The American Dream Through the Eyes of Black African Immigrants in Texas

Ami R. Moore

Using James Truslow Adams’ definition of the American dream, this book investigates whether black African immigrants in Texas are achieving the American dream. Almost all of the study participants Moore interviewed considered America a land of opportunity. Additionally, most of the black African immigrants’ definitions of the American dream focused on material aspects. Although participants mostly reported that the United States had been good to them, they nonetheless felt that they had not yet achieved the American dream. Additionally, they reported that their lives in the United States had been, at best, incomplete. They also encountered other challenges which mainly reflected the moralistic aspect of the definition of the American dream. They reported experiences such as not being fully accepted by native-born Americans in general and by white Americans in particular, being discriminated against, and being unappreciated. In fact, all of these challenges created a sense of marginalization among study participants. However, aware of the benefits of migration, they were willing to endure these challenges.

University Press of America

Pages: 108 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-0-7618-6026-6 • Hardback • April 2013 • $69.00 • (£53.00)

978-0-7618-6506-3 • Paperback • February 2015 • $38.99 • (£30.00)

978-0-7618-6027-3 • eBook • April 2013 • $37.00 • (£30.00)

Subjects: Social Science / Emigration & Immigration, Social Science / Black Studies (Global), Social Science / Ethnic Studies / African American Studies, Social Science / Sociology / General

The American Dream Through the Eyes of Black African Immigrants in Texas

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Summary

Using James Truslow Adams’ definition of the American dream, this book investigates whether black African immigrants in Texas are achieving the American dream. Almost all of the study participants Moore interviewed considered America a land of opportunity. Additionally, most of the black African immigrants’ definitions of the American dream focused on material aspects. Although participants mostly reported that the United States had been good to them, they nonetheless felt that they had not yet achieved the American dream. Additionally, they reported that their lives in the United States had been, at best, incomplete. They also encountered other challenges which mainly reflected the moralistic aspect of the definition of the American dream. They reported experiences such as not being fully accepted by native-born Americans in general and by white Americans in particular, being discriminated against, and being unappreciated. In fact, all of these challenges created a sense of marginalization among study participants. However, aware of the benefits of migration, they were willing to endure these challenges.

Details

University Press of America

Pages: 108 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-0-7618-6026-6 • Hardback • April 2013 • $69.00 • (£53.00)

978-0-7618-6506-3 • Paperback • February 2015 • $38.99 • (£30.00)

978-0-7618-6027-3 • eBook • April 2013 • $37.00 • (£30.00)

Subjects: Social Science / Emigration & Immigration, Social Science / Black Studies (Global), Social Science / Ethnic Studies / African American Studies, Social Science / Sociology / General

Author

Ami R. Moore is associate professor of sociology at the University of North Texas, Denton. Her research interests lie in earnings differentials, health-related studies, and the effects of race, gender, and place of birth among immigrants in the United States. She was previously a Fulbright scholar.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1: Pre and Post Immigration Views of Black African-born Immigrants in Texas
Chapter 2: The American Dream as Defined by Black African Immigrants
Chapter 3: Black African Immigrants and the American Dream as Defined by James Truslow Adams
Chapter 4: Migrating out of the United States
Chapter 5: Future of American-born Children of Black African-born Immigrants
Chapter 6: Future of Black African Immigrants and the American Dream
Appendix
Bibliography

The American Dream Through the Eyes of Black African Immigrants in Texas

Ami R. Moore

The American Dream Through the Eyes of Black African Immigrants in Texas

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