If the slipper fits;
Jay MacLeod's Ain't No Makin' It explores the achievement ideologies of two groups of boys living in the housing projects of Clarendon Heights. A predominately black group of boys, who called themselves the "Brothers," believed in upward socioeconomic mobility and manifested this optimism in strong work ethic and pursuit of bigger things. Another group, predominately white and self-named the "Hallway Hangers," did not share this ideology or ambition, knowing that their present socioeconomic status and circumstance had transcended generations in their families.
Unfortunately, a longitudinal observation of these two groups proved the Hallway Hangers' perspective to more accurately predict outcome and potential. The Brothers' Cinderella-story notion of a rags-to-riches upward transformation proved mythological; strong inner drive and individual merit could not guarantee lucrative careers or futures for this group of boys. In fact, they found themselves in harsher circumstances than did the Hallway Hangers, due presumably to persisting racial differences as well as the disappointment when reality did not align with their expectations, or even correlate with the amount of effort and faith they invested in their futures. Americans love status-climbing stories like Oprah Winfrey's, Jay-Z's, Pip's, and Annie's. The entire Disney franchise promises that any of our dreams can come true through a synthesis of strong work ethic, passion, and pixie dust. The American Dream offers us hope that we can find glory and recognition even without application and talent and hard work (see: American Game Shows). Should we continue to pursue this notion that we can have anything we set our minds to? Or should we concede that our potential is limited and predetermined by inborn circumstance? |
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