Question

Writing an Argument

Write a paragraph argument in which you make a claim about whether Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s version of the American Dream has been achieved. Is there equality between groups? Use reasons and evidence to support your claim.

Write your argument paragraph in the space below. Use evidence from the chart you studied in your response.

Answer 1

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of an American Dream in which people “are judged by the content of their character” and enjoy equal opportunity has not yet been fully achieved: the chart you studied makes this clear. Although progress has been made—legal segregation is gone and educational attainment and political representation for people of color have increased—the chart shows persistent gaps in economic and social outcomes. For example, it indicates that median household income and homeownership rates remain substantially lower for Black and Latino families than for White families, college degree rates have improved but still lag for some groups, and rates of incarceration and contact with the criminal-justice system are disproportionately high for people of color. These enduring disparities demonstrate that formal legal equality has not translated into equal outcomes or equal access to the wealth, housing, safety, and opportunity that make the American Dream attainable. Therefore, while King’s dream is closer than it was in his lifetime, the evidence in the chart shows that true equality between groups has not yet been achieved and continued policy and community action are needed.