The American Dream in Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in...

Centuries ago, Americans were fighting for their freedom from Britain. Then, the American dream was to have freedom. To American then, being free and having their own individual country was enough. Up until a few decades ago, African Americans were fighting to have equal rights. They thought this was all they needed and they would be truly happy. Somewhere over the course of time; happiness had a new meaning for all Americans. Now material possessions are what it takes to be happy. The American dream is to be rich. A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry, and Death of a Salesman, written by Arthur Miller, both address the American Dream. Both plays discuss the desire for wealth and how the desire may lead to one’s†¦show more content†¦Halfway through the play, Walter tries to explain that he wants more out of his life, and Lena says that he has all he needs- a wife, a family, and a job. Walter then gets even angrier and says â€Å"Mama, a job? I open and close doors all day long. I drive a man around in his limousine and I say ‘Yes sir’; ‘No sir†; ‘Very good sir’; ‘Shall I take the drive sir?’ Mama that aint no kind of job† (Miller, pg 107). Walter’s dream to be rich drives him to the brink of insanity. Finally, Lena decides that she will give him the money to invest in a liquor store. She keeps part of the money to invest in a house, and gives him the rest of it. She tells him to put three thousand doll ars in an account for Bonita’s tuition, and the rest is his to invest in the liquor store. Instead of putting any money in an account for Beneatha, Walter gives it all to one of his partners to invest in the store. He is told he will get enough of it back in a few days, so he can put the money in the account. As it turns out, his partner ends up leaving town with the money, and never coming back. Walter lost the bulk of the check. His dream to have money, to be somebody, to be rich; leads to his downfall. Instead, he ends up losing the money that could have helped the family as a whole. Not only did he set himself back, but he also set Beneatha back. Not only did he ruin his dream, but he also ruined hisShow MoreRelatedThe Strength of Family in Death of a Salesman and A Raisin in the Sun1198 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Dream is a vision of economic opportunity available to all those who work for it, regardless of race or class. However, as seen in Arthur Miller’ s â€Å"Death of a Salesman† and Lorraine Hansberry’s â€Å"A Raisin in the Sun†, perverted conceptions of the American Dream convince certain characters that they are entitled to the fruits of miracles. Despite their best intentions for supporting their families, Walter Younger and Willy Loman encounter unsurpassable obstacles and are unable to fulfillRead MoreCompare And Contrast The Ways In Which The American Dream Is Presented Through Walter Younger In Lorraine Hansberry1711 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Compare and contrast the ways in which the American Dream is presented through Walter Younger in Lorraine Hansberry’s ‘ A Raisin in the Sun’ and Willy Lehman in Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of the Salesman’ The American Dream is something many Americans desire. The desire to the mind – set or belief that anyone can be successful if they worked hard for what they’ve been yearning. It is considered to be a ‘perfect life’; it can be full of money, contentedness or even love. There are many divergent opinionsRead More Comparing the American Dream in Millers Death of a Salesman and Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun3400 Words   |  14 PagesComparing the Destructive American Dream in Millers Death of a Salesman and Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun America is a land of dreamers. From the time of the Spanish conquistadors coming in search of gold and everlasting youth, there has been a mystique about the land to which Amerigo Vespucci gave his name. To the Puritans who settled its northeast, it was to be the site of their â€Å"city upon a hill† (Winthrop 2). They gave their home the name New England, to signify their hope for aRead MoreThe Great Playwright s Life Story2415 Words   |  10 PagesBefore the relatively short life of Lorraine Hansberry tragically ended, the African-American playwright distinguished herself in American theatre and literature as she creatively and unknowingly challenged the views of African-American life, among other inescapable issues of the nation and the world, on the theatrical stage. The great playwright’s life story began on May 19, 1930. Although born during a time of hardship introduced by the Great Depression, Hansberry grew up rather comfortably inRead More A Comparison of the American Dream in Death of a Salesman and A Raisin in the Sun1492 Word s   |  6 PagesThe Value of a Dream in Death of a Salesman and A Raisin in the Sun      Ã‚   How does one value a dream? This question arises while reading both Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman and Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun.   Although the two novels are very different, the stories and characters share many likenesses.   Death of a Salesman concerns a family’s difficulty in dealing with unrealized dreams.   A Raisin in the Sun focuses on a familys struggle to agree on a common dream.   In each ofRead MoreThe American Dream in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller1598 Words   |  7 Pagesalways been prominent in the American culture. The idea of the American dream captures the hearts of so many, yet leaves almost all of them enslaved in the endless economic struggle to achieve high status, wealth, and a house with a white picket fence. In Arthur Millers, Death of a Salesman, we see how difficult it is for Willy Loman and his sons to achieve this so called American dream. In Lorraine Hansberrys, A Raisin in the Sun, she examines an Afri can-American familys struggle to break outRead MoreCompare/Contrast Willy Loman (Death of a Salesman) and Walter Lee Younger (a Raisin in the Sun)2823 Words   |  12 Pagesâ€Å"May I never wake up from the American dream.† Carrie Latet describes the most sought after dream: the dream of a house surrounded by a white picket fence, the dream people work their entire lives for, the dream people fight wars for: the American dream. However, America’s rise to industrialism in the 19th and 20th centuries replaced this dream with the desire to get rich fast. This change led people to believe that it is possible, common even, to obtain wealth rapidly; yet this is not the case.

