What Happens to a Dream Deferred? (Essay Sample)

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What Happens to a Dream Deferred?
Introduction
What happens to a dream deferred represents the work of Langston Hughes which focuses on overlooked or prolonged ambitions/goals. The poem creates a picture what would happen if people cherished a dream, but it does not come true for many generations. The author poses a question on what would happen if an individual for one reason or another, delays his/her ambitions, goals, and accomplishments one wish to achieve. The poem relates to either the dream of an individual or dream of an entire race on what they wish to accomplish as a society. This paper analyses the images in the poem and addresses its implications in modern American society (Hansberry 1).
Images in the Poem
The poem images clearly show that delaying a dream could have damaging consequences to an individual or society. The first image which questions if a deferred dream dries “Like a raisin in the sun” evokes the idea of withering and frail. In essence, raisins get exposed to the sun to dry up, but if left for a long time it could harden and become hard to enjoy. In a similar fashion, a dream or goal that is neglected could wither away or change into something that is useless. The dream could also “fester like a sore” or become irritating like a wound. In my understanding, this image suggests a delayed dream could become frustrating because of the lingering pain or discomfort (Hansberry 1). The poem emphasizes that a dream deferred could stink “like rotten meat” creating unpleasant consequences. This image shows a situation of how oppressed ambitions could result to unfriendly and hostile environment. Additionally, the author argues that the dream can “crust and sugar over-like a syrupy sweet?” this image describes sugary mixture exposed, and with time it forms a hard crust and in such a case such a dream would be hard to accomplish. The other image the poem uses reads “Maybe it just sags-Like a heavy load” to explain the fate of an oppressed or deferred dream could weigh heavily on individuals or a society. Finally, the dream could just “explode” which suggest that a dream denied or delayed could easily blow up. In such an instance, the oppressed dream can escalate to violence or upheavals within the community (Hansberry 1).
Equal Opportunity Deferred
Equality has grown greatly in the United States especially after the passage of key amendments over the years. These amendments include the Thirteenth Amendment, Fourteenth Amendment, and the Fifteenth Amendment as well as civil rights that advocate for equal rights for all citizens. However, despite the equality laws in the country, there are various areas of inequality and discrimination that still feature today. In essence, inequality among minority groups occurs in terms of race, gender, religion, disability, and sexual orientation among others. One of the areas of discrimination involves racial discrimination against the African Americans. There are wide disparities between the whites and other minorities in terms of wealth, ownership of homes and economic potential. Blacks overall, most likely tend to be undereducated, unemployed, and remain in substandard housing facilities. Additionally, gender inequality still lingers in the society as women remain inferiors in a male dominated society. For instance, in many countries especially from Arab regions, women suffer abuse, denied education, access to health care and do not get leadership positions. Inequality also features in terms of sexual orientation, and this can be clearly seen through the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communality. Today, only a few states in Unites States recognize gay marriages and partnerships while these people face discrimination in schools, workplaces, as well as in public among others (Goldstein).
Examples where American Dream of Equal Opportunity is deferred
Kenneth Jost post on Racial Profiling represents how the American dream of equal opportunity remains deferred. In this post, Jost argues that the New York police department has been accused of racial and ethnic profiling especially in traffic and pedestrian stops. Over the years, African Americans have endured traffic stops because of “driving while black” while other groups like Hispanics, as well as Muslims, have begun experiencing similar discrimination. Research shows that black drivers are twice likely to be stopped by New York police officers more than white drivers. In essence, this indicates racial discrimination remains dominant in the American society while the Fourth Amendment becomes violated. African Americans received promises of equal rights in the society, but this article shows that it has become a deferred dream (Jost 1005).
Katz-wise and Hyde article Victimization experiences of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals: a meta-analysis recites the nature of discrimination that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) community endures. Many of the LGB members face assault, victimization and hate crimes from the society. The prevalence of discrimination occurs in schools, workplaces, airports, clubs, and in religious groups among others. The report shows that 55% suffer verbal abuse and 41% of LGB have faced discrimination in various areas of society. This data indica...