Harlem Langston Hughes

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Home Ownership and The Pursuit of “The American Dream”. In Langston Hughes' poem "Harlem", the description of the African American experience in Harlem discusses the desire for social justice and the elusive “American Dream”. It serves as a powerful lens through which we can examine the realities of the historic lack of home ownership in the African American community, which has led to less upward mobility opportunities when compared to other demographics. Hughes forces readers to consider the inequalities the African American community faced in the 1950s, particularly in their pursuit of the “American Dream” while simultaneously challenging systemic barriers. Hughes’ poem contains many paralleling themes to contemporary society and the challenges …show more content…

While this study does not definitely prove correlation between variables, it does raise the concept of an individual’s life experiences determining their view on opportunity. In summary, Newman's article underscores how economic inequality and systemic barriers can determine an individual’s perception of their opportunities in life. Hughes' poem helps shed light on the enduring struggles for equality and accessibility of the “American Dream” for a minority that has faced oppression throughout American history. Benjamin J. Newman's insights further expand on this idea, explaining that the “American Dream”, rooted in the belief of upward mobility through hard work and opportunity, encounters greater hurdles for certain demographics, particularly African Americans. Newman's exploration of economic inequality as a determinant of belief in the “American Dream” highlights the complex correlation between individual experiences and societal perceptions of opportunity. While not definitively establishing a correlation between exposure to inequality and belief in the “American Dream”, Newman's article underscores the influence of …show more content…

Discriminatory practices such as redlining, which denied African Americans access to mortgage loans and homeownership opportunities in certain neighborhoods, have had lasting effects on wealth accumulation and homeownership rates within the African American community. Medine's article introduces us to the concept of how homeownership, a central aspect of the “American Dream”, plays a crucial role in building generational wealth and economic security. “Harlem” sheds light on the enduring struggles faced by African Americans in their pursuit of equality and accessibility to the “American Dream” in the 1950’s, despite enduring historical oppression. Medine's article further delves into this theme by illustrating how homeownership, a fundamental pillar of the “American Dream”, serves as a key pathway to building generational wealth and economic stability, even more so in modern society. Newman's insights complement this narrative, elaborating as to how certain demographics, particularly African Americans, face the challenge of economic inequality ruining their expectations of achieving the “American Dream”. Together, these perspectives offer a nuanced understanding of the complexities and obstacles encountered by marginalized communities, such as

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