San Fernando High School

Portfolio Artifact Reflection Worksheet

Name: ​Leslie Cerda

Artifact Title: The American Nightmare Artifact Date: April 8,2019

Class/Subject/Event: English

Student Grade Level: 10

This artifact provides evidence that I am gaining proficiency in one of the following Student Learning
Outcomes:

□ Effective Communication
□ Critical Thinking
□ Character Development

Note: the fully-expanded SLOs are available at www.sanfernandohs.com.

Answer EACH the following BOLD questions COMPLETELY.

A. Describe the activity and the goal of the activity. [3 sentences or more]
This essay was on our lesson of African Americans lack of economic success. The goal of this assignment was
to write a multi paragraph essay with different explanations with evidence from other sources.These sources
include authors and artists experience and their own evidence from events that took place in past eras about
brutality to African Americans.

B. How does the activity demonstrate your skills as an effective communicator, a critical thinker or demonstrate
your character development?
This activity demonstrates my growing skill as a critical thinker because there was different information and
sources I had to understand and make sure that it connected with the prompt of the essay. This assignment
took several weeks to put together for its different sources and explanations provided within the essay to show
demonstrations of my understanding in this topic.

C. What could you do next to improve your abilities in the Student Learning Outcomes for this specific artifact?
OR How will you use this skill in the future? [5 sentences or more] To improve in this skill I can work on
perfecting my grammar and use of vocabulary. Using better vocabulary will help me improve in this skill
because I will know how to state arguments in future essay prompts properly with a direct response. I can also
improve on comprehension, which has always been a weakness of mine. Improving comprehension will help
me understand my sources better to be able to connect them to the essay I am writing. This may help in the
future as writing is a key part of the industry I hope to be a part of in the future.
 San Fernando Senior High School

The American Nightmare

African Americans and their relative lack of economic success in the mainstream economy

Cerda, Leslie

Honors English 10

Mr. Martin

April 1, 2019
 The American dream is often used to summarize one’s long-term goals or successes. Although these

goals are maybe different for every individual , many strive to reach some kind of power in the economy. Not

many people have realized that the mainstream economy is primarily overpowered by white Americans. Some

may ask why the African American community is not getting ahead economically as much as white people.

Various known African American intellectuals whose works have been cited in this paper have implicitly and

explicitly given reasons to the economic success of African Americans. Many people have reasoned that their

relative lack of success can be from their physical appearance, religious beliefs, negative stereotypes, cultural

aspects, new music genres and creating low expectations of themselves. It is often seen that some African

Americans such as former President Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey have achieved several goals but they, as

well as other blacks, are only a small portion of successful African Americans. Studies have shown statistics of

the average household income of African Americans compared to other racial groups in the United States. The

average income for Asians living in the U.S. is estimated at about a shocking rate of sixty-eight thousand six

hundred and thirty-six dollars a year with whites income rate at about fifty-seven thousand and nine dollars a

year. The average African American family receives less than half of what an Asian family receives making

their income at about thirty-three thousand three hundred and twenty-one dollars a year. We can see that many

black Americans have numerous reasons for their relative lack of success in the mainstream economy.

Some African Americans might feel as if they were still slaves to white Americans or may even be

treated as such till this day. Several African American writers and singers have suggested an assortment of

different reasons for why more black people are not realizing the “American dream.” Billie Holiday was a

singer from the Jim Crow Era. In her song Strange Fruit, she protests about American racism, but particularly

the lynching of African Americans with her lyrics from the song “blood on the leaves and blood on the roots,

black body swinging in the southern breeze” and “a sudden scent of burning flesh”. Another writer by the name

of James Allen had published a book, Without Sanctuary which illustrates numerous graphic images from the

lynchings of African Americans. In these photographs, many white people are shown enjoying the scene that

was held before them. Some images showed several children watching and smiling at the horrific event that was
happening right in front of their eyes. Many of these events were photographed and made into postcards that

were sent out to relatives or family friends as if it was a comedic event. For these several reasons, it is

reasonable for people from the African American community to feel anger or resentment towards white people.

These historical events that had not been long before they happened might make them feel as if they are

simulating the past.

Columbia University professor, James Emmanuel suggests that a reason why African Americans are not

realizing the American dream is in a result of degrading racial stereotype which is demonstrated in his poem,

“The Negro”. These stereotypes prohibit blacks from showing themselves as individuals. In his poem, he writes,

“Never saw him, never can,”

Emmanuel can be suggesting that white people don’t see black people as individuals or people with individual

personalities but rather as people of color. As long as the racial stereotypes are continued, whites will never stop

judging African Americans for there color. Alternatively, he continues to say that whites see black people as an

abstraction rather than normal citizens and can be a danger to their kind. He implies this with his words,

“hypothetical, haunting man.” If Emmanuel’s statement about African Americans being a menace is true, it may

be a reason why more black people are not getting hired to jobs with better work habits. For instance, in the

poem, Emmanuel writes, “Eyes a-saucer,” which may be referencing to a time when black actors would dress as

wide-eyed clowns if they wanted to be on stage and perform. In his next line, “Yessir bossir” he is mimicking a

black person by expressing that white Americans think black people are only good for being servants or slaves.

