Lessons Of Life Essay, Research Paper
Lessons of Life
Does the American Dream belong to every one or does it except some persons? The American Dream is a really powerful force that molds America. It has existed for many coevalss but has it changed over clip? The foundation of the Dream tends to remain the same that is the chase of felicity, hope, freedom, justness and equality. The constructs within the American Dream should change to suit the alterations of society. The discovery and obstructions that America overcomes should switch the American Dream. Society may see the American Dream as a unsafe power doing them to be scared to dispute the constructs of the traditional American Dream. Will society become dysfunctional if person challenges the American Dream or will it do our state stronger and more diverse?
Harmonizing to James Baldwin s My Dungeon Shook: A Letter to My Nephew African Americans can non obtain their piece of the American Dream. Baldwin wrote a missive to his nephew in hope of steering him through life. Baldwin had many words of wisdom to portion, largely words provoked by hurting and choler. Baldwin wanted to learn his nephew about the inhuman treatment of society. His chief point was to learn his nephew non to believe the white adult male and his words. He wanted to promote his nephew to win in life but non to anticipate the impregnable. By believing the white adult male one can non win but by cognizing where one comes from will take to success was the foundation of Baldwin s message ( 243-246 ) .
When reading My Dungeon Shook: A Letter to my Nephew, it was clear that Baldwin was non merely composing a missive to his nephew but to society by interacting personal ideas with public consciousness.
Although Baldwin s missive was addressed to his nephew, he intended for society as a whole to be affected by it. This guiltless state set you down in a getto in which, in fact, it intended that you should parish ( Baldwin 244 ) . This is an guiltless state, guiltless merely because they know non what they do. They discriminate the African American by anticipating them to be worthless, by non giving them a opportunity to turn out their credibleness. Today African Americans are considered to be disesteemed in society. They are placed in this category before they are even born merely like Royalty obtains their category before they are even conceived. We may believe that this is a paradox but when profoundly believing about African Americans and their intervention we know it is much different than that of white Americans. African Americans have to endeavor highly difficult to be successful and obtain a topographic point in America. When reading Baldwin s statement it seems much like Martin Luther King Jr. statement: One hundred old ages subsequently, the Negro is still pine awaying in the corners of American society and finds himself an expatriate in his ain land ( 3 ) . African Americans are seeking to obtain their topographic point in American society but are restricted to the country that the white Americans set aside for them. Both Martin Luther King Jr. and James Baldwin are endeavoring to do a difference to better America by publically sharing their emotions.
Indeed Baldwin s missive expressed public consciousness but it besides consisted of personal elements that merely his nephew was intended to u
nderstand. You can merely be destroyed by believing that you truly are what the white universe calls a nigga ( Baldwin 243 ) . This statement illustrates the hurting that Baldwin feels deep indoors. When a individual calls person a nigga it lowers their self-worth and causes them ideas of desperation. The white society can be hurtful to African Americans by undervaluing what they say. When person is invariably being called a nigga they start to believe that they truly are what they have ever been called. When a individual believes they are a nigga they lower their ends and banishment believing that they are non accepted and they will ne’er be. Situations like this are difficult to hold on unless one lives them like Baldwin did. The fact that Baldwin lived this state of affairs explains why he wants to inform his nephew to beware of the nescient people who try to destruct others by words.
Clearly Baldwin intertwines personal and public consciousness but he besides supports personal consciousness with public consciousness. Neither you nor your male parent exhibit any inclination toward sanctity ( Baldwin 243 ) . When believing in a higher power life tends to be less disputing. A higher power will extenuate the hurting that one feels. It will besides allow the apprehension of life s bemused inside informations. A higher power walks beside people and ushers them through life. Knowing that there is person or something more powerful than world gives a sense of security and repose. Baldwin wanted his nephew to cognize that turning to a higher power leads to a healthy life.
On the other manus Baldwin wanted to remind society about our Godheads instructions and back up his lesson to his nephew. You must accept them and accept them with love ( Baldwin 245 ) . This statement was an illustration in which Baldwin wants to affect upon society. Father forgive them for they know non what they do ( Luke 23:34 ) . Jesus told God to forgive those who intended to kill him as he was hanging on the cross in hurting and wretchedness. Jesus believed that people who did non cognize why they sinned deserved to populate ageless life. Jesus set an illustration for world to follow by forgiving the people who hurt him and Baldwin is seeking to deliver Jesus illustration by forgiving the people who hurt him. Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the ironss that embodies world. Forgiveness could be thought of as the potion that unites America and brings equality to the redeemed universe.
Although the American Dream is considered to be the nexus that binds society, there are some persons that do non posses nexus to unit. The African Americans have been fighting for many old ages to obtain the piece of the American Dream, their topographic point in America. Joseph Kennedy has defeat and choler built up while seeking to happen his topographic point in America, Goddamn it! I was born in this state! My kids were born in this state! What the snake pit does person hold to make to go an American ( qtd. In Harris 369 ) ? If person challenges the constructs of the American Dream so possibly our state can unify. Do non fear the American Dream, yes it is a powerful force that molds society but each person controls the power. If one does non believe in the American Dream so the power of the Dream is weakened. Would America unite and go equal if person challenges the American Dream?
