November 2 “If the American Dream was once real, it is not anymore.” On the 1st local time, the New York Times of the United States, entitled “The Obituary of the American Dream”, passed some reports from the American public.
Personal experience showed that their American dream was dashed due to racial inequality, sex discrimination, subsistence, social security and many other issues. The following are the stories of 9 people we have selected, let us see what they all experienced.
“After applying for a student loan, my life became paralyzed”
Lena Evans, born in 1978, grew up in poverty. She graduated from high school at 15, had children at 16, and went to college at 21. “I have worked for the California state government and the federal government for nearly 20 years, but there is nothing I can say.
Without the support of my family, I applied for a student loan and my life has been paralyzed since then. Status’.” Now Evans has no assets and can only get less than $60,000 in retirement. In addition, she has 5 children and a doctorate who earns less than a registered nurse. “Is my (American) dream still a dream now? It’s just a wish.”
Michael Newberg is from New York State. When he and his wife realized that they would not be able to pay property taxes and school taxes after retirement, their American dream was shattered. “We all work hard, pay taxes, and live a simple life, but New York State forced us to sell our houses because of high taxes.”
Newberg, who grew up in the pursuit of the American dream, believes that his American dream has become A nightmare. “We love our home, and our children grew up here. We built the house well and suitable for living. We don’t want to sell it, but we will be forced to sell it.”
Justin, who lives in Iowa, described the situation when his company was paid: “My boss made 400,000 US dollars, while ordinary workers only had 35,000 US dollars. He decided not to give any money to anyone except himself. Salaries or bonuses.
The boss took away all the $300,000 that should have been distributed to employees, and then told everyone that the company was struggling.”
“I understand how inequality is passed down from generation to generation”
Zahra Sharan from Philadelphia said that the American dream disappeared the day she entered kindergarten. “Before that, I was a very smart kid, full of confidence and obsessed with learning.
But in such an environment, I understood how inequality was passed on from generation to generation. I was’taught’ that there is It’s problematic, and has been labeled as “clumsy, inferior,” and so on, and these can be replaced with the words black, brown, and female.”
Kimberly Berry is from Denver. The day she said her dream was broken, she realized that no matter how hard she worked, how smart, how well educated she was, she would always be regarded as an invisible person as a black American woman.
“My American dream is that one day, women can have enough confidence to walk on the street. They can wear whatever they want, instead of turning their heads every few seconds because they feel insecure.”
Living in Illinois Raquel said that her American dream was shattered long ago, “because I realized that no matter what you wear, you will be objectified.”
Kate Cade from Cleveland has similar ideas. She discovered that as an American woman, she would never be regarded as a person by most men.
“Except for whites and men, the American dream does not exist in anyone else. When I realized that I had to do 3 jobs to maintain balance, the American dream was shattered. Every time there is a male legislation that deprives non-males of their physical autonomy.
When I am in power, this dream will be shattered; when I realize that as a woman, I will never be regarded as a person by most men, the dream will be shattered. The American dream is a fantasy.”
“My fellow Americans value incitement more important than science”
“When I realized how many of my fellow Americans value selfishness more than community, power more than justice, prejudice more important than fairness, greed more important than generosity, and incitement more important When it was more important than science, my American dream was so shattered.”
For Martha McDonald from Milwaukee, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic is very real, but it is also a metaphor. “Old dreams will disappear. Shouldn’t we now pursue new and better dreams that include all of us?”
Rebecca Mirario, who lives in New York State, said that her dream was broken when she realized that her family was considered “illegal.” “My childhood was full of fear of immigration police and extreme anxiety about possible separation from my parents and siblings one day.”
“In many ways, I represent the American dream.” As the son of a South Asian immigrant and a white southern American, Paul Ravi Nair grew up living in a low-income apartment complex and later thrived with his career.
He lived in a spacious apartment in Manhattan. But this satisfaction has been shattered in the past 4 years, especially in 2020. “The deliberate ignorance and persistent racism of my compatriots undermined any appreciation of the United States as a country. My goal is to emigrate abroad in the near future,”
