Summary Of Is The American Dream Truly Dead

“You can dream the American Dream But you sleep with the lights on. And wake up with a scream.” -- Warren Zevon. Thomas Jefferson defined the American ideal as "each citizen's right to the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness." The author of the piece "Is the American dream truly dead?" by Carol Graham examines the American Dream and its current prominence in society. The author discusses the social, economic, and ethnic barriers that make the "American Dream" appear out of reach. The "American Dream" is in tatters due to institutionalized racism, low-paying jobs, and a lack of confidence in society. The "American Dream" is in tatters due to institutionalized racism. Racism committed by social and political institutions, such as courts, the military, or schools, is referred to as institutional racism. Institutional

Low-paying occupations stress people out and make them worry about the idea of living. Families may feel the burden, and the poverty rate may even rise as a result. Although working (or seeking for work) for more than half the year, it is estimated that 8.6 million persons were working poor or had income below the official poverty criteria. According to the article "How low wages hurt families and perpetuate poverty" by Andrew Yarrow it states, "Much research suggests that workers in low-wage careers are less likely to marry and more likely to divorce and experience family instability.... Higher wages, together with more generous public subsidies or tax credits for low-income families, make child care more affordable, significantly reducing the impossible “choice” that many low-wage workers have to make between caring for their children and working." This quote illustrates how difficult low-paying occupations may be. Families, relationships, and even mental health are all strained by it. Living on a low salary is difficult. You transition from surviving to merely existing as a result of