Why Black Women Are Rethinking the American Dream
They told us we could achieve the “American Dream” if we went to college and worked hard. They told us we could have our house, with a picket fence, with 2.5 kids and multiple vacations a year. They told us that a six-figure salary would exceed our needs and would illustrate the pinnacle of success. I recently spoke with nearly 50 Black women across the nation about their current experiences economically, politically and socially and it’s clear – they lied.
Historically, the American Dream meant stable employment, homeownership, economic stability, happy children, and a healthy dog, a return on investment from hard work and dedication, promising individual upward mobility. Although commonly known and accepted as an aspirational north star, it has never really been applied to Black people. This concept failed to consider the systemic barriers that made it impossible for Black families to achieve success and wealth. And while this concept may have given Black Americans something to strive for, it was never designed to truly encompass the Black experience.
Most would agree that the “American Dream” from 50 years ago is no longer a goal for many – many are forgoing starting families and purchasing homes, to focus on individual stability. But I wonder, is it no longer a goal because our values have shifted, or is it because homeownership, retirement, and raising children comfortably are impossible? How did we get to a place where achieving the basics feels like a luxury?
Today’s American Dream feels much smaller. It looks like not having to make a decision between groceries and the internet. It looks like going to work every day, only to barely cover childcare costs. Past generations could build wealth and retire comfortably, but for many today, the goal isn’t getting ahead; it’s simply staying afloat.
Black women particularly have been hit the hardest in chasing this dream. We’re one of the most educated, most accomplished, most driven demographics, yet we experience one of the largest wealth gaps amongst our peers and are currently experiencing the highest unemployment rates in the nation. Couple that with caregiving, leading communities, and oftentimes being the breadwinners for our families, many Black women have never felt further away from achieving the American Dream. And it's not because we’re incapable, it’s because we’re required to carry too much.
Black women have been called to save democracy, get multiple degrees, marry and raise children, but at what cost? We continue to shoulder responsibilities in a society that fails to secure our economic (and physical) safety and well-being. We keep fighting for a future despite limited change in our material conditions.
As I start working on my next academic article about how the media shapes our understanding of the so-called American Dream, I can’t help but wonder - what is the contemporary American Dream? Is survival the new objective? Will we eventually reach a point where our earnings support a satisfying lifestyle? Or are we doomed to juggling multiple jobs, sacrificing necessities and existing in a spiraling economy?
It’s clear the new American Dream is no longer rooted in upward mobility, but in simple survival. Maybe future generations can hope for a world where ordinary people can dream and achieve it again.