African American Dreams

Society's focus on the dream of an African American is in a time in life that is not really intended for “these” times. Dreams of an African American can seem so hard to reach for various reasons. Not because of the sense of failure it carries, but the sense of being able to live the simple day-to-day life is scary in itself. All this comes into play with the subject- mentality. African Americans mentality is that of the phrase commonly used, “ what you see in life is going to be handed to you on a silver platter.” Like for example, the fact of being able to have financial stability and maintain basic living with all it's expenses often times becomes a goal so far fetched that it becomes somewhat of a burden, rather than a sense of warmth. This concept of financial security has reportedly become seemingly difficult for the lower class people especially since Hurricane Katrina. Financial security becomes even more so a burden, even with an education, due to the lack of experience or job availability. These everyday worries by African Americans are known as times of struggle or just plainly “struggles”.

“Struggles” are more too often a descriptive word used by those of the lower class living families mainly the African-American population to describe their fight for financial stability. This word, “struggles”, has become a way of comfortable living that isn't acceptable to most and regarded by some. A reason the word “struggles” is too often said is because of those living the conditions of the low class urban life, which have become among the run down and overcrowded. These living conditions are known to be unbearable, intolerable and often times unsafe for raising a family. These means of daily life have become harsh as the story of the Berlin Wall, which took years to be broken down brick by brick. This wall of struggle is like all walls. All walls are come down eventually.

All walls feel like a barrier causing anger and frustration from the sense of being restricted. The anger and frustration from this restriction, sometimes causes violent reactions in human behavior. But, is it truly an act of violence in human nature or just another scientific term used in referral to wild animals known as “survival of the fittest.” “Survival of the fittest” is a term that adds a twist to nature: let alone human nature. This term means for someone to be survive what is going on in this environment now and then leaving behind a better generation suited for their environment. It may seem unreal but African Americans are still fighting to overcome this so called simple struggle just to even maintain a decent dream for themselves, and their children.

Now why has this become so hard? In the years of the 1900s after receiving their freedom, African Americans were made a promise to be given one acre of land to farm and a mule to help work the land. This however gave hope to so many for a start of a new life begun too late but soon enough. Over the years, this one-acre of Promised Land, worked by the now freed African Americans was seen as a better life. A life lived with a happier beginning and hopefully a better end. Nevertheless, this is just a promise. No progress has been made ever to uphold this long forgotten promise. If this promise were ever granted there would come to be some argument of controversy. But like all promises they are meant to be broken. Hence the word “promise.” Society's African Americans are not asking for a handout. Just a little consideration to what the ancestors went through to get where we are today. Back then freedom was a dream. A simple dream being fulfilled brings the scale for having a dream a bit reachable.

There will be stronger, independent African Americans willing to do whatever possible to keep the cycle of a better life going if only given a better stepping stone. Perhaps another promise of the same origin should be suggested in order to motivate more of the younger generations to fight for something worth fighting for. This will surely begin a field of dreams for African Americans that have long since been forgotten since the promised freedom.

This society should realize the declining interest among African Americans and lower class and grant possible solutions to improve this situation. After all the African Americans have been known for tending to American soil. Shouldn't it seem reasonable enough to replace what has been far to reach such as African American culture? A culture that not so long ago has since been taken away and shattered needs to be replaced. Replacing it will not only help those in need but that of the lower class as well.