 The premise of the American Dream is that, "if you work hard and play by the rules you should be given a chance to go as far as your God-given ability will take you" (Cohen-Marks and Stout 824). However, various factors have a profound effect on one's ability to achieve the American Dream including socioeconomic status as well as whether or not an individual is part of the minority or part of the majority. Race has a very distinct role in not only one achieving the American Dream but also one's ability to gain a quality education and to seize opportunities throughout their life. Zogby argues that, "Americans tend to see individual hard work and effort as the key for getting ahead" (571), however this is something that is increasingly more difficult for African Americans to achieve than for whites. Many believe that regardless of race or any other factors, it is the job of the individual to pull themselves up and to improve their life rather than gain assistance from other organizations. They believe that in order to maintain equality, it is essential to make sure that everyone is granted the same opportunities and the same access to resources. Conversely, various minority students as well as low income families are forced to go to schools where the teachers are not qualified and there are not enough resources just due to the neighborhood they live in. This forces students to fall behind in school and to not gain the same opportunities that other students are able to achieve and thus there is greater inequality in this system. Essentially, race has a profound effect on one's ability to achieve a quality education and thus prevents students from growing and prospering which in turn prevents them from ever coming within reach of achieving the American Dream.

 Historically, race and the inequalities associated with race is a topic that has been discussed for centuries and there is still no real resolution to the issue. There have been various court cases in order to ensure that equality is reached, but in reality these cases have no stopped the inequalities that still exist for members of minority groups.  In Plessy vs. Ferguson, the court ruled that all facilities can be separate but must be equal in order to ensure that there was not inequality between the two races. However, the fact that the facilities were separate means that there is a lack of equality and thus the situation had to be rectified. Thus, the next court case to address the issue was Brown vs. Board of Education in which the court agreed that, "separate facilities based on race were ipso facto unequal" (Legal Information Institute). Although there were various court cases in order to ensure that equality was reached and that all races were granted the opportunity to succeed, the court cases took many years for everyone to finally accept the changes that they implied. Therefore, for many years African Americans still faced oppressing and were not given the same opportunities as whites were. The whole idea of race is essentially a social construct, meaning human beings created it and it would not exist if society had not created it. Obviously, there are recognizable differences between people of different races but in reality all human beings are the same and it is essential that society acknowledges it. Consequently, slavery and the pain it put several thousands of people through was another instance of when whites thought that they were superior to African Americans and that we were above them in every sense of the word. When whites began thinking that they were superior to African Americans is when race problems and overall inequality began to infiltrate society. This idea developed and trickled down to future generations and thus this has caused the race problems that exist today. Hence, since whites have always viewed themselves as superior to African Americans this has created a widening race gap and now African Americans are very skeptical about their position in the world and their ability to achieve success as a whole. African Americans believe that whites are offered every chance to succeed while they struggle to gain any opportunities. In today's society, there is much more equality but it is undeniable that a great division between black and white society still exists and that this division creates many of the race problems that are in society today. Overall, this separation between whites and African Americans continues to pervade and effect society in a negative way and that is why black people feel they are less likely to achieve the American Dream. 

 Race has a profound effect on a particular person being able to achieve the American Dream and also effects one's ability to achieve success in the future. According to Deutsch, "The American dream seems a little more difficult to attain when the American dreaming is a member of a minority group living in poverty" (Deutsch). Deutsch argues how despite the fact that African Americans have made progress in today's society and continue to make gains, they still are placed behind whites in every sense of the word. Deutsch also states how, "blacks are twice as likely to be poor compared to other races, and eight times as likely to be imprisoned" (Deutsch). If African Americans are more likely to be poor, then they are more likely to live in poor neighborhoods where they will not have access to available resources. Thus, they will fall behind in school and will essentially not be able to pull themselves towards success in the future. Fundamentally, the environment and neighborhood in which one grows and develops in has a profound effect on the ability to succeed in the future and without a good environment, success is unattainable. In Young's article he argues how whites are very optimistic about achieving the American Dream, however, "blacks feel that it works for those who are not black (and most especially, white Americans)" (Young 477). African Americans tend to be a lot more skeptical about their chances to achieve the American Dream and believe that it is really something that is not attainable for them. Education also plays a crucial role in whether or not an individual will be able to achieve the American Dream. Zogby also argues how, "the American Dream may be unraveling as we see a growing wealth gap, ongoing race and gender inequality, and expanding poor immigrant populations" (Zogby 571). Essentially what Zogby is stating is that the gap between whites and African Americans has become so large that the American Dream is nearly impossible for minority groups and the hope of achieving a better life for oneself continues to disintegrate. Christine Sleeter argues how education is essentially the root of the race gap and why the education gap between whites and African Americans continues to widen (Sleeter). If students are not given a quality education then it is nearly impossible for them to develop skills that will help them in the future. Without these necessary skills, students are forced to drop out of school and often become involved in illegal or otherwise dangerous activity. If schools as a whole were more encouraging of the students and their overall success, then each student would have more of a chance of achieving a high school and or college diploma. Therefore, it is crucial that African Americans as well as whites gain a quality education in order for them to achieve the American Dream and overall success in life. 

