By Lauren Pitti
Stevens Jeanty is a young adult black male who had grown up in the suburbs and urban areas of Brockton, Massachusetts. Stevens had grown up in a lower income city neighborhood, where kids don’t have community centers or outlets to express themselves which causes kids to repeat cycles of causing havoc making it difficult to leave the areas they came from. The way in which Stevens had grown up affected the way people looked at jobs and finances in the future, he wanted to be in the music industry or anything besides an office job. Stevens’ idea of an American Dream involves hard work, a fulfilling life, or creating a change in the world. He did not see the American dream as a personal manner and doesn’t believe it’s all about money, mansions, and materialistic objects. Everyone has different dreams but collectively his community has the urge and hunger for success. Low housing and people of the black community don’t have the certain tools and opportunities that wealthier and privileged students have and he mentioned the predominantly white existence in America. When you don’t have a proper structure it is hard to get out of what you were raised in especially as minorities. Society influences the American Dream by telling kids to go to college, get a good job, have a family, etc. However, people have different ideas of what they want to achieve but due to social media everyone thinks they have to be “perfect” and live the perfect lives. By creating a social media campaign of 4 instagram posts, Stevens Jeanty hopes to inspire the youth of his community and educate others from different backgrounds about the lack of resources and opportunities the lower class black community has and encourage those around the country in similar positions to work hard and focus on “their” dream.
Caption:
The American Dream: “Living in low income housing doesn’t provide the necessary tools to break the poverty cycle, which causes the “hood” to stay stagnant. We don’t see many people make it out.”
Caption:
We can break the cycle together. Inspired by Stevens Jeanty.
Caption:
Reminder: “It doesn’t take a mansion or a new Maserati to live out the American Dream. With hard work you will find your own meaning of success. Don’t let society stop you.”
Caption:
“From a young age find what you are passionate about, whether that be pursuing education or making music. Everyone has a different dream, just stick to your own path and stop comparing your life to those on social media.” Are we truly living the American Dream?
Y is…
- 22 Years-Old
- Male, Cisgender
- Black
- Haitian American
- Working Class
- Heterosexual