This may prove that blacks aren’t able to get ahead due to racial circumstances. Continuing with the racial

stereotypes, the lines that follow read, “ Dice a-dicking, Razor flicking,” Emmanuel is stating as before that

many, if not all white Americans believe that African Americans are prone to violence and are attached to

gambling almost as if it was a trait that all African Americans have. This notion might be taken into

consideration if a boss who is about to hire a black man to his company is being persuaded by this stereotype to

decline his request.

 Another possible interpretation for why more African Americans aren’t getting ahead may be for the

reason of religion. In the play, “Raisin in the Sun,” written by Lorraine Hansberry, she portraits a scene where

Mama and Beneatha have an argument about religion getting in the way of Beneatha’s career choices. Beneatha

argues with Mama about the bible, more specifically god, for being credited for all the hard work and dedication

everyone has done for their own career choices or accomplished goals . Beneatha can be seen as a characterized

form of Hansberry’s opinion which may be her way to show how she interprets the bible. Hansberry can be seen

as a secular humanist or in other words, she believes that humanity is capable of morality and self-fulfillment

without the belief and prayers. One piece that can encourage the suspicion that African Americans were

descended to spend their lives in servitude may have resembled within the story of Noah and how his son was

punished by God to work as a slave along with any sons he had after that. Another insight given from the play is

demonstrated when Big Walter, husband of Mama, says, “God didn’t see fit to give the Black man Nuthin’ but

dreams”, this is a way of him saying that there is no hope for an African American intellectuals to get ahead in

the economy.

Another possible reason that could resemble the notion as to why African Americans are not getting

ahead may be revealed by the criticism Blacks receive from their hairstyle. Many African Americans have

different and unique hairstyles that associate with their culture, however, having these hairstyles can give them

conflicted feeling about their physical appearance and could give them judgemental comments in a professional

working environment. As cited before, in the play, “Raisin in the Sun,” Joseph Asagai, a close friend of

Beneatha describes her hair as “mutilated”. He is thinking that she is losing connection with her heritage and is

being sucked into the mainstream society. Beneatha on the other hand disagrees and argues with Asagai and

says that she is “not an assimilationist.” These disagreements can be further illustrated in a 2009 New York

Times article, entitled Black Hair, Still Tangled in Politics, they claim the way an African American decides to

style their hair can be unacceptable for people of the white community. This can be important to a black person

because he or she will want to make a good impression of themselves to a white manager if they want a good

and well-paid job in a curtain career. Further evidence that echoes this reason is an event that happened not too
long ago in 2009 when Malia Obama, Daughter of Barack Obama was seen on a trip in Europe with dreads and

received several criticisms for her hairstyle. Beneatha may be worried that having her hair straightened can

make her look and feel that she is a “sell out.”

Having low expectations about oneself can often affect the choices we make for ourselves. Momma and

her husband Big Walter, from “Raisin in the Sun”, decide to name their daughter Beneatha. It may seem like a

strange name but, Beneatha could be a way for the author to show through this character that African

Americans are unlikely to succeed economically or in other words, they will stay beneath the white Americans

as low-class citizens. Hansberry had most likely given this character this name for the irony considering the fact

that in the play Beneatha has the ambition to become a doctor and wants to attend a medical school in the

future. She also joins classes to learn horseback riding, acting classes and hopes to learn to play the guitar.

Momma and Ruth, however, believe that from doing all these activities, she is only setting herself out for

failure. These opinions can be further expressed by Walter who is possibly suffering from a lack of self-esteem

due to his racial identity. Walter feels ashamed of his race which can make him have low expectations of

himself as well as having low self-esteem knowing he won’t succeed. When Walter decides to take the money

that he was offered for leaving Clybourne Park he intends to degrade himself by doing the typical stereotype of

getting on his knees and begging the white man, Lindner and says “ Gonna put on a show for the man.”

Momma, however, believes that accepting Lindner’s money would downgrade the family giving them nothing

to live for. It shows that African Americans cannot be successful in the mainstream economy without help or

guidance from white Americans. Another opinion or stereotypes that can be the cause of low expectations from

African Americans may be the Whites perspective of how they see black people. White Americans see blacks

not as individuals but as abstractions or colored people that are only good to be servants or slaves. We can see

that African Americans have low expectations for themselves considering all the judgment and criticism they

are often given from whites which can create a feeling as if the stereotypes are true.

Nathan McCall, a young black essayist, addresses that the popularity of a new music genre known by

several young blacks and other Americans can be responsible for the lack of success blacks have had in getting
ahead in American society. In his essay, “Gangstas, Guns, and Shoot-’Em-Ups” McCall argues that young

blacks are committing violent things in their communities from listening to rap music. Gangsta Rap music

became a huge role in society as a way to provide a simpler understanding of political events in the real world.

