My parents sacrificed their lives to give me a better opportunity at the American dream. We left our home, our family, our lives earning back in my country, the Dominican Republic, with zero dollars to our name for a shot at an empty promise. You see, to most
Economic opportunity.
Let's face the truth -- economic opportunities for new immigrants is very limited. The most accessible means of income we have are minimum wage jobs that do not even meet a living standard. Not to mention, the income disparity that illegal immigrants face which puts them way below minimum wage. Especially in a city like New York, where a two-bedroom apartment ranges anywhere above $2,000 and food is charged at ridiculously high rates. Whatever is left out of our income is allocated to basic necessities and utility. Nearly zero dollars of our income is targeted for education and investment -- thus, creating our first barrier against the American Dream.
2. Educational opportunity.
School funding alters the available resources offered to a student. Neighborhoods with lower community income have lower school funding. This is due to the appropriation nature of school funding.The gaps between school funding in NYC are about $10,000 per district. In the essay “The Savage Inequalities of Public Education In New York” by Jonathan Kozol, he states that, “Average expenditures.... were $5,500. In highest spending suburbs of New York... funding rose above $11,000. And in highest districts in the state, at $15,000.” This illustrates that status of the community unjustly determines school funding. Schools with lower income students are unable to give the proper curriculum to their alumni. This funding is restricting the knowledge of students based on numbers. Yet, NYC still considers the educational system equal for every single student. It is outrageous that lower class students are being oppressed. Therefore, a change of policy needs to be made because everyone deserves an equal education, not a check to a school based on student background.
3. Political opportunity.
The 2016 presidential race has really brought forward an anti-immigrant mentality. These xenophobic views have always been present in American history. In the case of Donald Trump, "building a wall" has sort of became a tag line for his campaign. His supporters are not afraid to be vocal about their approval. This is due the ridiculous linkage that society has created about all immigrants been bad. Ultimately, lifting up our final wall. There are no words I can say to describe how hard my move to this country was. In between the transition and assimilation to a new culture and society, most of us lose a part of our identity. Now, to top it off we have to face rejection from a new country.
4. Globalization.
Globalization has always been encouraged, especially in developing countries. However what many fail to see is the distortion it can cause to local areas that are causing a higher influx of immigrants. When corporations destroy our land for their quest to maximize their profit out of our resources, we somehow have no say. The pollutants that are left behind are slowly killing our people and that's all justify in the name of capitalism. The American Dream symbolizes a salvation out of our cruel reality. Something better than what's left back in the crumbs of our countries. This malicious cycle has made us hopeful to attain the unreasonable. Therefore creating our final barrier, one that seems unbreakable since we have been dislocated our land.
I am this article as a message. The ideal of an American has truly morphed itself into a myth. Instead of being a symbol of happiness and progression, I now see one of struggles and barriers. Hard work does not translate to a better opportunity but, rather, misery and empty promises.
