Books Weekly
In The American Dream: Work for America, Get Nothing Back, N writes about her perception of the American Dream and aspects of American life that cause this perception to change.
About the Author
N is a bright young black woman who attends a Northeast university. N was born in Central America and moved to New York state at the age of 4 years old. Growing up in America, N experienced what it is like for black Americans and immigrants to exist in this society and the daily struggles that are faced. Using her book as a platform, N shares her personal experiences and knowledge to discuss ways in which the “American Dream” has a different meaning to marginalized groups.
About the Book
In The American Dream: Work for America, Get Nothing Back, N writes about her perception of the American Dream and aspects of American life that cause this perception to change. One of the main themes from the book, stemming from the title, is the amount of hard work black Americans have given and continuously give to this country, yet still receive little to nothing in return.
When most (white) Americans think of the American Dream, they think about working hard to attain their own success in a society in which upward mobility is a possibility for everyone. N writes that for black Americans, the American Dream is not as such, it is to work hard just to be able to survive. Using her experiences, N exposes the two very different Americas being lived in by those of color and white people. In a recent interview, N states, “In my head, I think to myself that I have to work extra hard to be considered good because I’m black.”
“In my head, I think to myself that I have to work extra hard to be considered good because I’m black.”
She takes a deeper approach by not just talking about what society does, but how it affects her and other black people’s mental state. It is mentally and emotionally draining to exist in a world that is built against you and this book tackles some of the methods N has taken to keep her mind healthy. N wants this book to be a call to action for actual reform. The final chapters explain ways individuals can take physical action against injustice, rather than just having an empty discussion about it.
The American Dream: Work for America, Get Nothing Back by N will be released on Juneteenth. Please go to dreampublishing.com on May 19th, 2021 to place your pre-order.
N is…
- 21 Years-Old
- Female, Cisgender
- Black
- Central American
- Middle Class
- Heterosexual