English Essay

I. Key Points

1. The American Dream" is the belief of the US-American Society that each individual can, through hard working and strength of mind, achieve everything.

2. To make "The American Dream" come true all Americans have to work together. "The American Dream" is supposed to be for each American, despite all social groups

3. The American Dream" always has something individual. That is, why till today no one succeeded in giving a universally acceptable definition of the term.

• A. Controversial debate that The American Dream" is the belief of the US-American Society that each individual can, through hard working and strength of mind, achieve everything.

1. Chris Gardner had the strength and dedication to do what he had to do for his American dream. After losing his wife and all of his money and with only one machine to sell he did not give up. He did what he had to do. Chris lost his place to live, he had no car, and he didn’t know where he and his son were going to lay their head some nights. His strength of mind is what helped him get to his American Dream. He walked to the bus stop, he gave up his last dollar to try and not upset the ones who he knew he needed into to keep moving up. Chris Gardner proves the point that each individual can achieve anything thru hard work and strength of mind.

2. Based on a national survey of 2,000 respondents suggest that the public is split right down the middle when it comes to the American Dream. 42% agree that achieving the dream is mainly something people do for themselves. 39% agree that it’s crucial for the government and communities to take steps so every child has a fair chance at the American Dream. 2% said neither statement reflected their view. Chris Gardner would be in the 42% of this survey. He did what he had to do for himself and his family. Even after his left him, he still kept going for his son.

3. Nearly 3 in 10 Americans (28 percent) said the American Dream is the opportunity for people from modest beginnings to live a secure, middle-class life. In the movie, you would have to disagree with this. Chris did not have much of nothing. He was far from middle class and he still reached his American Dream.

B. In order for the American Dream to come true all Americans have to work together, despite social groups.

1. Report by Pew Charitable Trusts show that a family’s race, economic background and neighborhood play a role in economic mobility. I agree that this can be true in some cases. In this movie, Chris Garnder was a black man, who worked his heart out to live his dream. He did not let his race or his economic mobility stand in his way of what he wanted. He still rose to the top. In 2006 he became a CEO of his company.

2. Recent Census Bureau data shows that white Americans have 22 times more wealth than blacks. Even though the Census Bureau may states this and could indeed be a fact, Chris Gardner’s net worth is 60 million dollars. He is an American entrepreneur, investor, author, motivational speaker and an investor.

C. Even today no one succeeded in giving an acceptable definition of the term.

1. The ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American. Chris Gardner proved this to be true. He was a black man who lost everything. He didn’t care that he had went to his interview in a dirty t-shirt, or that he came back to work with one shoe on. Chris Gardner put his pride aside. This movie shows us that even the things that he had against him there was equality. Regardless of Chris’s challenges, he never reveals his lowly circumstances to his colleagues, even going so far as to lend one of his bosses five dollars for cab fare, a sum that he cannot afford. They didn’t give the white man the intern position because he dressed better or came from a middle class family. Chris put in the work, showed to be hard working and honest and succeeded. He already had his freedom, but once he reached his American dream, he had the freedom from the harassing bill collectors, the opportunity to become anything he wanted.

III. Conclusion

A. The American Dream" is connected to becoming wealthy and the ability to achieve everything if one only works hard enough for it (From rags to riches). For others it is much more and is beyond materialism. This movie proves this right to the end, Chris went from Rags to Riches. He went from selling machines to doctor’s office, not knowing where his next meal was going to come from. Sleeping on bus station bathroom floors with his son to becoming a 60 million dollar man. Chris’s American Dream was not all about the money, It was about happiness. The scene when he was on the beach watching the waves. That was wanted he wanted to be happy and to be able to support his son the best way he knew how.