The American Dream Essay Example

Introduction

For a long time, the American Dream has attracted many immigrants from all over the world. People have come to the United States the country referred to as the land of opportunities. Unfortunately, for most of these immigrants, the American Dream is nothing but a dream as they are faced by discrimination, segregation, and poor education status.

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Improving Education for the Latino Community

According to a survey conducted in the United States, the Latinos are the fastest growing minority group in the country but have some of the lowest educational levels. Data indicates that the Latinos compose close to 16% of the total American population. According to the article, Latinos are likely to increase in numbers and therefore, make up a large percentage of the total workforce in the country. As such, improving the Latino's education status and the labor market has both short-term and long-term effects on the country's economy.

Back in 2011, former U.S President Barack Obama indicated that the country was not competing with itself but with other nations all over the world in regarding employment and job opportunities. To ensure that the country was ahead of its competitors, the country had to improve in its innovations, infrastructure, and the education sector. His statement has been echoed in the past by his predecessors who talked about the American Dream and the benefits that were embedded in it.

The article suggests that Latinos are a youthful population that is mainly made up of young people. Close to 17 million Latinos are aged 17 years or younger. In the American public school's system, Latinos make up the largest minority group. In the past couple of years, the number of Hispanics enrolling in the colleges has significantly increased. However, Latino students have in the past faced various challenges preventing them from attaining high educational status. According to the article, only 13% of Latinos have bachelor's degrees. Those that have completed graduate programs and other professional degrees are only 4%.

During his term in office, President Obama laid out several programs and plans that were aimed at improving the number of people from the Latino community that have college degrees. In his speech, he also emphasized the importance of improving childhood education for all Americans. He was determined to reform the education system and reducing the number of drop-outs. He also aimed at ensuring success for Latinos in college and their careers.

Barack Obama's Race Speech at the Constitution Center

Back in 2008, President Barack Obama gave a speech at the National Constitutional Center. In his speech, the former president focused on the American Dream; indicating that Americans from all walks of life had survived long distance travels across the ocean to escape tyranny and persecution to make real their declaration of independence. According to him, the document that was signed was unfinished since it had stains of slavery all over it. To answer the slaves' questions, the constitution was formulated with the promise of liberty, justice, and unity. He further indicates that these were some of the promises he made during his campaign; a more caring, more free, more equal, and a more prosperous America - the American Dream.

He gives his personal story where he indicates that he is the son to a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. His background information raised a lot of questions throughout his campaign, but that did not stop him from running for president. Throughout the speech, he provides personal examples of how his background has affected his political career and campaign. However, he indicates that the black and white communities are a part of him and a part of America.

His speech mentions some of the key sections of racism in the United States with the president indicating that he too has been a victim of the race issue in the country. He acknowledges that these issues have their roots in America's dark past, but he assures his audience that he is aimed at improving the unity level in the country. One way he promised to do this was fixing segregated schools which termed as inferior schools. It is evident that the president was determined to do away with discrimination on the minority groups such as the African-American, Hispanic-Americans, and Latino-Americans.

President Obama has been in the front line in the fight against discrimination while further pushing the American Dream Agenda by coming up with programs that attract a large number of immigrants. During his term, President Obama, like his predecessors, made several plans to improve the lives of all Americans and especially the minority groups that have been discriminated for a long time. Unfortunately, the situation has not changed for many immigrants. Many of them continue to go through difficult situations that prevent them from living the American Dream. Immigrants continue to record the lowest educational attainment levels as well as very high rates of unemployment. For many minority communities, racism continues to be one of the main hindrances towards realizing the American Dream.