How Does One Achieve the American Dream?

How does one achieve the American Dream? The answer undoubtedly depends upon one’s definition of the Dream, and there are many from which to choose. John Winthrop envisioned a religious paradise in a "City upon a Hill. " Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of racial equality. Both men yearned for what they perceived as perfection. But, the definition of the American Dream is an idea which suggests that all people can succeed through hard work, and that all people have the potential to live happy, successful lives.

It matters not who you are and what ethnic group you’re from, you can achieve the American dream. Lets look at Martin Luther King Jr. He turned the world up-side-down by going against the odds, (during the time of the Civil Rights Movement) proclaiming ‘that all men are created equal’. He was a well known civil rights leader who stood up for his beliefs in a non-violent way. Through perseverance and determination, he was able to maintain his focus of letting America know that he deserved to be treated with dignity and respect.

Although, his untimely death of assassination, it was though his actions and dedications that can be pronounced Martin Luther King to be an excellent example of one who achieved the American dream. His struggles paved the way for others, to become a part of the great “melting pot” regardless of nationality or background. These include Oprah Winfrey and our newly elected 44th president of the United States of America, Barack Obama creating a new day and time this country, America. Oprah Winfrey is a prime example of someone who achieved the American Dream.

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As a child her life was not a fairy tale at all. At a young age Winfrey's parents separated and sent her to live with grandparents in very poor surroundings. Later, at the age of six she moved to live with her mother. She was consequently sexually molested by male relatives at a young age and endured the hardship up until she was 14. She moved to live with her father in Nashville Tennessee. Living with her father did not eliminate her problems even though he was loving (yet strict) towards her.

She struggled with drugs and rebellious behavior and even the loss of a baby after giving birth to it prematurely. Wild behavior conflicted with her father's strict rules and high standards. After being awarded a University Scholarship she eventually began to settle down. Winfrey studied at the Tennessee State University and received a BA in Speech and Performing Arts. It was her father's high standards that inspired her to aim for and achieve more from life. Winfrey became involved in several groups and pursued her interests in media and journalism while at University.

Even though her early years in life where filled with hardship, she was always gifted with intelligence and she graduated as an honors student. Winfrey's career really began to take off after moving to Chicago in 1984 to host "AM Chicago", an early morning talk show at WLS-TV's. It went on to become the number one ranked talk show shortly after she started and it was renamed "The Oprah Winfrey Show" after one year. The Oprah Winfrey Show went on to become one of the most successful and highest ranked television talk show programs in history.

Oprah Winfrey continues to follow her dreams through her many business and media interests. She is one of the wealthiest women in the United States of America and is regularly placed high up on the Forbes magazine Rich List each year. Winfrey continues to influence and inspire people worldwide with her example of overcoming great odds to achieve great success financially, spiritually and socially. Barack Obama is such an exceptionally, smart, African American man. On January 20, 2009 Obama became the first African American president of the USA.

He accomplished the American dream without a doubt. He proved to the black society as well as the white, that what was sought out to be the “impossible” could be possible. He achieved it because he has what everyone wants. For instance he has a nice house, car, beautiful family and he’s just such a beautiful person altogether. Obama has proved to all that the American Dream is not just an “Alice in Wonderland” type of fairy tale. Indeed the American Dream is a reality with its own symbol and that symbol is Barrack Obama, the 44th and fist black president of the United States of America.

In conclusion, it just goes to show that the “American Dream” is possible and nothing is out of your limits when it comes to dreams. For instance look at Oprah—a multi-billionaire, African American woman, who wasn’t raised with the finer things in life. She had to work hard for success. Also President Obama got to where he is now because of hard work, discipline and determination. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. ”-Martin Luther King Jr.

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