American Dreams

Eustaquio, Ledesma

Outline
Introduction: The American Dream
I. Conservative family background
II. Conforming to the Dream
III. Realizing the costs of the Dream
Conclusion: Acceptance of his sexuality as his
own American Dream.

THE
AMERICAN
DREAM

What is unique
about America is
that we want these
dreams for more
than ourselves - we
want them for each
other. That's why
we call it the
American dream.

INTRODUCTION
The American Dream:
I lived in a land of opportunity where anyone, with enough
determination and hard work, could aspire to the highest
office in the land. I planned to live out the American Dream.
for anyone in America, anything is achievable with hard work
equal opportunities for all
...I was determined to make it, determined to show my
motherand myselfthat the American Dream really could
come true.

I. Conservative family background

North Carolina: Southern heritage (conservative)
Father: religious minister
Taught use religion to excuse prejudice and to blame
others for their oppression (blacks, Jewish, Communists,
etc.)
Relatives in the Ku Klux Klan
Poor: Mother worked in McDonalds

II. Conforming to the Dream

Attained scholarship in Harvard due to hard work
Gave up his Southern heritage
a.
Realized how different and ridiculed Southern people were
b.
Southern people = hicks
c.
Removed his accent
d.
If a character on television spoke with a Southern accent, that
immediately identified him or her as stupid or as comic relief.
Took the first opportunity out of North Carolina: went as far
away as possible
Could not accept nor escape from the fact that he was gay

II.
Tried to be a jerky heterosexual
Dated every girl he could get his hands on
Reputation as a jerk = guarantee that he wont be known as
gay
Made jokes about fags
Got drunk and stoned on an almost daily basis
Ultimately this made him hate himself
Fell in love with a boy
Suicide attempt
Realization that he couldnt live out the American Dream if he
was gay

III. Realizing the costs of the Dream

Biggest lesson from Harvard: taking control of his own
destiny

I was consenting to my own

inferiority. I realized that for
years, I had let a Dreama
beautiful, seductive, but
ultimately false Dreamrule
my life.

I had agreed to pay

its price, which was
the rejection of my
family, my culture, and
eventually, myself.

III. Realizing the costs of the Dream

Costs > Rewards
Realizes whats wrong with the Dream
Inherently in favor of wealthy white heterosexual
Christian men
Opportunities are not equal for every American
Dream requires them to give up who they are
Freedom is limited

CONCLUSION
Real freedom will be ours when people around usand
when we ourselvesaccept that we, too, are real
Americans, and that we shouldnt have to change meet
anyone elses standards.
I discovered that what Im fighting for now is the very
thing I thought Id be fighting for if I ever became
Presidentliberty and justice for all.

CONCLUSION
Marginalized victims who believed in the Dream are
just as American as privileged ones, and they deserve
to be treated as such.
At present, there is no liberty and justice for all

Reading with the Grain

Even now, opportunities are still unequal for people
based on their race, gender, sexuality, and religion
People still believe in the American Dream
Even foreigners
Gangster of Love: Why did the Filipino cross the
road? Because he thought America was on the
other side.
Success in America mostly relies on ones privilege and
status

Reading against the Grain

American Dream is becoming more achievable for
people of minorities
Increasing acceptance of LGBTQ
Feminism
Jennings himself was able to achieve the American
Dream through hard work and kept it even after he
came out
Named one of fifty Terrific Teachers Making a
Difference by the Edward Calesa Foundation
Won the Lambda Literary Award

Reading against the Grain

The American Dream is changing
We want it for the kid who doesn't go to college because she
cannot afford it; for the worker whose wondering if his wages
will pay this winter's heating bill; for 47 million Americans living
without health care; for the millions more who worry if they
have enough to retire with the dignity they have earned.
From relying on hard work in spite of obstacles to making dreams
more accessible to the marginalized