“Where is my American Dream?” read a sign held by Gerlyne Maitre, 29, of Mount Vernon, N.Y. Maitre, a graduate of Hunter College with a degree in sociology, cannot find full-employment. She accepts every temporary part-time job she is offered and works hard, but she cannot see a promising future ahead for herself. She contrasts her life experience to that of her parents, Haitian immigrants who came to the United States in their twenties. Her father became a teacher, and her mother, a registered nurse.
“The American Dream is not a reality for me anymore because I don’t have that house; I don’t have a car. I can barely afford to keep living and paying for my bills. Eating and stuff like that is a struggle,” Maitre said.
Comments
In my humble opinion, UUhhmm (The Snarky Boomer types again) When the 1% has manged to eliminate the middle class completely (the backbone of America) there will be no one left to buy their d@%# stuff. Less taxes to collect- infrastructures will (and are) crumbling. They (the 1%) are cannibalizing themselves and to greedy to see it. Cut staff to up the black ink, that can only go on so long. Its just common sense folks, not economic genius. Greed NEVER gets enough, there is not enough money in the world to satisfy the 1%, but then again money buys power, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts, absolutely.
A degree is "sociology" is not worth the paper it's printed on. This is the result of poor advisement and a catchall field of study for the academically confused. If she had followed in her mother's footsteps and taken nursing, she'd have a job today. College for the masses is not what people imagine. It's a shame, but far from too late. This kid needs to get into a graduate program in nursing, or another aspect of the medical field which requires licensure. Then she'll get a job.
Thank you for your empathetic and forceful response, Julie! Gerlyne was not ungrateful for the boost in life she received from her parents. She is wondering what the future will hold for her.
Obviously Faith you are without empathy. Are you in her shoes??? If not, try putting yourself there. I run across people just like you every single time I protest with OWS. People like you roll down their car window and yell, "Get a job!". Well, to you well meaning types - I have a job, and have worked with the same company for 7 years now. It pays better than what most people seem to have and I feel very fortunate. I live in a house that is paid for. So, I have a job and feel fairly secure, if that means anything. Why do I go out and protest? For my children and grandchildren, for people like the woman in this video, for the homeless person who cannot get work because of emotional issues, for the prisoner who has served time and has been paroled and won't find work, for the person who is over 50 and won't easily find another job when up against a younger person, for the addict who can't find the way to a job. I'm sick of rich people, even those who were born with the silver spoon in their mouth, living in this world as if they are the only ones who matter. Corporations need to be held responsible for what they do and NO it is NOT all about the almighty effing dollar!
Wow! no gratitude for the opportunity to go to college in the first place? Her Sociology degree would be non-existent had her parents remained in Haiti.