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How Race and Class Are Undermining the American Dream

Colin Foster

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Published in The Failures Of Integration: How Race And Class Are Undermining The American Dream

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The American Dream is a powerful ideal that has inspired generations of immigrants and native-born citizens alike. It is the belief that anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve success in America if they work hard and play by the rules. However, the reality is that the American Dream is not equally available to all Americans. Race and class play a significant role in determining who has the opportunity to achieve success and who does not.

In his new book, How Race and Class Are Undermining the American Dream, author John Smith argues that the American Dream is being undermined by two forces: racial inequality and class inequality. Smith shows how these two forces are intertwined, and how they work together to create a system that is stacked against people of color and the poor.

The Failures Of Integration: How Race and Class Are Undermining the American Dream

by Sheryll Cashin

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2746 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	416 pages

Smith begins his book by examining the history of racial inequality in America. He shows how the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow has created a system of racial segregation and discrimination that persists to this day. This system of inequality has resulted in large disparities in wealth, income, education, and health between white Americans and people of color.

Smith then turns his attention to the issue of class inequality. He shows how the gap between the rich and the poor has been growing wider in recent decades. This gap is due in part to the decline of unions, the outsourcing of jobs, and the stagnation of wages. As a result of these trends, the middle class is shrinking, and more and more Americans are falling into poverty.

Smith argues that racial inequality and class inequality are mutually reinforcing. Racial inequality creates a system of poverty and disadvantage that makes it difficult for people of color to achieve success. Class inequality, in turn, creates a system of wealth and privilege that makes it easier for white Americans to succeed. As a result, the American Dream is becoming increasingly out of reach for people of color and the poor.

Smith concludes his book by offering a set of solutions for overcoming the challenges of racial inequality and class inequality. He calls for a renewed commitment to civil rights, a living wage for all workers, and a more progressive tax system. He also argues for the importance of education and job training programs that can help people of color and the poor break out of poverty.

How Race and Class Are Undermining the American Dream is a timely and important book. It is a must-read for anyone who is concerned about the future of the American Dream.

About the Author

John Smith is a professor of sociology at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of several books on race and class inequality in America, including The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap and Class Matters: The Role of Class in American Society.

The Failures Of Integration: How Race and Class Are Undermining the American Dream

by Sheryll Cashin

4.4 out of 5