Religion plays a big part on the people's perception of the American Dream. The belief in an omnipotent, helpful deity can make people believe that they will receive help, and that they will eventually have their burdens taken away. When in struggle, they will find some help from a deity. The American Dream is real at this point. If they never get out of whatever struggle they are in, they have two options: One is to still believe in the belief of help and the American Dream, and the second is to view religion and the American Dream as an illusion. The people who continue their belief in the American Dream sometimes are in conditions that people aren't willing to help on, leading often to false hope. The other side can become aware, as did Coates, and trash the American Dream.
Coates' atheism in this statement is symbolic of the African-American struggle in a big way. This "hope" brought on by religious belief has never led to justice or success, he is asserting. The struggle of African-Americans has always been in existence. There is the harsh reality that is the constant struggle of African-Americans. In a way, Coates is saying that there is no God, no one willing to help, and the American Dream is not in existence.
Great use of vocabulary really strengths key points in your statements. :)
ReplyDeleteI like that you made the American Dream and religion an illusion as an option.
ReplyDeleteI agree when you say "constant struggle of African-Americans." but the struggle I believe is not only for them, if one isn't a straight white male, then they will have a constant struggle all thieir live.
**their lives.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement that religion creates a sense of "false hope" in Americans trying to achieve the dream. For the second question, I related Coates's atheism to the American Dream by comparing God to rich, white people, because you have to try and make yourself appeal to them to get higher in life and happier. And the Dream would be Heaven because in the end, that's what you're trying to achieve.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement regarding Coate's atheism. His disbelief in God is symbolic for his disbelief in the American dream and in hope, because religion is usually the source of hope and empowerment for many people.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement regarding Coate's atheism. His disbelief in God is symbolic for his disbelief in the American dream and in hope, because religion is usually the source of hope and empowerment for many people.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement in connecting Coates' atheism to his disbelief in the American Dream. Given that religion is usually one of the biggest sources of human hope.
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