In this video, Kevin Maggiacomo shares his experiences and thoughts about the American dream during his Ted talk titled “Awakening the American Dream”. Kevin extends Professor Putnam’s position on the American Dream in many ways. First, Kevin agrees with Putnam by saying that the American Dream has become "for most people today . . . a story, maybe even a myth . . .[Americans are] experiencing what feels like a prohibition on their own American dream" (1:40). He goes on to provide unfortunate statistics about America including the current quality of public education, the amount of debt students are suffering from, and how entire cities have gone bankrupt. From these statistics he concludes that "the numbers suggest that those who believe in the American dream today are those who already attained it. The American Dream is for many a nightmare, or at best it lies in a coma" (2:00). Kevin Maggiacomo explains his belief that the American dream has suffered and is not what it used to be just as Putnam did in his book.
Kevin continues his talk by sharing a personal experience. He had recently attended his company's national conference and as he was speaking to his company as the CEO, he realized they all "looked just like [him]. Nearly all were men, nearly all were white" (3:50). Just as Putnam did, Kevin recognized the opportunity gap in America and the exclusion of minorities who are left as outsiders. Kevin states "excluding people from the American dream is as big a problem for those of us who are living it as it is for those of us who are not" (4:35). He identifies himself as part of the problem of the opportunity gap in America.
Kevin further extends Putnam's position on the American dream by claiming the American dream is no longer the "American" dream. He says "America doesn't hold the rights to this dream. The sad news today is that there are at least 14 countries where people have more upward social mobility than in the United States. The American Dream should now be called the Danish dream or the down-under dream or the Canadian dream or perhaps even the human dream" (4:45). Kevin proposes that not only does the American dream no longer exist, but countries around the world are continuing to pass us and claiming what was once uniquely ours as a part of their culture. He also adds the fact that in 1988 America was ranked as the number one place in the world to live for opportunity by the World magazine and today we rank as number 16, but we rank number number one among rich nations to have the highest number of children living in poverty (5:10). The American dream no longer deserves it's name. America can no longer be known as a place where opportunity lives because our economy cannot even support our children.
Kevin Maggiacomo begins to wrap up his talk by presenting a solution for this problem. He says that the American dream cannot be brought back "if people like [him] throw up roadblocks. Folks, the American Dream has been hijacked by a small portion of the society and it will die with that group unless we fight to bring it back" (6:10). Kevin argues the only way to bring back the American dream is by everyone being involved. He claims everyone must recognize this is a problem and the way to do this is by "embracing different" (7:00). This is his philosophy and he believes it will work. Kevin establishes "diversity plus inclusion yields improved outcomes" (7:50). His solution to the dissolved American Dream is to reach out to others who are different from you and who you may not usually reach out to. By doing this, we can expand our own dreams by making the American Dream possible for others.
Kevin concludes his talk by further extending Putnam's work by saying the American dream can be restored. He challenges the American population by saying "Let's put our beautiful, diverse, innovative minds together and awaken the American Dream from its coma. I'm asking you today to take that next step, to embrace different, stick your neck out especially, especially when you don't have to because that's all part of living the American dream; a dream that's . . . worth living" (9:40). Kevin says everyone must helot awaken this dream by embracing different and this requires diversity and innovation. Kevin Maggiacomo, a common man, has figured out the solution for restoring the American Dream.
Kevin continues his talk by sharing a personal experience. He had recently attended his company's national conference and as he was speaking to his company as the CEO, he realized they all "looked just like [him]. Nearly all were men, nearly all were white" (3:50). Just as Putnam did, Kevin recognized the opportunity gap in America and the exclusion of minorities who are left as outsiders. Kevin states "excluding people from the American dream is as big a problem for those of us who are living it as it is for those of us who are not" (4:35). He identifies himself as part of the problem of the opportunity gap in America.
Kevin further extends Putnam's position on the American dream by claiming the American dream is no longer the "American" dream. He says "America doesn't hold the rights to this dream. The sad news today is that there are at least 14 countries where people have more upward social mobility than in the United States. The American Dream should now be called the Danish dream or the down-under dream or the Canadian dream or perhaps even the human dream" (4:45). Kevin proposes that not only does the American dream no longer exist, but countries around the world are continuing to pass us and claiming what was once uniquely ours as a part of their culture. He also adds the fact that in 1988 America was ranked as the number one place in the world to live for opportunity by the World magazine and today we rank as number 16, but we rank number number one among rich nations to have the highest number of children living in poverty (5:10). The American dream no longer deserves it's name. America can no longer be known as a place where opportunity lives because our economy cannot even support our children.
Kevin Maggiacomo begins to wrap up his talk by presenting a solution for this problem. He says that the American dream cannot be brought back "if people like [him] throw up roadblocks. Folks, the American Dream has been hijacked by a small portion of the society and it will die with that group unless we fight to bring it back" (6:10). Kevin argues the only way to bring back the American dream is by everyone being involved. He claims everyone must recognize this is a problem and the way to do this is by "embracing different" (7:00). This is his philosophy and he believes it will work. Kevin establishes "diversity plus inclusion yields improved outcomes" (7:50). His solution to the dissolved American Dream is to reach out to others who are different from you and who you may not usually reach out to. By doing this, we can expand our own dreams by making the American Dream possible for others.
Kevin concludes his talk by further extending Putnam's work by saying the American dream can be restored. He challenges the American population by saying "Let's put our beautiful, diverse, innovative minds together and awaken the American Dream from its coma. I'm asking you today to take that next step, to embrace different, stick your neck out especially, especially when you don't have to because that's all part of living the American dream; a dream that's . . . worth living" (9:40). Kevin says everyone must helot awaken this dream by embracing different and this requires diversity and innovation. Kevin Maggiacomo, a common man, has figured out the solution for restoring the American Dream.
The "American Dream Playlist" includes songs showing the faith of the old American Dream: