. But for others, obstacles in the way were too much of a struggle. Azar Nafisi once said, “The negative side of The American Dream comes when people pursue success at any cost, which in turn destroys the vision and the dream.” I believe that The American Dream offers a great deal of opportunities, but only for a specific group of people. It claims to support the idea that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success. And that is true. Some are offered those opportunities and simply fail to take the most advantage of them. However others, never get that opportunity. And that group of “others” is made up of minorities. Truthfully, only few people achieve The American Dream while the rest of America is left to struggle in poverty.
Not only can your race limit your achievements but it also plays a card in how difficult your journey maybe while working for them. In the 1850s White people were living a life full of freedom, while others were still fighting for the simple right to be considered human and not property. Long before the abolishment of slavery in 1865, Frederick Douglass could only dream about a life without slavery. In his memoir he writes, “As I read..I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing. It had given me a view of my wretched condition, without the remedy. It opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but no ladder upon which to get out.” (Anti-Slavery