This week, I wanted to focus on introspection, specifically whether I believe that I could achieve the American dream. I believe that it is important for each of us to be aware of the privileges we hold and where we stand with society (our positionality). As an American who grew up abroad, I had the privilege of avoiding all the prejudices and experiences that arise with trying to achieve the American dreams. However, now that I have chosen to complete my tertiary education in the United states, I have set myself up to be on the path towards aiming to achieve material success and economic success.
This brings me to question why African immigrants who move to America are able to achieve this so called dream while Black Americans whose ancestors were enslaved find it difficult to do so. It brings me to raise the questions;
- Did I come here ready to assimilate to the American consumerist culture of society in comparison to black Americans who were forced to “get with the program”?
- Is that fact that I didn’t grow up in the US an advantage in the sense that I didn’t experience the educational systemic oppression that prevents black Americans from escaping the cycle of inequality?
- Is there hope for African immigrants but not Black Americans to achieve the American dream?
I hope that at the end of this course I can end up with more questions than answers to this unending questions. Personally, I don’t picture myself consciously trying to achieve the American dream but I fear that my circumstances and environment will push me to do so.