Each person's view on the American Dream is unique to their own upbringing and perspective. Jennings grew up in poverty, with a family that placed the blame for all their problems on individuals of other races. This environment taught him that the American Dream is about success and wealth. The views on masculinity that he was brought up with were of great pressure to him in his journey to find himself. Pushing ahead in his academic career, he realized that he was becoming someone he was unhappy with.
It is these moments, where we step away from ourselves and take a hard look at who we are, that permit us to make necessary changes in our lives. Jennings's view on "real freedom" reflects this sentiment, stating that we must step away from societal views and accept that each individual, as varied as we may be, is a "real American." Once we become content with who we are or who we are becoming, we hold the power to redefine what our American Dream consists of.
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