Illusion or Reality?

After reading Between the World and Me, it is clear that one of the most important concepts stressed by Coates is his version of the American Dream that he calls “the Dream”. Throughout American History, there has always been the idea that if someone came to America, they would achieve the “American Dream” . Due to the freedom, opportunity, and equality that is promised, it becomes embedded in the minds of people from other countries, that they could achieve wealth and success. Coates creates his own version of the “American Dream” and decided to call in the Dream; and his version is very different. Throughout the book, Coates stresses that the United States wasn’t founded on opportunity, equality and freedom, but built on the idea of discrimination and injustice towards the African American community. 

Coates’ contrast between the American Dream and the Dream is expressed through the idea that it is extremely accessible for whites to get, but difficult for African Americans to get. The American Dream sounds nice, a big suburban home, green lawns and driveways and parties with strawberry Shortcake. However, it is more subtly harmful that it appears, where “The Dream smells like peppermint but tastes like strawberry shortcake.” (11). Coates version of "The Dream" is a catfish of American society. The American Dream is made up of "perfect houses with nice lawns ... block associations, and driveways.", but Coates Dream illuminates an a whole new picture and the ignoring of certain facts. Coates could have chosen any food items, but looking at the ones he chose in specific have a significant meaning. Pepermits have a minty and fresh smell, just like how most people come to the United States for the American Dream and a “fresh” start. However, much like a strawberry shortcake, which are split, the new and truthful society they encounter is split as well. To fall for the idea of the Dream, people have to believe that American society is just and moral. Therefore, everyone will look away from the split and unequal society that as embedded in each layer. So for people to believe in the Dream, people must be blind to the idea of  racism and violence in America and the discrimination that is embodied in formation of American society; and they are. It was it was fake from the start, to get people to believe that the American Dream was everything people would want, and that it was within reach. It is very accessible for whites, but it was built on the discriminatoin and injustice of blacks. It requires marginalization and blindness to the realities of the racial divide. 

Coates introduces a fact that the Dream is so pervasive and conceived of in such a nonchalant way, that it is unlikely the Dreamers will wake up. Coates calls to the people who get sucked into the Dream as “Dreamers.” They are sucked into the role of not only by their lack of vision of the current issue but to live in expensive, but also by their belief in the false myths of American history, including the idea that the country is equal and just and that pursuing the Dream is morally innocent. Although not all Dreamers are white, Coates believes that Dream is deeply saying that: “I am convinced that the Dreamers ... of today, would rather live white than live free,”.  His definition of a “dreamer” adds on to the fact that they have the urge to look away from the ugliness of the country's past and forget the evidence that is right in front of them. He suggests that they are brainwashed in their own "whiteness" that is is more important to them than actual freedom of others. This is what stops the dreamers from facing reality. In addition, Coates has always felt the split, where his life is constantly at risk due to the color of his skin. Coates mentions that: I obsessed over the distance between that other sector of space and my own,”. Growing up, he would see children on television living a completely different life than he did. These children on the screen were not worried about dying or being beaten; rather, they worried about whether or not they would get a date to the dance or win their game of golf. He pondered the differences between what he saw on television and what he lived, as it seemed like a completely different world to him. Even as he observed the differences between his own experience and "the Dream" experience he saw on television, he realized they were connected and one was superior than the other.

Looking into an article from NBC news, it has astonishing facts. A poll was taken and “overall, 64 percent said racism remains a major problem in our society and 34 percent agreed that racism exists today, but it isn't a major problem,” (NBC) To be honest, I am not sure which statistic is more alarming. That ⅔ of country sees that racism is a problem or that over  ⅓ of Americans sees that it is there but doesn’t think its a problem. “Four in 10 African-Americans say they have been treated unfairly in a store or restaurant because of their race in the last month, compared to a quarter of Hispanics and only 7 percent of whites.” If those statistics weren’t alarming enough, then this will truly will be. “Overall, a majority think white people benefit from advantages in society that black people do not have. Among blacks, 84 percent said white people benefit a great deal or fair amount. Among Hispanics, 71 percent said white people benefit and 25 percent said they do not. But half of white people said they don't enjoy any advantages, as compared to 47 percent of white people who said they did.” This directly  further adds to the point of Coates of this split and how it is portraying the idea of the Dream even in our current society. How whites are taking advantage of this discrimination, weather they like it or not. But 47 percent do. Although a lot has been done and accomplished in the past, we are nowhere close to the American Dream that our country aspires to be. So as of now we will have to continue living in solely the Dream.