University s Master Of Social Work Program - 1252 Words

On August 8, 2014, I relocated to Fayetteville, North Carolina from Bahama, North Carolina to attend Fayetteville State University’s Master of Social Work Program. Fayetteville, North Carolina’s significant military population and the academic program offered many opportunities to students interested in researching and practicing with military personnel and their families initially generating an interest for me in the program. Within the first twenty-fours of living in Fayetteville, North Carolina, I had the opportunity to experience the military culture and the pride that residents exhibited for military personnel. I observed military personnel in uniforms, multiple car magnets that stated, â€Å"we support our troops†, military discount signs†¦show more content†¦I have enrolled to complete five courses during the summer, and upon completion, I will have completed the Substance Abuse Certificate Program at Fayetteville State University. In addition, I am a member of the National Association of Social Workers and I have enrolled in several online social work military courses. My volunteer experience includes Urban Ministries and a field placement within Myrover-Reese Fellowship Homes, Inc. I assisted with direct care relations as a community cafà © volunteer within Durham, North Carolina’s Urban Ministries facility from August 2005 until May 2009. Serving breakfast and lunch to residents, that lived within the facility, and other individuals that were in need of food. In addition, I worked alongside the Hope-Believe Recovery program residents who were in a six-month substance abuse rehabilitation program for female and male adults that were homeless. Myrover-Reese Fellowship Homes, Inc. field placement allotted me the ability to gain a significant amount of experience in working with the military, substance abuse, and mental health populations. Myrover-Reese Fellowship Homes, Inc. allowed me the capability to complete assessments, screen applicants, facilitate group sessions, have one-on-one interactions, become skilled and knowledgeable when utilizing Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and attend VAMC trainings on topics such asShow MoreRelatedMaster Of Science Degree Programs1502 Words   |  7 PagesMaster of Science Degree Programs This entry gives a general overview of online Master of Science programs, then specifically examines programs in high demand and those offered in accelerated formats. Next, the entry focuses on information students need to succeed in M.S. programs: how to find the right program, and a major problem that they will likely face during online matriculation. A Master of Science degree (in Latin, Magister Scientaie) is a postgraduate academic Master’s Degree awardedRead MoreCase Study : A Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor1443 Words   |  6 Pagesthis end, Wyatt attended the courses and programs given by the College for Financial Planning to become a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor. This accreditation has given him the tools and expertise necessary to help his clients make wise choices with their assets and finances, before and after retirement. This ten week course is delivered on a self study basis, which means that Wyatt had to demonstrate self motivation and discipline to complete the program. After successfully finishing each courseRead MoreWashington State s Primary Land Grant University1017 Words   |  5 PagesWashington State University Washington State University, or WSU, is a public research university located in Pullman, Washington. WSU is the state s primary land-grant university that was founded back in 1890. It is known for excellent agriculture, pharmacy, neuroscience, chemical engineering and veterinary medicine programs. The university is usually ranked within the top 150 high research facilities. The undergraduate enrollment is around 25,000 and the graduate enrollment is around 5,000, makingRead MoreMiss1353 Words   |  6 PagesMaster of Public Administration (MPA) About the MPA Program The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, accredited by the Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration (CAPPA), is designed to prepare students for careers in public administration and policy work in diverse areas such as non-government organizations, industry associations, and, of course, the public service. MPA students are exposed to core concepts in policy formation and analysis, and have the opportunity toRead MoreWinston Salem State University Is A Public Institution1553 Words   |  7 Pages 1 Winston-Salem State University Is a public institution that was founded In 1892. They also have 1,340 males and 3,453 females. It is a historically black public research University located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. WSSU is an certified university offering baccalaureate and graduate programs to a diverse student population. It is a member of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. When applying to Winston Salem State University one should consider the admissions criteria, tuition, and academicRead MoreBecoming A Licensed Clinical Social Worker1192 Words   |  5 Pages With a master s