American Like Me

The American Dream is a motif that appears throughout the essay collection, and it is a symbol of what lies in wait for those who choose to immigrate to the US. In the book, the use of “American” is identified as a misnomer—America includes both Central and South America; many, especially those in the US, neglect to remember this.

Ultimately, for most, the American Dream symbolizes the possibility of freedom, safety, and fortune in the US if one works hard enough to obtain it. Having now read the essays in this collection, do you agree with that assertion? In what ways is it true? Are there ways in which it is false? 

Teaching Suggestion: Consider discussing with students ways in which the American Dream can mask strains of nationalism and American exceptionalism. This discussion might be expanded by examining the original concept of the American Dream—something that was possible for anyone who sought it, something that brought many immigrants to the US—and contrasting that with the undercurrents of racism and xenophobia that characterize the current iteration of this American Dream.

Differentiation Suggestion: As a warm-up and to make the concepts and content more accessible, English learners, students who favor visual and auditory learning, or students who demonstrate visual-spatial or interpersonal intelligences may benefit from viewing a video entitled “

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