Stephen Cruz

The American Dream is based off of people not losing and is determined by what people’s notion of the dream is. Their notion is based off power and fear, “not by education, opportunity, and hard work” (p. 356). I have always thought of the American Dream to be succeeded in life and being happy; I’ve never thought about looking at it as not losing. With Cruz’s experiences, it’s a very authentic way to look at it.

What I am confused is about the companies he was involved with and why they promoted him to look good. If they were so unfair and racist, and I don’t doubt this, why did advertise him? Why did he succeed, although that’s arguable since he gave up, if he was the minority? Why did the companies choose him to represent the minority and not hire anyone else? And I guess that’s something we won’t ever really find out that answer. Cruz says that because he was Mexican, that he was a good compromise. I found it so unfair and racist that his boos fired his secretary, who happened to be black, while Cruz was on vacation. “We have been discriminated against a lot, but I never associated it with society.” (p. 354). Cruz thought it would be based on an individual. That’s understandable, considering he was the only one in his minority that was hired.

Cruz made some great points about the American Dream. The higher up you are in business, the more you are going to have to sacrifice. The system isn’t fair by any means; it’s very rare that is a person is going to be able to start from the bottom and make it to the top. This article showed a different side to the American Dream that I never considered before, but its more authentic than anything I’ve ever heard. You can’t just succeed in life, you have to hold onto what you have and not let go.