Black communities have used rap as a way to give an explanation of how Whites have dominated the

mainstream economy and society in general. Once rap music became a popular music genre, fantasy violence

and real-world violence in black communities was being reflected in rap music manipulating the minds of

young blacks to do the same. Gangsta rap was intended to show young blacks and other Americans of the

political and social problems in black communities but has now given faulty solutions that follow making rap

artist sound insanely oppressive themselves he says, “those who were once oppressed have become oppressors

of their own people.” In his essay, McCall states how many rappers have “relied on fantasy violence to get a

hit.” Using violence in rap music has become so popularized that several rappers are calling for death to other

African Americans. Gangsta rap has shown American society that African Americans are no good for the

economic society.

Nathan McCall has mentioned specifically that the lack of economic success that African Americans

have is referred to in a rap song by NWA. In their song, “N***** for life”, they demonstrate how negative

stereotypes can lead to police brutality which can also be the cause of blacks downgrading themselves making it

difficult for them to succeed. The NWA tells a story through the song saying what it is like living in

low-income communities and being harassed by police officers and other white Americans. The song says “

they swear up and down that the car was stolen” meaning that the police are constantly thinking the worst in

Blacks such as having stolen vehicles and selling drugs. Such stereotypes can negatively affect blacks by

creating a feeling that they aren’t good enough to achieve a good career path. They go on by adding “A million

white mother****ers on my back like I shot the president” which can mean that they are always seen as doing

no good but are never seen for their good achievements.

As further evidence shows, In his 1989 film, ​Do the Right Thing​, Director, and writer Spike Lee

displays numerous scenes that may be the cause of the failing success from African Americans in the
mainstream economy. In the film, we see that many of the adult Characters such as Da Mayor, Mother Sister,

ML, Sweet Dick Willy, and Coconut sid are all unemployed. Lee could be suggesting that it is difficult for

Blacks to get a well-paid job, which can also be a contradiction to how the adult that the minors are constantly

looking up to need to be good role models and set good examples for them but cannot do so due to their lack for

having a career. It is also surprising to see that in the film Mookie and Pino have a conversation about Pino’s

disliking of Blacks in the community. Mookie points out that many of the Famous artists that Pino is interested

in is African American but Pino replies saying that he only appreciates them because they are highly favorable

and looked up to by many others. Lee could be implying that Blacks are only admired by the white community

if they are associated with the music industry or sports. This criticism is also echoed in Nathan McCall’s essay

that says Blacks can only be respected if they are good in sports such as basketball or the music business which

may be why whites make it so difficult for African Americans to thrive in other conventional ways.

With this being said, white Americans dominate the U.S. economy making it harder for African

Americans to succeed in the mainstream economy. Some African Americans may aim for high goals and might

not reach them. This is because of their ethnic background or race as well as degrading themselves to believe

they cannot succeed without having to work for a white person overall enforcing people from black

communities to prefer staying away from the economy. Many of the works that have been cited have showed

how such degrading issues have lowered the successes and goal of those around us. As many famously known

African American Intellectuals have stated in their rise to power, we must have equality for all.

Works Cited

Allen, James. ​Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America​. Santa Fe: Twin Palms, 2000.

American Humanist Association. Mission Statement. https://americanhumanist.org/about/faq/

Banks, Ingrid. “Hair Matters: Beauty, Power, and Black Women’s Consciousness.” New York: New York

University Press, 2000.

Emmanuel, James. “The Negro.” Whole Grain: Collected Poems, 1958-1989. New York: Lotus Press, 1991.

Federal Bureau of Investigation. Supplementary Homicide Report, 1992.

Hansberry, Lorraine​. A Raisin in the Sun. ​New York: Random House, 1958.

Lee, Felicia R. “From Noah’s Curse to Slavery’s Rationale.” The New York Times. Nov 1, 2003.

Lee, Spike. Do the Right Thing. New York: Forty Acres and a Mule Productions, 1989.

Maslow, Abraham. ​Motivation and Personality: A General Theory of Human Motivation Based upon a

Synthesis Primarily of Holistic and Dynamic Principles​. New York: Harper and Brothers. 1954.

McCall, Nathan. “Gangstas, Guns, & Shoot-‘em-ups.” What’s Going On? New York: Random House. 1997.

McCall, Nathan. “The Revolution is about Basketball.” What’s Going On? New York: Random House.

1997.

Meeropol, Abel. “Strange Fruit.” Recorded by Billie Holliday. New York: RCA, 1939.

Ridenhour, Carlton. “Fight the Power.” Detroit: Motown Records, 1989.

Young, Andre, et al. “N****s for Life.” Los Angeles: Death Row Records, 1991.

Rock, Chris. “Good Hair.” Los Angeles: Paramount Pictures, 2009.

Saint Louis, Catherine. “Black Hair, Still Tangled in Politics.” New York Times. August 26, 2009.