 There are many authors who believe that African Americans are granted equal rights and that they have just as much of a chance to achieve the American Dream as any other person. In Henry's article he argues that humans possess the ability to, "transcend the idols of the cave, marketplace, and tribe, one's economic status, one's social class, one's race, and to liquidate one's prejudices" (Henry 28), however, what Henry does not realize is just how much these things affect an individual. Although Henry argues that it is the job of the individual to transcend over economic status and race, it is increasingly more difficult to transcend these things if you are a minority. Thus, it is actually not possible to transcend over your social class and rather individuals are forced to adapt to the lack of opportunities and available resources that exist. Zogby also claims that, "[l]ack of thrift, effort, ability, motivation, and self-control are the most popular explanations for poverty among Americans" (Zogby 571), however it is very difficult to develop out of poverty. That meaning if someone is born into poverty, it is very difficult for them to develop a new life for themselves and a new future. Therefore, it is increasingly difficult for minorities to be able to escape the life they were born into which creates a continuing cycle of poverty. In this case, the amount of work out in or even the amount of effort put in cannot escape the amount of poverty that a particular person was born into. Just because an individual is in poverty does not mean they are not working hard or do not have motivation, necessarily, it simply means that their hard work may not fit their means or what their familial responsibilities. Another argument that many authors make is that if an individual is in poverty, it is their responsibility to pull themselves up and to ensure that they have a future for themselves. Although this may be easy for some, those who are the minority may struggle to find jobs, provide for their families, or even provide for themselves. If they were not able to receive an education for whatever reason, their opportunities are limited and it is very unlikely for them to get a job that can provide for their needs. Thus, the position they are currently in could not be their fault at all and instead be due to the fact that they did not have the opportunity to gain an education or experience. It is crucial that individuals recognize that circumstances have a big effect on one's ability to achieve the American Dream and to improve one's life and that it is not necessarily an individual's fault for not being able to do everything on their own.

 It is essential that some action be taken in order to correct the inequities that have existed for several years and continue to make it more difficult for African Americans to succeed and achieve the American Dream. Although many argue that African Americans do not deserve extra assistance and that giving them assistance creates inequality, without this aid African Americans are almost guaranteed to not be able to achieve the American Dream. One thing that is greatly contributing to the inability of African Americans to achieve the American Dream is the fact that the school system essentially is built to benefit those who are the wealthiest and live in the best neighborhoods. If an individual is able to go to a private school, the chances of them achieving success in the future is a lot higher than someone who went to a public school. Thus, those who live in poor neighborhoods and are minorities are unable to send their children to these schools and instead have to send their children to schools where there are limited resources and opportunities. When students are forced into low income schools, the resources and aid that the students need are not present which forces them to fall behind other students who are in better schools in their general vicinity. By not having opportunities to succeed and develop, there is no possible way for black students to succeed in today's society. In order to rectify that change, it is essential for schools to develop and for the school system to ensure that they are employing the best possible teachers in order to educate children in the best way possible. Even Heather Johnson, a teacher at Lehigh University, doubts the ability of her students to succeed and develop and to eventually achieve the American Dream (Lehigh). If a teacher is doubting her student's abilities and stating that she does not believe that they will be able to further themselves in life, the students do not have an incentive to learn from her or to even make an effort in the class at all. It takes teachers who are willing to put in the effort and to ensure that their students are actually learning to change the school system and to make an actual change in today's society. If the school system is changed and developed this will ensure that students are achieving a quality education and that they are able to grow and achieve the best possible opportunities. Therefore, if the school system is changed to accommodate everyone than it will make it more likely for African Americans to be able to achieve the American Dream and to achieve success in the future. Another thing that needs to be changed is to give more aid to African Americans who truly need it in order for their families to succeed. Many white Americans object to this aid and believe that it is unnecessary, however for some families it is essential for survival. This reform is better than other reforms proposed because it addresses the root of the problem which is really the education a student receives. In order to succeed in life, it is essential for students to get an education that will propel them through life and make sure they stay on the right track. Overall, it is very important for teachers as well as students to acknowledge the importance of an education in achieving the American Dream and functioning in today's chaotic society. 

 Race has a profound effect on the American Dream not only because it affects the education an individual is able to receive but it also affects one's ability to prosper and gain success in the future. Although many think that race is not a key factor in determining whether someone requires aid or not, race is something that infiltrates every aspect of one's life. It affects the education an individual is able to receive as well as effects the opportunities an individual is able to obtain. Whether society as a whole chooses to acknowledge it or not, there is still a widening race gap in today's society, a gap that will not be easy to close and will require several years to do so. The American Dream, should mean, "that people may aspire to control their own destiny rather than merely acquiesce in the vagaries of fate or an overlord" (Musick 17), however this opportunity has become something that is out of reach for minorities and a hopeless dream. Therefore, the American Dream has become something unreachable for minorities and it is the job of society to ensure that the widening race gap between whites and African Americans is bridged so that there is equal opportunity for the public as a whole. 
niversity. "The American Dream - Myth or Reality?" YouTube. YouTube, 16 Apr. 2009. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.

