I once believed in the American dream.

I believed in it because of its hope--

Its guarantee that if I worked hard enough I just might touch the fluorescent green light.

But I was Pollyanna, too blinded by the green light to see the truth.

 

I once believed in the American dream, but I grew and so did the stress in my life

I saw the real world, this time without turning my head away

HARDSHIP.

INEQUALITY.

HOMELESSNESS.

I was silenced by those who called me lazy for not believing in it.

Work hard, they said, be patient

But there is only so much burden that a person can carry.

 

I saw people carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders,

immigrants like me who were villainized by stereotypes, and frustrated by the lack of resources.

what is enough?

Money does not result in happiness, nor does it result in humanity.

I saw a single mother with deep creases in her hands

And people pushed to the extreme.

People using elevators while some were climbing through ropes,

others desperately trying to climb with a broken ladder.

How can we call this equality?

 

I once believed in the American dream,

But that was before I realized that we need equity, not just equality.