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Achieving the great American dream of success is an ideal that has been ingrained into the minds and hearts of Americans since childhood. As school children in the United States we are taught that we can do anything, be anyone and accomplish all of our dreams as long as we apply ourselves and have faith in our own abilities. Overcoming racism to achieve that great dream is fast becoming the biggest obstacle and challenge that Hispanic Americans face today while in our own pursuit of our dreams of success in America and what we were at one time taught was our birth given right as Americans born into this the very land of opportunity.

The recent political debates over illegal immigration into the United States from Mexico has effected Hispanic Americans more so than it has illegal immigrants within this country. The immigration debate often plays up misconceived stereotypes which only serves to fuel ignorance rather than to educate Americans. As a direct cause Hispanic Americans often face racism that they never before encountered and their rights as an American citizen not only become questioned but rightful opportunities become greatly diminished as well. This immigration debate has crossed the traditional black versus white or white versus minority racism lines and created a false sense of "us" (Americans in general) verses "them" (Hispanics in general). Other minority groups who once faced racism themselves are now being the aggressors and oppressors instead of keeping an open mind. This in turn creates a major challenge for Hispanic Americans who are legal citizens and Americans in their own right.

For many Hispanic Americans who never before faced the issue of racism, this new form of ignorant intolerance is very hard to comprehend and therefore overcome. What once was our encouraged dreams are turning into abandoned hopes. For Hispanic Americans living in the more violent or poor areas of the country, abandoned hope can be a dangerous thing as it leaves many of us feeling as though the only option we have to turn to is the streets. Here is where you see a rise in crime, in violence, death and the decline of our youth and their aspirations. So now the fight to achieve that great American dream also becomes the fight to survive and avoid falling into illicit activities and oppressed mentality.

Our once great dream goes from being a great political figure or entrepreneur to being able to pay our basic necessities and crossing our fingers that the local Walmart won't follow suit by taking one look at our ethnic last names and deciding based entirely on a couple of letters that we must also bare the illegal label and therefore are unemployable. No matter how bright our resumes, our young Hispanic American stars no longer get the chance to shine for the simple fact that our parents or grandparents chose to give us what they too thought was the promise of the great American dream.

Learn more about this author, Gisela Perez.
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