The Marginalized American Dream By Chimamanda Ngozi...

The Marginalized American Dream The concept of the American Dream is the fundamental principle on which the United States of America is based upon. America is romanticized as a place where ideals of individuality, democracy, freedom and equality are encouraged. This is how America presents itself to the world and in turn, this is how much of the world views the United States - a country brimming with opportunity and those willing to work hard will no doubt achieve prosperity, success and happiness. It s no surprise then that America has the largest immigrant population in the world. Those migrating to the United States often have exaggerated expectations of the country, no doubt on account of America s wealth, positioning as the world s†¦show more content†¦Upon her arrival to the states, however, it became apparent that such claims were exaggerated and if anything, her status had diminished. In Nigeria Ifemelu had not yet been subject to the concept of race, evidenced by her statement â€Å"I came from a country where race was not an issue; I did not think of myself as black and I only became black when I came to America.† (Adichie 359) She was of course aware of colorism among her people - some believing that possessing lighter skin somehow made them superior, but in America race was everything! Race determined your social status, the neighborhood you lived in, the opportunities available to you, your chances of success and how difficult the life would be. And in America, being black was considered the lowest in the hierarchy. Ifemelu would also learn that being a â€Å"non-American† black would form a bridge between her and so called black Americans. The Reluctant Fundamentalist chronicles the story of Changez, a relatively successful Pakistani immigrant. Changez has just graduated from Princeton, one of the most prestigious universities in the nation and lands a successful job at a reputable financial firm as an analyst. On the surface, it would appear that Changez has achieved the American Dream. However, following the unfortunate events of September 11th, 2001, the sociopolitical landscape of the UnitedShow MoreRelatedThe American Dream By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie And Mohsin Hamid1708 Words   |  7 PagesThe concept of the American Dream is the fundamental principle on which the United States of America is based upon. America is romanticized as a place where ideals of individuality, democracy, freedom and equality are encouraged. This is how America presents itself to the world and in turn, this is how much of the world views the United States - a country brimming with opportunity and those willing to work hard will no doubt achieve prosperity, success and happiness. It s no surprise then that America