Multiculturalism and the American Dream: A Critical Analysis

 Multiculturalism and the American Dream: A Critical Analysis

Self Introduction :-

Name : Rahul Desai 

Roll no. : 22

Semester : 3

Paper no : 205

Paper Name : Cultural Studies  

Assignment Topic : Multiculturalism and the American Dream: A Critical Analysis

Submitted To : Smt. S.B. Gardi, Department of English (Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University)

Email ID : rahuldesai477@gmail.com

Introduction :-

The argument over how to comprehend and address the difficulties posed by cultural variety based on ethnic, national, and religious divisions is reflected in the concept of multiculturalism in current political discourse and political philosophy. The following focusses on multiculturalism as a normative ideal in the context of Western liberal democratic nations, while the term "multicultural" is frequently used as a descriptive phrase to describe the reality of diversity in a society. In its best form, multiculturalism aims to provide equal participation and opportunities for all while recognising and honouring the customs, languages, and practices of minority cultures.

In contrast, a major American cultural ideal known as the "American Dream" holds that anybody may achieve success, prosperity, and upward mobility through hard effort, perseverance, and drive, regardless of background or social standing. The pursuit of pleasure, individualism, and personal freedom have all been linked to the American Dream. It highlights the potential for success and obtaining a portion of the American promise, which includes a stable income, a job, and a home. Over the course of American history, the American Dream has changed. It was initially articulated within the framework of white settler colonialism, which denied immigrants and people of colour the promise of equal opportunity, and was based on the idea of fleeing oppression and building a better life. Particularly during the civil rights era, which aimed to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities, multiculturalism developed as a political and social response to the increasing diversity in the United States.

The American Dream's History and Principles :-

The "American dream" is the idea that everyone may achieve their own definition of success in a society where everyone has the opportunity to advance in their career, regardless of where they were born or their socioeconomic standing. James Truslow first used the phrase "American dream" in his best-selling book "Epic of America," published in 1931. Adams referred to it as "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement."

The American Dream is frequently associated with the country's fundamental ideals. The country's founding fathers, who lived in the late 1700s, dreamed of a place where people might escape the strict class systems and repressive European government and seek their own brand of success and happiness. The Declaration of Independence's Thomas Jefferson's concept of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" embodied the American Dream, which holds that anybody may improve their future with hard work and determination, regardless of background. The American Dream came under scrutiny during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and the ensuing socioeconomic transformations. The dream was broadened by leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. to include racial equality, justice, and the equitable treatment of underprivileged groups.

The conviction that everyone should have an equal chance to succeed and raise their social status, regardless of their origins. According to this theory, success should be decided by one's own worth and level of work. The American Dream places a strong emphasis on individual accountability, self-reliance, and the belief that people can influence their own lives. It supports the idea that individual effort has a major role in success. One of the main components of the American Dream is the desire of material and financial success, such as home ownership and financial stability. This tangible achievement is frequently seen as proof of one's diligence and drive. As the country develops and changes, the American Dream is continually changing, reflecting the history of American culture as a whole. From its origins in the quest for individual liberty and prosperity to its contemporary interpretation as a tangible objective of upward mobility, the American Dream has evolved into a symbol of desire and optimism for millions of people.

Immigration's Effect on the American Dream :-

People from all over the world, whether from Europe, Asia, Latin America, or Africa, have been drawn to the United States in search of chances that aren't available in their own countries. Millions have been attracted by the notion that the United States is a "melting pot" where various languages, cultures, and backgrounds can coexist and produce something fresh and improved. Their advancement is frequently hampered by structural obstacles like racial discrimination, economic disparity, legal difficulties, and cultural estrangement. Systemic obstacles often keep immigrants from achieving the Dream, particularly those who are undocumented or members of minority racial and ethnic groups.

The social and cultural context is the problem. Racism, bigotry, and xenophobia are commonplace among immigrants, which can marginalise them and make it more difficult for them to completely integrate into American culture. Since immigrants are sometimes denied the same chances and advantages as native-born citizens, the sense of "otherness" can be a major obstacle to achieving the American Dream. By starting new companies, enhancing the country's cultural heritage, and filling vital positions that keep the country running smoothly, immigrants make a substantial contribution to the American economy.

