Baldwin's Theory of His American Dream
             Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin were all men who shared a unique quality-then all had a desire for equality. All these men strived hard everyday of their lives to one day be considered the same as white men. In "The American Dream and the American Negro," James Baldwin gives his personal answers to the questions, "What is the American Dream?" and "Can it be achieved by all Americans?" Baldwin believes that the American dream will not come true until the day when all Americans accept the fact that "my ancestors are both black and white" (633). To help better understand this statement Baldwin discusses his life growing up as an American Negro, his adulthood as an American Negro, and his opinions on whether or not the American Dream is achieved by all Americans.
             First, Baldwin describes his life growing up as an American Negro and how he viewed the American Dream. Baldwin states, "in the case of an American Negro, from the moment you are born every stick and stone, every face, is white. It comes as a great shock around the age of five, six, or sever to discover that the flag in which you pledged allegiance, along with everybody else, has not pledged allegiance to you" (633). Baldwin expresses anger and frustration when he talks about his childhood and how different he actually was compared to the white Americans. Baldwin explains, "It comes as a great shock to discover that the country which is your birthplace and to which you owe your life and identity has not, in its whole system of reality, evolved any place for you" (633). Baldwin remembers how hard it was to even go to school and attempt to learn. "When I was brought up I was taught in American history books that Africa had no history and I had not had any history yet either" (634). At this point in Baldwin's life the American dre...