This is my opportunity to say “thank you” to all the courageous men and women in the literary and political world, who sacrifice their livelihood and values to inspire freedom and equality for future generations, like me, to achieve their American Dreams. Without these brave historical figures and characters taking a stand against their society's rules and traditions, as a black woman, I would not have the freedom or the right to choose my own path in life. After reading about these important figures and characters' sacrifices, I am confuse as to why so many people are taking their hard earned freedom for granted.
Why are there so many people fighting to get in and stay in prison? Why are there so many people sacrificing their family time to work in a low paying jobs? Why are there so many people dependent on government assistance, instead of standing on their own two feet fighting for their dreams? Why are there people being very skeptical and fearful, when they are presented an opportunity to improve their lives? Why are women staying in abusive relationships? Why are men becoming dead beat dads? Why are there so many children in orphanages instead in loving homes? Why is our society becoming more corrupted, every minute of the day? If these daring figures could see the future, they probably would not have wasted their time in motivating our freedom.
Without Sacagawea sacrificing her Native heritage, time, and energy to assist Lewis and Clark on their exploration of young America, where would we be today (Sherman Alexia 3)? Sacagawea is the mother of contradictions and possibilities, because she inspired a transformation throughout our history when she escorted Lewis and Clark on their exploration of young America (Sherman Alexia 3). Without this brave woman going against her Native culture to help those courageous explorers, this country and the future generations of America would not exist. Think about it. What would America be like, if Sacagawea did not take a stand for change? Would Native Americans have the upper hand against white European invaders? Would the Native Americans be the dominate culture in our generation?Would crime rate improve or get worse with Native American form of government? Would we still need Benjamin Franklin and his concept of the American Dream?
Without Benjamin Franklin sacrificing his family traditions, for us, we would not have the concept of the American Dream. Benjamin Franklin sacrificed his family's traditional ways of thinking for intellectual and political freedom (David Larson 366). Without him eliminating some of the ignorance and misconception that England had about America, we would still be labeled as the inferior country. Benjamin Franklin even had a problem with wealthy people looking down at the working class and the poorer class of society, because of their limited means to provide a better lifestyle. So, Benjamin Franklin became the crusader for the lower class citizens by “attacking everything from bad poetry to prostitution (David Larson 366).” He event went undercover to mock any superstitions and sexual conducts that was use to label women as witches. With his sacrifice, hard work, and dedication Benjamin Franklin created the concept of the American Dream, which still pulsates in every man, woman, and child around the world.
Without women like Abigail Adams, Catherine in The Garden of Eden, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton for sacrificing their position and marriage, women would still be struggling against men's control for women's rights and education. It takes a bold and confident woman like Abigail Adams to use her position as John Adams wife, to bring up the subject on women's rights, because back then women did not have the right to speak their own mind. Through letters, Abigail Adams demanded her husband to add some provisions for women in the signed Declaration of Independence, by implying that women would formulate a rebellion against society's traditional rules (Albert Furtwangler 473). Abigail Adams also made John Adams aware of the lack of women's education, which keeps women inferior to men. Do you think, women would have the right to go to school or even the right to speak their minds, without Abigail Adams taking a stand on political issues with her husband?
Even though, Catherine is one of the female characters in The Garden of Eden, Ernest Hemingway uses her to show other females how much they must sacrifice to get what they want out of the male dominated world. Catherine is not afraid to sacrifice her marriage to get what she wants. According to the Preface of The Garden of Eden, Catherine is very envious of her husband's success as a writer and yearns to change her gender (Ernest Hemingway viii). Throughout the novel, the reader could see how manipulative and demanding Catherine is toward her husband, when she wants to act and dress like a man. Even though, Catherine has a financial influence over her husband, she uses the trump card of love, to get what she wants. In a sense, the man is playing by the woman's rules which changes the view of society.
Although Catherine, from The Garden of Eden, sacrificed her marriage to become a male, Elizabeth Cady Stanton took her sacrifice one step farther than marriage. Elizabeth Cady Stanton is the only female, I know, who would sacrifice her honeymoon, for women's rights. Would you sacrifice your honeymoon for the possibility of achieving rights for the unfortunate? Most women, in my generation, would rather escape the cruelness of the world by going on their honeymoon than fighting against injustice. We should really be ashamed of ourselves for becoming so selfish, because if it wasn't for Elizabeth Cady Stanton martial sacrifice, we would not have the Declaration of Sentiment proclaiming our rights as women to the male dominated world (Judith Wellman 862).
