The Scam that is the “American Dream”

The American dream.

Who dreamt it first?

Well, It was a lie.

The American dream isn’t ours.

It’s the one that profits off the backs of ours.

It’s the one that is gatekept from ours.

It’s systematically taken from ours.

Lack of access to an equitable education.

Lack of access to equitable healthcare.

Equitable housing.

Equitable employment.

Equitable access to literacy.

Literacy deserts.

Food desserts.

The greenery didn’t vanish overnight.

Take it from me.

American dream - ma y pa, they took a chance.

Leave your family behind.

Language.

Customs.

Celebrations.

Homes, behind.

Because the American dream - it has it all!

But you better be quiet.

Compliant.

Complicit.

Vague and vanilla.

Work hard.

Make little.

Be grateful.

Better not stir and better not cry.

Kinda like Santa Claus.

Better not complain - you’re one of the lucky ones.

Clock in, package, clock out.

Foot soaks.

Clock in, package, clock out.

Foot soaks.

“Ve al escuela, mija, pa que no trabajes como yo”.

While you’re there, better listen up. They know it all!

“Ay, mija. Another phone call from the principal.”

Didn’t I tell you -

Quiet.

Complacent.

Complicit.

They know it all. They have it all.

We need what they have.

It’s the American dream.

Follow the rules.

“No venimos pa esto”.

Be quiet. Be still.

College, they said.

It’s the American dream.

The American dream AT WORK.

What it worked was my parents to the bone.

But no time for pause - time for the next phase.

You?

YOU’RE one of the lucky ones.

College they said.

Better not stir. Better not cry.

Kinda like Santa Claus.

But jokes on them.

College radicalized me.

Oh, so that’s why liquor stores & not libraries.

That’s why smoke shops & not fresh food.

That’s why Family Dollar & not Walmart.

(Not that I want a Walmart now. Oop.)

Oh, so that’s why no Black principals.

No Latina teachers.

So that’s why detentions & suspensions & murders down the street.

That’s why gang fights & drugs wars.

Pinning black & brown against each other.

It all just makes sense.

I thank the university of Missouri - Kansas City for radicalizing me.

Driving away from the dorms & the parked Nissans paid for by dads.

I thank the institute for Urban Education for radicalizing me.

Dr. Smith & Dr. Hernandez-Scott - hey, you look like me!

College conveyor belt failed with this one.

It awakened me.

No complacency over here.

Graduation day - parents proud.

Didn’t know it’d lead to blue hair.

Because I say the American dream is a lie. A fake, a phony.

And I’m gonna stand out in every single way.

I stand out for those who won’t.

I stand out for those who can’t.

I speak up for those who can’t.

And I even speak up for those who choose not to.

You know why I stand out?

Why I speqk up?

Cus people that look like me, like my ma and like my pa spat in my face in November.

Spat in the face of history.

Spat in face of our community.

Spat in the face of my son.

And of my daughter.

I guess they forgot.

Family Dollar Ramen?

And we wonder why our people are dying.

The system was built to bury us, shush us, literally kill us.

Because if we show up, the American dream gon have to answer for my momma.

Answer for buried children.

Answer for imprisoned sons.

Answer for unhoused people.

Answer for burned buildings.

Ma, I’m sorry.

But I hope the American dream don’t call, cus it’s gon have to answer to me for it all.