The Just City And The American Dream

I have always believed in the American Dream and meritocracy when I was growing up. I thought that anyone could achieve whatever they wanted if they worked hard enough for it, not knowing that there were children and adults who would never attain that “dream.” I plan to use keywords, class readings, and other supplemental materials, to support my argument that the “American Dream” is in actuality a myth and is not attainable for those who are marginalized, as well as the case that America was never for Black individuals, and that standing holds true today. Living in America and what it means to be American signifies different thing for other people. First, I will define and give background behind the historical significance of the American Dream, especially regarding Manifest Destiny, and who it was and was not established for. Second, I will compare how authors like Coates and Alexander contribute to the notion that the Dream is not achievable for the marginalized, and how …show more content…
The Just City will give an insight into disadvantaged communities and urban development, which in my mind, is the opposite of our ideals of the American Dream. Do those who live in underprivileged communities have access to the Dream, and is it even available to them? As the class advances, I would like to look into White, especially pertaining to Coates’ beliefs of who perceives themselves to be White, as well as Identity, Citizen and possibly Capitalism. Both Alexander and Coates discuss U.S. history in the way it actually happened. It is important to not forget about what happened in the past, because it will make the future. So no, never talking about slavery or Jim Crow will not be beneficial to the future of our country, and not talking about those events will maintain the power held by certain individuals over everyone else. As we know, it is tradition, heritage, to destroy the black body. (Coates,