My son and his wife and their four children seem to be living the America Dream. He is a successful executive for a real estate investment firm, and she recently decided to become a real estate agent as their children got older and required less time.

He happens to be white and she is black from Zimbadwe. They met through the church more than 20 years ago, and found they had similar dreams, values, and beliefs. I don't doubt her experiences are different than someone who grew up in the inner city as my son's experiences are different than someone that grew up in Appalachia.

I do think once upbringing influences one's dreams, but dreams are individual, not identity group based.