level education in social work, I see myself envisioning clients’ health and well-being. As a student, I will study and practice techniques, beyond a generalist perspective, that will allow me to give clients hope and the ability to see something greater than what they are facing. Upon completion of a Master of Social Work direct practice degree and certificates in gerontology and me ntal health programs, I intend to become a licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). As a LicensedRead MoreVision Without Action Is A Daydream1307 Words   |  6 Pagesthis objective, I have considered to apply for the MS in Interior Design program offered by Oklahoma State University, as this program will help me to develop my cognitive capabilities and help create innovative Design methods. After obtaining my first professional degree (B.Des), I have had a fair amount of exposure in this field. It has given me a concrete platform through an internship experience in a leading Designer s Firm. I have realized how Design theory that was taught to me in collegeRead MoreField Supervisor Interview : Licensed Masters Of Social Worker, Kimberley Fleischer977 Words   |  4 PagesField Supervisor Interview Licensed Masters of Social Worker, Kimberley Fleischer, serves as a field supervisor for students obtaining a masters degree in the field of social work. She first attended Iowa State University and obtained her undergraduate degree in psychology. 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The Harmful Effects Of Student Loan Debt And Attainable...

First Name and Last Name Professor Class Date The Harmful Effects of Student Loan Debt and Attainable Resolutions Largely because of the $1.3 trillion worth of outstanding student loan debt in the United States, most young adult college graduates are in stressful, limiting, and precarious situations as they attempt to launch their lives into adulthood. Indeed, some have dubbed the Millennial generation the â€Å"boomerang generation† because after college so many graduates are moving back in with their parents rather than getting their own homes and beginning their own independent paths (Austin 329). Some studies show that as many as one half of college graduates are either unemployed or underemployed, the latter meaning either part time work†¦show more content†¦The combination of inadequately paying work together with great outstanding loans limits college graduates from participating fully in society as adults. For instance, indicators of adulthood and full participation include a stable career, a long term re lationship, family, a home, retirement savings, and owning material necessities such as a vehicle. When we take into account all of the burdens that tens of thousands of dollars of student loans, it is apparent that this debt impacts just about every aspect of life for graduates. One study by American Student Assistant (ASA) found that around a quarter of student loan debtors have difficulty buying daily necessities because of student loans, while over half indicated that their debt disallows them to make larger purchases like a car, and three quarters of respondents said that they were putting off savings for retirement because of their loans (Life Delayed†¦ 3). Further, almost half reported that student debt has delayed their decision to start a family (Life Delayed†¦3). From the normal day to day to the largest and most important aspects of life such as starting a family, student loan debt is oppressively bearing down on graduates. Another major way that student loan de bt affects graduates is how it influences what kind of jobs they will take. With debt looming overhead, graduates often do not have time to seek out a job that is

Neoliberalism in Latin America free essay sample

From the 1930s until the 1980s state intervention and protection were key components of most Latin American economies. In these years many Latin American countries were used an Import-substitution industrialization based economy trying to reduce dependence on foreign imports and replacing them with domestic production. Due to the use of an Import-substitution industrialization based economy Latin American countries were forced to keep high tariffs to protect the private companies of their countries. This combined with many Latin America countries providing numerous government subsidized programs eventually led to the 1982 debt crisis. This debt crisis created a vacuum affect in Latin America with many of the countries taking on a new neoliberal economic model, and by the early 1990s John Charles Chasteen claims that almost every Latin American country was led by a president that was pro neoliberalism. This neoliberal economic model called for the slashing of tariffs as well as the reduction of removal of all nationalist-inspired subsides. Also following the neoliberal model, Latin American countries stopped the printing of money to slow inflation effectively undermining the functionality of their local markets. All of this was done so that a completely â€Å"free market† could be created. It was believed that this free market would not only help improve the economies of Latin American countries, but also create more personal freedoms for the people of Latin America. In the article â€Å"Neoliberalism, Neoclassicism and Economic Welfare†, John T. Harvey claims the complete opposite, arguing although a neoliberal economic model was created to produce conditions conducive to social provisioning or democratic problem solving, the exact opposite has occurred. Harvery states in his article, â€Å"Instead of growth, stability, and the narrowing of income gaps, we have seen stagnation, volatility, and increased inequality. † By researching neoliberalism a clear picture can be drawn. Neoliberalism created class stratification with the upper and middle class greatly benefiting from the new policies sanctioned by neoliberalism, while the poor continued to become more impoverished and unable to provide for themselves. Many historians argue that the neoliberal economic model was most beneficial for the small wealthy upper-class of Latin America as well as many upper-class business owners from other countries. The existence of a â€Å"free market† due to neoliberalism in Latin America created many opportunities for upper-class citizens to continue to become considerably wealthier. The upper-class benefit from neoliberalism in many ways but the two largest benefits come from the privatization of government subsidized programs and the lowering of tariffs. Not only did both of these policies line the pockets of the upper-class of Latin America but foreign investors as well. In order to balance their federal budget many Latin American governments privatized their government subsidized programs as well as cut federal jobs. First, the privatization of federal jobs allowed many upper-class citizens to take over these businesses and use them in their benefit to create capital. Former government projects such as constructing roads and government buildings were now being completed by companies that were owned by the upper-class. Prior to neoliberalism these jobs were paid out of the federal budget and were used as a way to lower unemployment by hiring more workers than were really needed. Now that private companies were doing the work efficiency was the most important thing leading to the loss of many jobs for the poor class of Latin America. In the article, â€Å"Neo-Liberalism in Latin America: Limits and Alternatives† Ian Roxborough argues that the immediate beneficiaries of the privatization of government subsidized programs and federal jobs, or what he calls real assets, were foreign investors and people with â€Å"flight cash†. This was because when these programs became privatized upper-class people from other countries as well as Latin America were able to come in and by penny cheap shares of these programs and soon to be private companies. This excrementally helped the upper-class because after they bought this stock at largely discounted prices it quickly grew in value. Clearly, lower classes that did not have extra cash could not benefit from this because they were unable to purchase any of the shares of these newly privatized commodities. This created two problems, not only did real assets of Latin America get lost to upper-class foreign investors, it also created a significantly larger wealth gap between the poor and upper-class because of the large amounts of money the upper-class made from the gains of the stock that they bought at such cheap prices. Another benefit the upper-class of Latin America and other foreign countries gained from neoliberalism was the reduction of tariffs. The reduction of Tariffs allowed foreign companies to come into Latin America and build maquiladoras. This was beneficial for the foreign investors because they could now come into Latin America where working wages were much cheaper and produce their goods at lower prices, which entail created more profit. Lower tariffs were beneficial for Latin American upper-class citizens because as the foreign companies came into Latin America they were able to invest in these companies. The ability to invest in these companies that wouldn’t have come to Latin America with the previous tariffs was just one more way people who already had money in Latin America were able to benefit even more from a neoliberal economic model. Neoliberalism also benefitted the middle class of Latin America. Chasteen argues the middle class benefited from a neoliberal economic model because of the cheap products that were produced due to the maquiladoras in Latin America as well as cheap products that were being imported to Latin America because of the newly reduced tariffs. This was very beneficial for the middle class for two reasons. First, under neoliberalism the middle class society who had money to spend, now had more choices because the large influx of items that were now being imported into Latin America. In his article, â€Å"Magical Neoliberalism†, Alberto Fuguet argues that neoliberalism was what led to amenities like large scale movies from Hollywood and other services, like fast food chains, to come to Latin America. Secondly, neoliberalism was beneficial to the middle class because with a larger selection of goods comes competition. With competition companies foreign and local now had to produce the best quality goods at the lowest price in order to continue to receive business from the middle