Quick summary: This newsletter explores the pursuit of the American Dream through a multifaceted, diasporic lens. Highlighting narratives from URL Media partners, TANTV Studios, Latina to Latina, El Tecolote and India Currents, we hope this newsletter inspires you to reflect and engage us on what the American Dream means for you.
Chasing the American Dream is as classic as baked apple pie. Credit: Shopify
The diaspora's pursuit of the American dream
Hey fam, “All I have is a dollar and a dream”... sound familiar?
You’ve likely heard this phrase dozens of times in your life. It's a figure of speech that virtually anyone can relate to. Whether you’re a young entrepreneur looking for a funder to invest in your brilliant idea, an artist seeking their big break or an asylum seeker escaping persecution, this phrase resonates.
It could be argued that it is similar to what American writer and historian James Truslow Adams may have meant by the ‘American Dream’ — a different yet very similar phrase — when he coined it in his 1931 bestseller “The Epic of America” during the Great Depression.
The dollar represents a starting point, while the dream symbolizes hope. By Adams’ definition, the American Dream is “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” From this, we can deduce that opportunity, upward mobility and hope are the core components of the American Dream.Plus: Join the Immigrantly team as they reflect on freedom, identity and equality in this Fourth of July special 🎧
Even though we’re nearly a century removed from Adams’ book, stories about the American Dream are everywhere. Working for a media network that serves communities largely ignored and misunderstood in mainstream media and society means that I have courtside seats to these types of narratives from our news partners quite often. But before we get into these stories, my question is: What does the American Dream mean to you?
Featured Stories
In his first media appearance following the June 27th debate with Donald Trump, President Joe Biden, 81, candidly reflected on his performance, stating, "I had a bad debate." During his interview with Andrea Lawful-Sanders on WURD Radio, Biden directly addressed concerns about his fitness for office and reiterated the promises he's kept to the American people, especially Black communities during his first term. His final message to listeners? "... The stakes are high. Democracy. Freedom. [They're] all on the line, so show up and vote." Listen to the full interview on WURD Radio > 🎧
On Monday, Eritrean cyclist Biniam Girmay made history by becoming the first Black African to win a stage at the Tour de France, marking a significant achievement for African cycling. "This is for all Africans. We must be proud now," said the 24-year-old. TANTV Studios has more >
Baltimore AFRAM is one of the largest African American festivals on the East Coast, a time to spread Black joy, celebration, history, and heritage. This year, as the world celebrates the 40th anniversary of house music, Baltimore innovators were honored for their profound influence on the genre. View this photo story from Baltimore Beat >
Donald Trump has had a complex relationship with hip-hop, evolving from a 1990s symbol of wealth to a criticized figure during his presidency. His legacy in the genre speaks to hip-hop’s role as a cultural barometer, capturing the rise and fall of celebrities in the public consciousness. Check out this timeline from Parlé Magazine >
Amid rising costs, many Americans are saving by exploring relocation packages from affordable cities around the country. Some of the worker relocation incentives offer cash bonuses, coworking memberships, wellness stipends and more. Read more of this sponsored content from URL Media >
Alpha Kappa Alpha will host its 71st International Conference in Dallas from today, July 5 to the 11th, expecting over 20,000 members in attendance. The historically Black sorority aims to complete 328,000 community service hours, including donating 25,000 meal bags and attempting a Guinness World Record by packing 8,500 hygiene kits in one hour. Read more from Watch The Yard >
When Black women and girls go missing – how the system falls short in responding
Shadira Smothers holds a picture of her sister, slain South Carolina woman Krystal Anderson, 30. Anderson’s ex-boyfriend was charged with her murder in 2022, but her remains have never been found. Credit: Vice News/Tubi
When Brittany Clardy went missing from her home in Minnesota in 2013, her family immediately knew something was wrong. The 18-year-old, a youth coordinator at a local community center, had told her mother she was just going to the corner store and would be right back. But she didn’t return or respond to messages, something that was uncharacteristic for her.
Clardy’s family contacted law enforcement. When an officer suggested that Clardy may have left voluntarily and gone somewhere with her boyfriend, “we were like, ‘No,’” Clardy’s sister Lakeisha Lee tells correspondent Alexis Johnson in the Vice News documentary, “When Black Women Go Missing.” “We are the experts on our family. We know that she did not just run away with her boyfriend.”
