The Color of a Lie

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussions of racism.

The “American dream” is the name given to the national ethos in the United States that states that every citizen has the freedom to succeed, become upwardly mobile, and attain success equally. The American dream expects that achieving success is contingent upon individual attributes, like hard work and dedication, making it universally achievable. The reality is that systemic factors make certain demographics of people more or less likely to have access to things like wealth, educational and economic opportunities, and upwardly mobile jobs.

Calvin’s father is a Black veteran of World War II. He thought that by putting his life on the line to fight fascism and prejudice in Europe alongside both Black and white compatriots, he was simultaneously proving his equality and fighting these things at home. He says that he “fought for [their] place in the American Dream” (125). This expectation is tempered by his observations of the reality:

We’re caught in a scam that has the bottom half bamboozled, believing that the American dream is achievable by those who deserve it. Work hard enough. Then they justify burning up our justice. Our access. Our dream.