class. Neoliberalism also benefited the middle class of Latin America because of the advancement in technology that occurred because of the privatization of water resource centers, electrical companies, and telecommunication companies. The privatization of these companies allowed them to modernize as well as make them more reliable. Some argue that neoliberalism was also beneficial for the women of Latin America. In her article â€Å"Love in the Time of Neo-Liberalism: Gender, Work, and Power in a Costa Rican Marriage†, Susan E. Mannon argues neoliberalism allowed women to gain more power and independence then they previously had. Mannon claims that neoliberalism, and the reduced tariffs that come with it, led to the creation of maquiladoras where women could seek employment. Latin American women’s new ability to gain employment in maquiladoras allowed them to earn a wage creating dual-income households. Not only did this give them more power and independence in their individual households, but the ability to buy goods also allowed them to participate in the local economy giving them more power as well. Those who stood to gain the least under a neoliberal economic model were the poor people of Latin America. This is because the privatization of state-run corporations and public service programs made them unaffordable for the poor working class, leaving many homeless and hungry. In the article, â€Å"From Democracy to Development: The Political Economy of Post-Neoliberal Reform in Latin America†, Alfred P. Montero states claims that neoliberalism leads to deepening levels of inequality, a growing percentage of people living below the poverty line, decaying infrastructure, poor access to even low-quality primary education, rising criminality, and inefficient productivity. All of these problems can be linked to privatization of government subsidized programs and the loss of government jobs. With neoliberalism the loss of jobs and government programs made unemployment skyrocket and education too expensive for much of the poor class of Latin America to afford. This lack of education is what many argue led to the problems that Montero claims such as a rise in criminal activity. Also, because neoliberalism privatizes companies that control commodities such as water, telecommunications, and electricity the poor class was unable to afford them, essentially leaving the poor of Latin America in the dark without water or electricity. Neoliberalism also led to the creation of Maquiladora’s which initially created what poor Latin American believed to be desirable jobs. Quickly the poor found out that many of these jobs did not pay a wage that was enough for a person to survive. With the poor pay of maquiladoras also came very poor working conditions that were conducive to creating injury. Omar Gil a former maquiladora worker stated in an interview that his first maquiladora job paid him a dismal forty dollars a week in working conditions that were less than safe. Omar attested that maquiladora workers were injured often because of the intense pressure of Forman’s to produce as much product as possible. Also with neoliberalism came the lack of available occupations. Due to the reduction of tariffs foreign companies were able to bring mass produced goods into Latin American countries at prices cheaper than local inhabitants were able to produce them. This created large scale unemployment and forced Latin American people into the unsafe and low paying maquiladoras. Chasteen argues that for the poor class the inability to produce goods far outweighed the benefits of being able to be a small-time consumer from the dismal wages that were earned in maquiladoras. It is clear that the neoliberal economic model is not beneficial for anyone but the wealthy elites and middle class of Latin American Countries. A neoliberal economic model became fashionably popular in Latin America because the people who were in charge were upper-class citizens and during a down turn in 1982 neoliberalism seemed like a solution due to its approach to better balance the budget of Latin American countries. Unfortunately, either the leadership of these countries assumed wrong, or just didn’t care about the wellbeing of its impoverished people, but clearly a neoliberal economic model does nothing but create a larger wealth gap, create more social stratification, and deplete living conditions for the poor even more. In the article, â€Å"Exploring the Impact of Neoliberal Economic Development on Poverty in Costa Rica: What Went Wrong? †, Paul B Lubliner argues that in order for economic prosperity to complement poverty reduction the state should have more control over the economy not less. I agree and argue by privatizing all state subsidized programs as well as depleting the amount of government jobs to almost zero Latin American countries actually went backwards in their pursuit to shorten the wealth gap as well as social stratification. Abusing your population to closer balance budget is in no way the solution to guarantee countries prosperity in the foreseeable future. Neoliberalism was clearly one sided only benefiting the rich and middle class, disfranchising each countries poor setting them back further then they were before.