Experiencing The American Dream In Growing Up By Russell Baker

Reaching the American Dream is frequently portrayed as requiring individual effort and tenacity. This narrative holds that everyone can prosper in America if they put in the effort and seize the opportunity. The memoir "Growing Up" by Russell Baker, however, provides a different viewpoint on the difficulties and complications of realizing the American Dream, particularly during the Great Depression.
Baker's own experiences highlight the effects of financial stress on people and families. During the Great Depression, his family was struggling to make ends meet, and the financial burden caused by his father's joblessness was significant. The family was forced to relocate from the rural South to Baltimore in search of better possibilities after Baker's mother was forced to work odd jobs to make ends meet. These experiences cast doubt on the idea that everyone can achieve the

Baker's own experiences show the value of knowledge and perseverance in overcoming adversity and succeeding in one's career. Despite his family's financial difficulties, Baker was able to receive a scholarship to attend college and finally found success as a journalist. Similarly, despite having to leave school to support the family, Baker's brother was able to launch a successful career in advertising.
But not every member of Baker's family faced the same obstacles to realizing the American Dream. Due to traditional norms and gender roles, Baker's sisters were not given the same opportunity to attend college as his brother. Baker's African American friends also faced systematic bias and discrimination that made it hard for them to go to college or move up in their jobs. These stories show that not every person has the same obstacles to realizing the American Dream and that systemic hurdles to opportunity and social mobility still remain in American