Although Oprah Winfrey struggled with familial issues and sexual assault as a young woman, her successful talk-show and theatrical achievements exemplified her American Dream. She has used her success to find contentment in her life and help inspire others by donating large amounts of her wealth to charities. Oprah Winfrey is a prime example of the AMerican Dream, because she represents all facets of the American Dream. She has an underdog story, where she came out on top, the rags-to-riches cliche come to life. Winfrey has become wildly successful through hard work, determination, and hope, the three things that America is so famous for being able to sustain. She not only built an affluent lifestyle for herself out of next to nothing, but …show more content…
Mrs.Winfrey went from a small, unknown town in Kansas to living in million dollar homes all across the country (“Academy of Achievements”). Not only did she accomplish this, but she also did this in a way that she felt was true to herself, and made herself happy in the process. Oprah, being a woman of color, also represents that someone can come from racial and gendered prejudices in America and overcome these barriers with perseverance and strength. She has said “Turn your wounds into wisdom.”, this really embodies how she has chosen live her life. Oprah turned her rough, traumatic childhood into a life that most only dream about, and she has always given back as well. Her struggles through childhood improved her ability to empathize and connect with people who do not have as much as she does. To help give back, she has created projects such as the Mississippi Animal Rescue League and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa (“Look to the Stars”). The creation of these projects, along with her rampant success are what makes Oprah the perfect embodiment of the American Dream. All in all, Oprah’s impressive success story is something that has become commonly known as the American Dream, because that’s what it is. Oprah’s life is a living embodiment of what most American people want, a stable family, happy conscious,
The American Dream is often seen as a goal for many people in the United States, with the idea that it can lead to a more fulfilling, richer, and happier life. This concept is rooted in the early days of the country and the belief that "all men are created equal," meaning that the American Dream is meant to be a clear path to success for all Americans regardless of their race, gender, sexuality, political beliefs, or religion. However, upon further examination, it becomes clear that the true American Dream has not been fully achieved. Despite the promise of equality and opportunity, there are still barriers and inequalities that prevent certain groups from achieving the same level of success as others. This suggests that the American Dream,
After the obstacles he has overcame Walt Disney once said “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” Everyone has a time in there life where they need to get passed something that is in there way. When this time or times come everyone would find a way to get through it, whether it is asking for help or doing it on their own. When someone says the word adversity one would say you have to be hard working, determined, and strong would pop into their mind.
She begins by talking about her college experience of how her own professors and fellow students believed and “always portrayed the poor as shiftless, mindless, lazy, dishonest, and unworthy” (Paragraph 5). This experience shocked her because she never grew up materialistic. She brings up the fact that she is the person with the strong and good values that she has today because she grew up in a poor family. In culture, the poor are always being stereotyped.
The article highlights the growing trend of Americans prioritizing personal growth and well-being over material possessions. While pursuing material wealth and social status remains a significant aspect of the American Dream, the growing trend of Americans prioritizing personal growth and well-being shows that the ideal is evolving and adapting to changing societal values. Some may argue that the American Dream is an outdated and unrealistic ideal that is no longer relevant in today's world. However, the enduring popularity of the American Dream and its continued relevance in American culture and identity shows that it remains a crucial aspect of the American experience. The American Dream is an inclusive ideal that should be accessible to all Americans, regardless of race, gender, or socio-economic background.
Jennifer L. Hochschild describes the American dream as “the soul of the nation.” She clearly illustrates the importance of the dream to American culture. So, what is the American dream according to Hochschild? She was referring to John Locke and his fantasy, then said “But the sentence evokes the unsullied newness, infinite possibility, limitless resources that are commonly understood to be the essences of the “American dream.” She also pointed out the flaws in the American dream and how at times the pursuit of it can lead to counterproductive outcomes not just for the individual but society as a whole.
The Destruction of the American Dream The American Dream for many individuals, is a goal. Some achieve it, others result in failure. So what is the American Dream and why does it seem so appealing to the average person? The American Dream is the idea that anyone can work hard and achieve wealth and success in America.
The American Dream is so essential to our country as it is an honor to reach your goals and make it a reality. The American Dream is the national ethos that people’s lives would be better and more abundant with many opportunities. The American Dream was more accessible to attain back in the days, however, changed over the years. Although the “American Dream” is still possible, many people, minorities are affected by the lack of improvement in social mobility in our society. The American Dream is still alive by being able to live a middle-class lifestyle and by obtaining it through perseverance and hard-work.
I believe that this has to do with her attitude that she has today. By the struggles she went through, she gained experience to develop a positive attitude. She was able to change her life around, this television show has helped her get her voice out to the world and help many women who are facing the same thing as she did. I believe that this is a great accomplishment that she achieved and was able to share her stories to her audience about her childhood when she was growing up. Beside the Oprah show and her life for books, she was also a great actress.
In conclusion, Beneatha’s dream is a fantastic example of the American Dream because she shows determination to achieve the things she wants to happen for her
With continued persistence, Oprah gained her own television talk show and is now the highest-paid performer on television. Oprah’s ambition was what drove her to continue her fight through her hard childhood, and make a positive, healthy life for herself. If Oprah lacked the ambitious qualities that she had and gave up, she would likely be trapped as a damaged and troubled woman who let her passed experience define who she
When you think of the American Dream what do you think of. Some might think of coming from another country, going to college, or maybe becoming an owner of a business. There 's many definitions of The American Dream, everyone’s is different. I see the American Dream as a reality not so much of a dream these days. First thing I 'm going to talk about it what are some obstacles of reaching the American Dream, which groups of people have had trouble obtaining the dream, and why.
The idea of the American Dream is a big one for people with big dreams . Though there may be some obstacles such as not having self motivation and not giving up even when things get rough , the American Dream can be accomplished . Brooke stated that there is a law made to prevent landlords and lenders from turning away tenants and homebuyers because of their color . This will help people in poverty get better education , better jobs , etc . Because of their living environments , these people are struggling in the environments that they live in which deals with lack of higher education , better housing etc .
No matter who you are or where you have come from, you have undoubtedly heard of the American Dream. The idea that no matter who you are or where you have come from, you can do whatever it is you desire in America. What was once one the main driving forces for immigrants to flock to the new world, has slowly changed over the years, but still holds its value in the eyes of those who are looking for a promising new place to live. The American dream might not hold the same awe inspiring sound that it once did, but for many generations before ours it was a beacon of hope that helped build the foundation that the United States was built on. And, still, today the American dream might not be as achievable as it once was, but it is still an important
The American dream is not having all the money in the world, or being a millionaire, it is simply being happy. The American dream is easily achieved, and the American dream can be achieved by
Introduction On September 4th, 2012, the First Lady Michelle Obama gave a speech about the values of the American Dream. Within her speech she talks about her past and how she shares the same values as the president of the United States of America - her husband, Barack Obama. She talks about why she is proud to be an American and why being the First Lady has changed her life forever. A main focus in the speech is how The American Dream is partly about working to not only make one's own life better, but also to work in order for children and grandchildren of the future to have better opportunities.