The American Dream, Race, and Class :-

Henry Louis Gates, Jr., uses the word "race" only in quotation marks, for it "pretends to be an objective term of classification," but it is a "dangerous trope of ultimate, irreducible difference between cultures, linguistic groups, or adherents of specific belief systems which-more often than not also have fundamentally opposed economic interests." Questions of ethnicity and race pervade the current interest in multicultural literary studies: Which cultures should be canonized? Who decides? What constitutes a culture? Is culture only "ethnic," or can gays or lesbians make up a separate culture? Is it good to celebrate "the Other" and bring others into the mainstream, or should the goal be the preservation of difference rather than continued marginalization? These questions are debated in American studies. It is a great historical irony that black Americans adopted the same metaphor of the Hebrew people being led into a Promised Land of freedom that was earlier employed by the first white settlers in Virginia and New England, especially the Puritans who were fleeing religious intolerance.

A rough centrist coalition for abortion rights ("safe, legal, and rare") and affirmative action (whites approve many "soft" forms and reject "hard" forms, as do the Supreme Court and some African Americans). Alan Wolfe is winning at least as much acclaim for pronouncing Americans to be "one nation, after all" as James Davison Hunter won for declaring our nation to be engaged in a "culture war". Mr. Lewis' claim about the increasing conservatism of the black middle class. He is right to say that well-off blacks are somewhat more conservative than are poor blacks on pocketbook issues? they prefer lower taxes, fewer regulations of economic activity, and less social welfare spending. By highlighting the variety of identities and experiences that exist in the United States, multiculturalism questions the conventional idea of the American Dream. In a multicultural society, the idea of the American Dream is influenced by the distinct cultural, social, and historical histories of various populations rather than being restricted to a single, uniform ideal. The Harlem Renaissance (1918-1937) signaled a tremendous upsurge in black culture, with an especial interest in primitive art. The so-called New Negroes, whom Hurston sarcastically dubbed the "Niggerati" (in Epstein), celebrated black culture.

The American Dream's Challenge from Multiculturalism :-

W. E. B. DuBois called it, arising from bicultural identity; irony, parody, tragedy, and bitter comedy in negotiating this ambivalence; attacks upon presumed white cultural superiority; a naturalistic focus on survival; and inventive reframings of language itself, as in language games like "jiving," "sounding," "signifying," "playing the dozens" (all involving playful insult-trading), and rapping. By emphasising how it frequently ignores or minimises the lived experiences of minority groups, especially people of color, immigrants, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, multiculturalism challenges the conventional understanding of the American Dream.

Racial disparities have prevented numerous groups from achieving the Dream, from slavery and segregation to more recent problems like racial profiling, discriminatory housing practices, and unequal access to jobs and education. The idea that America is a meritocracy is called into question by multiculturalism, which shows how race and ethnicity interact with political, social, and economic power. The unequal playing field that the American Dream is meant to take place on is highlighted by the structural obstacles that marginalised populations must overcome. Multicultural academics contend that the traditional definition of the American Dream marginalises the experiences of minority groups while elevating the goals and experiences of white, middle-class Americans. Multicultural cultures have reinterpreted the American Dream in literature, art, and popular culture to represent their own challenges and victories. For example, African American authors like Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes have celebrated Black accomplishments and culture while simultaneously criticising the American Dream. The difficulties immigrant communities experience in achieving the Dream while respecting their cultural heritage and familial ties are examined by Latinx authors such as Sandra Cisneros and Junot Díaz. The American Dream is called into question by multiculturalism, which exposes its racialised, classed, and exclusionary aspects.

Myth vs. Reality in the Dream of Equal Opportunity :-

Ellison urged black writers to trust their own experiences and definitions of reality. The reality for many people is formed by institutional inequities, demonstrating that equal opportunity is more of a myth than a reality for a sizable section of the population, even yet the myth of equal opportunity remains a fundamental component of American identity. According to research, people from poorer socioeconomic origins have a difficult time getting a good education, which is essential for achieving upward mobility. People of color, especially Native Americans, African Americans, and Latinx people, are more likely to experience discrimination in employment, pay disparities, and career progression possibilities. These groups find it more difficult to succeed to the same degree as their white colleagues due to historical legacies of exclusion and structural racism in the workplace. Minority communities are disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system, which restricts their access to opportunities and feeds the cycle of poverty. Further entrenching inequality, a criminal record can significantly limit a person's ability to get work, housing, or higher education.

