From the time we are children we are often told to shoot for the stars, or follow our dreams. As cliche as these sayings are, they are imprinted on the youth for a reason. Dreaming is an essential part of growing up. It is what keeps people inspired and continuously striving for better things in life. Perhaps it is because “dream” is such a serene, hopeful word. Consequently, dream also conveys unattainable wishes or unrealistic expectations. More often than not, dreams are just words. Yet, what happens when one tries to live within a dream? What happens when a society tells itself that reality is not as ugly as it seems and that everything is okay and everyone is happy? In his book Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates not only outlines the results of such a situation but also unveils that this is how our society is functioning everyday, lost in a dream. In his work, Coates employs the phrase “the Dream” to encompass the stereotypical, ignorant, “white” view of America. His choice of the word “Dream” to characterize this view is quite interesting and ironic. The general connotation of the word dream is something perfect and fantasy-like, something someone wishes for, but not reality. So the use of “the Dream” is satirical in two ways. First, it demonstrates the ignorance of Dreamers who believe their white world is perfect and dream-like. It also draws a connection between the people he calls “Dreamers” and the people “who believe
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In his novel Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates proves that the white Dream is not only damaging the unity of the American people, but also inhibiting the prosperity of our nation as a whole. Yet, Coates does not even say this is an unfixable situation. He does not discourage his readers from seeing hope for our society. In fact, he encourages his son to hope for the Dreamers. There is still a chance for the people living, “within a country lost in the Dream”
In his novel Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates proves that the white Dream is not only damaging the unity of the American people, but also inhibiting the prosperity of our nation as a whole. Yet, Coates does not even say this is an unfixable situation. He does not discourage his readers from seeing hope for our society. In fact, he encourages his son to hope for the Dreamers. There is still a chance for the people living, “within a country lost in the Dream”