America Is Changing, But We’re Still Dreaming

The American Dream is a phrase first birthed by James Adams in 1931, over 80 years ago. Today the idea that all Americans aspire to have two kids, a single-family home and a white picket fence, feels old and outdated. 43% of millennials are multicultural, I value freedom of expression over materialism, tolerance and acceptance over acreage. To me freedom of movement and the ability to purse my passion is more desirable than plugging away in a steady job for 30 years and retiring. Americans are changing and so must the American Dream.

But I still do dream and so does everyone else it seems. Even though our dreams and dreamers are changing, faith in the American Dream remains. It remains an enduring piece of mythology. Every year millions of foreign born immigrants still dream of coming to America, and a new generation of Americans are writing new dreams, that don’t involve picket fences, for themselves here at home. In conversations over coffee or late at night, we’re all still dreaming. And its awesome. The American Dream is making itself more accepting, everyone can buy in. Our dreams might differ, but it’s inspiring to think that whether you’re a LGBTQ Syrian refugee or a Texan Drag Queen you are just as entitled to a dream today as anyone else in America.

In a time where we as a nation are divided, and rules are being broken and re-written faster than ever, its wild to think that an ideas that’s been at the core of American identity for almost a hundred years can still unite us. Our desire to better ourselves and our communities, whomever we are, our push to make America better for the next generation, these dreams lie at the essence of today’s conflicts, yet they are as old as America itself, and often all we have to tie us together.

This might be the most divided and diverse America we have known, but we’re still dreaming.

Check out this video from Pabst Blue Ribbon of how the American Dream is changing today.