Popular culture also perpetuates the notion of equal opportunity by framing success tales as personal victories against hardship. Characters that rise from lowly origins and accomplish the American Dream with sheer strength and perseverance are commonly portrayed in media stories, films, and literature. For instance, people who battle poverty and marginalisation but eventually succeed through hard effort are shown in films like The Pursuit of Happiness and novels like The Great Gatsby. Even if these tales are inspiring and potent, they hardly ever discuss the structural factors that prevent many people in real life from achieving such success.

The Function of Popular Culture and the Media :-

The story of the American Dream is greatly influenced by popular culture and the media, particularly when it comes to how it interacts with the increasing diversity of American society. This narrative has been enlarged and challenged by popular culture more and more, especially as multiculturalism changes the face of American identity. Diverse voices and experiences are slowly making their way into popular depictions of success through films, TV series, and social media, demonstrating that the American Dream is not just for members of a particular race or ethnicity but can be attained by people from all walks of life.

At the same time, limited and exclusive conceptions of the American Dream are frequently maintained by media representations. While some depictions highlight the achievements of under-represented groups, others uphold the concept of meritocracy while ignoring systemic obstacles including racism, unequal access to resources, and socioeconomic inequality. The continuous conflict over race, class, and identity in American society is reflected in this media representational duality between inclusion and exclusion. We can better grasp how these representations affect public opinion, challenge or uphold established power structures, and contribute to societal expectations by critically analysing the media's role in constructing the American Dream.

The American Dream's Development in Modern Society :-

The American Dream has changed dramatically in contemporary culture to reflect the shifting social, political, and economic climate of the US. The American Dream was first based on the ideas of individualism and the pursuit of happiness. It was frequently presented as a universal guarantee that anybody could succeed with hard work and determination, regardless of background. However, the dream has grown more intricate and subtle in the twenty-first century. People's definitions of success have changed as a result of globalisation, technological breakthroughs, and the widening wealth and poverty gaps. The reality for many people is characterised by economic instability, limited upward mobility, and obstacles relating to race, gender, and immigration, even though some people still hold onto the conventional idea of the American Dream.

Multiculturalism is also redefining the American Dream in contemporary society. individuals of colour, immigrants, and other marginalised groups have expanded the definition of the American Dream, upending the myth that only a particular set of individuals can achieve success. At the same time, the struggle for racial and social justice and the growing awareness of systematic injustices draw attention to the obstacles that keep many people from realising their full potential. As a result, the evolution of the American Dream in contemporary society shows a change from a straightforward and unchanging ideal to a more inclusive yet also more contested vision of prosperity, opportunity, and social mobility. This metamorphosis shows that the dream is not a fixed idea but rather a dynamic and changing one that is shaped by the many experiences and hardships of individuals who are attempting to realise it.

Social Movements and the American Dream Reimagined :-

The American Dream has been reshaped, its traditional bounds challenged, and reimagined to represent a more inclusive and egalitarian vision thanks in large part to social movements. The American Dream has historically been contested as an exclusive promise for a particular demographic, primarily white and economically privileged people, by movements like the Civil Rights Movement, women's rights activism, LGBTQ+ rights campaigns, and more recently, Black Lives Matter. 

These movements have shaped the current American Dream, which advocates for systemic change and economic redistribution while recognising the diversity of identities, experiences, and challenges. This vision, which aims to raise everyone to an equal and respectable quality of life regardless of background, is becoming more and more evident in popular culture, political debate, and social policy. It represents a dramatic departure from the conventional fantasy of individual accomplishment.

Conclusion :-

In sum up, the relationship between multiculturalism and the American Dream highlights the difficulties as well as the benefits that other cultural viewpoints offer to the conventional ideal. Multiculturalism urges a reinterpretation of the American Dream, which has traditionally been linked to personal achievement and upward mobility, with a focus on social justice, equality, and inclusivity. The American Dream is increasingly being reinterpreted via the prisms of immigration, race, and class in order to take into account the complexity of contemporary society and the need for a more equal vision that celebrates diversity and the well-being of everyone.

References :-

Guerin, Wilfred L. A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature. Oxford University Press, 2005.

Hochschild, Jennifer L. “Race, Class, and American Polarities.” The Good Society, vol. 8, no. 1, 1998, pp. 35–37. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20710874. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/american-dream.asp

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