 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 an effect on one's ability to achieve the American Dream and a dominant factor that effects one's chances is race. Race has a very distinct role in not only one achieving the American Dream but also an individual's ability to gain a quality education and to seize opportunities throughout their life. Although, "Americans tend to see individual hard work and effort as the key for getting ahead" (Zogby 571), African Americans struggle to reach their goals and are very pessimistic about the American Dream. Various authors argue that it is the job of the individual to improve their life and raise their societal standing rather than accept assistance from other organizations. They believe that in order to maintain equality, it is essential that everyone is granted the same opportunities and the same resources regardless of their socioeconomic standing. Conversely, various minority students as well as low income students are forced to go to schools where there are not enough resources and the teachers are not able to give each student the individual help they need. When the students are not given the adequate help and resources they need, the students fall behind and therefore are not able to achieve the same opportunities that other students are given simply because they are part of the minority. Essentially, race is something that infiltrates every aspect of an individual's life, from the education they are able to receive to their ability to achieve a better life and future for themselves.

 Historically, race and the inequalities associated with it is a topic that has been heavily debated for centuries without ever truly reaching a resolution. There have been very court cases addressing the issue of race and to ensure that equality is reached, but in reality these cases have not stopped the inequality that still exists 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 (Legal Information Institute). However, the fact that the facilities were separate means that there is a lack of equality and thus the situation had to be rectified. 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 to ensure that equality was reached, the court cases took many years for everyone to finally accept the changes that they implied. For many years after the court cases, African Americans still faced oppression and were not given the same opportunities as white Americans simply due to the fact that they were of a different skin color. The whole idea of race is essentially a social construct, meaning that it is something that society created in an attempt to make sense of the world. 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 that fact. Consequently, slavery and the pain it put several thousands of people through was another instance of whites thinking they were superior to African Americans despite the fact that we are all the same. When white Americans began thinking they were superior to African Americans is when race issues and overall inequality started to infiltrate society. This idea continued to develop and was passed down to future generations which is what has caused the race issues that still exist today. Due to the fact that whites have always viewed themselves as superior to African Americans, a widening race gap has formed between white and black Americans causing African Americans to be skeptical about their chance to achieve success and opportunities in the future. In today's society, there is a greater overall equality that exists but it is undeniable that a great division between black and white society still exists and this this division creates many of the race problems that are prevalent 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 African Americans feel they are less likely to achieve the American dream. 

 The American Dream is something that is very difficult to achieve and, "a little more difficult to attain when the American dreaming is a member of a minority group living in poverty" (Deutsch). Although African Americans have made progress in today's society and continue to make gains, they still are placed behind whites and are, "twice as likely to be poor compared to other races" (Deutsch). If African Americans are more likely to be poor, then it is more likely for them to live in poor neighborhoods and not have available resources and opportunities to succeed. The neighborhood in which African American lives also has a detrimental effect on their children because they are forced to go to schools where the teachers do not have the ability to access their needs. If the teachers cannot assist the students and ensure their success, the students will fall behind in school which will damage their future. Fundamentally, the environment and neighborhood in which one grows and develops has a profound effect on the ability to succeed in the future and without this good environment, success is unattainable. While whites are very optimistic about achieving the American Dream, "blacks feel that it works for those who are not black (and most especially, white Americans)" (Young 477). Despite the fact that African Americans have made various gains in society and are generally considered equal to white Americans, they still believe that they will not be able to achieve the American Dream and have little hope for the future.

 Education plays a critical role in whether or not an individual will be able to achieve the American Dream. Schools that exist in areas stricken with poverty as well as schools that contain a lot of minorities tend to lack resources and teachers who are able to attend to the extreme needs of students. There is an expanding education gap that is starting to emerge between white and African American students due to that fact that students are not getting the special help and attention they need. There is also, "a growing wealth gap" (Zogby 571), which is causing students to fall even more behind in school due to not having adequate resources. The gap between whites and African Americans has become so large that it is going to be very difficult to mend the gap and create equality between the two races. Christine Sleeter, a knowledgeable writer and journalist, argues how education is the root of the race gap and the reason why the gap between the races continues to widen (Sleeter). If a student is not given a quality education it makes it very difficult for them to grow and succeed in the future, which means if they do not excel in school, they are very unlikely to excel in life. When students do not receive a quality education or do not succeed in school, they are forced to drop out and often become engaged in illegal activity. If schools were more encouraging of students and their overall success, then each student would have more of a chance of receiving a diploma and being able to move on with their lives. 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 success in the future.

 There are several 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. It is a common belief that humans have 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. It is often argued that, "lack 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 when an individual has been exposed to it their entire lives. Therefore, it is very difficult for minorities to be able to escape the life and customs they were born into which creates a cycle of poverty that is challenging to overcome. Just because an individual is in poverty does not mean that they are not working hard, it may simply mean that their job may not be able to fill the needs they have or the needs of their family. For instance, a person who does not have a high school diploma can only obtain a certain job and that job may not be able to pay for the needs of their children and their spouse. Another argument that many authors make is that if an individual is in poverty, it is their responsibility to develop out of that poverty and to ensure a future for themselves. Although this may be an easy concept for some, it is extremely tough for those who struggle to find a job, provide for their families, or even provide for themselves. If they were not able to receive an education, for whatever reason, this severely limits the opportunities they are given and the opportunities they are able to receive. Thus, the position they are in may not be their fault at all and instead be due to the fact that they were not given the education or experience necessary to succeed in life. 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 these things 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. Many argue that it is unfair that African Americans receive assistance and that this creates inequality that is really not accurate because there are several assistance programs for whites as well. Rather than acknowledge that programs exist for both races, whites instead shame the African Americans for taking assistance and make them feel inferior for needing extra help. One thing that is greatly contributing to the inability of African Americans to achieve the American Dream is the fact that the school system is built to benefit those who are the wealthiest and live in the best neighborhoods. In these areas, more tax payer money is being collected which means there is more money to hire the best teachers and to build the best schools. Those who are poor or minorities, however, are unable to send their children to these schools and instead are forced to send their children to schools where there are not many resources and there are not enough teachers. When students are forced to go to these schools, they fall behind other students who are going to better schools with more equipped teachers and more resources. The African American students, therefore, are not given the same opportunities to succeed as other students and that is simply an injustice. In order to rectify the change, it is essential for the school systems to congregate and form the best schools possible in order to educate as many students as possible. Although this will require more money, it will be worth it because there will not be a need for as many schools and rather there will be bigger schools where more students can be educated. There also needs to be teachers who are dedicated to the cause and I think granting teachers merit-based pay would improve their teaching immensely. Heather Johnson, a teacher at LeHigh University, doubts that her students will be able to achieve the American Dream and that is a clear indication that there is something wrong with the education system today. If a teacher doubts the ability of her students, then they have no incentive to learn from her and will not make an effort to succeed in the class. If the school system is changed and developed this will ensure that students are receiving a quality education and that they are able to grow and develop in order to achieve the best possible opportunities. It is also important that African Americans who need aid receive it in order for them as well as their families to succeed. 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 receive an education that will propel them through life and make sure they stay on the right track. It is very important for teachers as well as students to acknowledge the importance of an education and that education is a central component in one achieving the American Dream.

 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. Rather than being a reality the American Dream has become something unattainable and something that is merely a "dream" and not a reality. 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.