Without people like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs, African Americans and other minorities would still be in slaved or have limited rights to their lives. Frederick Douglass, a former slave fought hard for his freedom by using conventional ways, during the signing of the Declaration of Independence. His desire for freedom came at the early age of eight years old, when he discovered education would lead to “liberated consciousness (James Miller 866).” He used his talents as a writer to support black liberation from the cruelty of slavery. Douglass condemns the evils of slavery and racism by manipulating the language and symbolism of middle-class American culture and their religion. Douglass later “advise Abraham Lincoln to enlist blacks in the Union army, so they could fight for their freedom (James Miller 867).”
Harriet Jacobs is another former slave who wrote the “Incidents in the Life of A Slave Girl” to awaken Northern women of the affects that slavery have on millions of women still bond in the South (5). By writing this book, Harriet Jacobs could have lost her life and her freedom, because the issues of slavery was a troubled subject to write about without insulting the men who authorized and participated in the Institution of Slavery in the first place. You can see by reading Harriet Jacob's story, that her ultimate sacrifice was giving up her motherhood for the sake of achieving physical and spiritual freedom for her and her children. I can't imagine having the strength or the self control to give up my motherhood status for any reason or length of time, mus less spending seven years of my life away from my children to hide in a tight concealed spot in my grandmother's house. Harriet Jacobs did sacrifice her motherhood but not just for the cruelness of slavery, she wanted to provide a better future for her children. Without making this sacrifice, Harriet Jacobs could have died years ago and have left her children at the mercy of her perverted slave master.
In The Joy Luck Club, many Chinese mothers sacrificed their culture and motherhood for the promise of American freedom, so their future children would not suffer from the affects of the Japanese Ware or the injustice of Chinese customs. Would you leave your twin daughters on the side of the road for your freedom and health? That is what Suyuan Woo did to escape the horrors of Japanese War for a better life in America. Would you commit suicide for your child like An-mei's mother? An-mei's mother committed suicide, because she knew Chinese superstition would provide a better lifestyle for her daughter than she could alive. Would you play matchmaker, if you knew it was the only way to provide a better way of life for your daughter? That is what Lindo Jong's mother did for her, to ensure Lindo Jong would be properly taken care of, if anything bad happen to the family (Amy Tan 49). There are just a few examples from The Joy Luck Club, of women sacrificing their motherhood, life, and custom for their daughters and future daughters survival.
As a result from reading about these important figures and literary characters, I am inspired to sacrifice everything to achieve my version of the American Dream for me and my family. My version of the American Dream is to be my own boss and become financially independent within the next ten years. By achieving my American Dream, I will have the control, the freedom, and the time to spend with my family and to develop all my interests and hobbies. I will have more control over my child's education and creative development instead of depending on the traditional American school system, which its only concern is passing tests. I will have the freedom to take my child to visit the Statue of Liberty and other famous places, so he will know and understand how much his ancestors struggled to grant him freedom from oppression and slavery. By being financially independent, my child will have the means to overcome any prejudice still lingering in this proud Nation. Being financially independent will provide me with a greater opportunity for success for my family for generations to come. Thank you, mean and women, for making the sacrifices for my freedom.
Work Cited
Alexie, Sherman. “What Sacagawea Means to Me.” The Best American Non-Required Reading: Ed. Daves Eggers. Houghton Mifflin Company 2003
Furtwangler, Albert. “Abigail Adams” THE HEATH CONCISE. Ed. Paul Lauter: Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston: 2004
Hemingway, Ernest. “The Garden of Eden.” Scribner: New York: 1986
Jacobs, Harriet. “Incidents in the Life of A Slave Girl: Written by Herself:” Ed. Nellie Y. Mckay and Frances Smith Foster: W.W. Norton & Company: New York, 2001
Jacobs, John S. “A True Tale of Slavery.” Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written by Herself. Ed. Jean Fagan Yellin. Cambridge: Harvard Up, 2000. 207-208
Larson, David “Benjamin Franklin” THE HEATH CONCISE. Ed. Paul Lauter: Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston: 2004
Miller, James. “Fredrick Douglass.” THE HEATH CONCISE. Ed. Paul Lauter: Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston: 2004
Tan, Amy. “The Joy Luck CLub.” Penguin Book: New York: 1989
Wellman, Judith. “Elizabeth Cady Stanton.” THE HEATH CONCISE. Ed. Paul Lauter: Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston: 2004
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