The American Pipe Dream

When I was growing up, it was often said and repeated that the “American Dream” could be achieved by anyone willing to put in the work. It sounded great and was a driving force in getting me through college and attempting to move up the ranks in whatever industry I happened to be in at the time.

The thing is, the American Dream is really just short of a nightmare and is not something that can just be achieved through hard work.

This is something we don’t want to have to admit and, as a white male, it is assumed that I should never be in a category of someone who would say this publicly. But it is true.

Take, for example, a scenario where you have 10 people living on an island and the only currency is the food found on the island. Those who can have the mental and physical capacity to immediately locate and retrieve the food are going to start out as the wealthy people on the island – the most successful. Those who are slower in recognizing what they need to do to get ahead are going to immediately fall behind with little to no options in moving forward.

This is how real life works. Some people are born with abilities that just allow them to succeed at a higher level than others. I can assure you that my experiences tell me that people who are charismatic and good-looking have a much easier time getting people to give them chances than do people who lack personality, charm and natural beauty. It is just how the world works.

Don’t agree with me? Would Donald Trump be working outside of janitorial services if he hadn’t been born to a multi-millionaire? Doubtful. His statements may seem charming to some because they view him as a self-made success story but anybody with that level of arrogance should have an impressive background to show for it. He doesn’t.

I don’t want to pick on just one guy, because the world is full of them. Guys born on third base who claim they hit a triple. The Paris Hiltons of the world who think they actually did something other than just be born.

It doesn’t just apply to people who were born with rich parents. Kevin Durant and LeBron James may not have been born into the best conditions, but they were given basketball talent that exceeds what most people have in any other area. They found their niche and now make millions and millions of dollars for playing basketball.

The truth is, there are typically going to be limits to what you are going to be able to accomplish. I was born to working parents in south Oklahoma City as a white male, and I find roadblocks all the time to what I can achieve. And working hard doesn't just eliminate those obstacles. To a female or a minority, that may sound like I am underachieving or making excuses but it is the truth. Life has never been a piece of cake for me, nor will it ever be easy regardless of how much effort I put into it.

So, if life has been an uphill climb for someone with my background and socioeconomic upbringing, just imagine what it is like every day for a person who is attempting to gain traction in a world that embraces the white male as the alpha. It isn’t easy.

In a world where women are paid less than men and where minorities face social inequalities on a daily basis, not everyone has an equal opportunity to make it in this world. Sure, each of us are a winning lottery ticket away from having a special life, but the majority of us work hard and have little to nothing to show for it. For most of my adult life, I have worked two to four jobs at a time. Do I feel successful? I think you know the answer to that.

When someone tells you the American Dream is alive and well for everyone in the USA, just know they are blowing smoke or they caught a lucky break along the way to their path to success. For most of us, however, we can only hope to accomplish a limited amount of greatness through the hard work we bring to our daily lives. In the meantime, having rich parents or being born with some amazing talent seems to be the only sure way to experience success in today’s America.