Does it ever come to mind that even though we live a good life, others may not? The life of an ex-offender and convicted felon is rough. They are trying to turn their life around, but can’t because they are looked at differently. Being a convicted felon is not a life of cupcakes and rainbows regarding the American dream; it’s just shades of grey. This essay will cover how hard it is to reach the American dream while being a convicted felon and/or having something on your background.

Convicted felons are treated differently, seen differently. Convicted felons go to jail because they did something wrong, but as soon as they get out, they have a choice: they can either start fresh or go back to what they did. Some choose to start fresh, but can’t due to discrimination. The video “ Locked Out the American Dream” by Michelle Alexander, runs through the difficulties convicted felons faced while trying to get to their everyday lives and the video.” Locked out of Heaven” states that “ The American dream is not accessible to millions of people who have been locked out, particularly those with criminal records,” which proves the point that convicted felon life after prison is hard (Alexander & Kent, 2013). The video also states that “Once Someone has served their time, they should not be subjected to a lifetime of punishments” and “The Criminal justice system serves as a mechanism to control and marginalize entire communities,” which also answers the following question: how are convicted felons treated in the real world? To create a more just society, we must confront how our laws and policies have contributed to this discrimination.

Convicted felons feel like their freedom and democracy have been stripped away from them. Which brings the question of why prisoners feel like their freedom and justice are just an illusion? “The article Why Prisoners Don’t Feel Patriotism” states, “Patriotism is hard to feel when one has been marginalized and excluded from the very fabric of society,” and that “The experience of incarceration often breeds a feeling of resentment rather than loyalty to a country that seems to reject them” (Sawyer, 2021). When people go to jail, they often feel like they’ve lost their freedom and are not treated fairly. This can make them feel alone and like they don’t belong in our country. If we don’t help these people feel included and supported, it makes it harder for them to return to society and feel good about themselves. It’s important for everyone to feel like they matter and have a place in our community.

The journey that convicted felons face is rough. Convicted offenders face many difficulties when entering the world again, which makes their journey to redemption harder. The article, “We Can Learn Much About the American Dream from Ex-offenders who turn their lives around,” states, “The journey of ex-offenders who have turned their lives around reveals the resilience and determination required to pursue the American Dream against all odds.” Which highlights that the journey that convicted felons is rough. The article also states that “By embracing second chances, these individuals illustrate that the American Dream is not just about success, but also about personal growth and transformation” (Smith, 2023). The challenges that convicted felons face show how difficult it can be to fit back into society. Their stories of returning from tough times give us hope and remind us that change is possible. When we talk about giving people second chances, we realize that the American Dream is not just about success but also about growing and becoming better people. It’s important to help ex-offenders as they try to build new lives because that helps create a fairer society where everyone gets the opportunity to succeed.

In conclusion, the journey to achieving the American Dream can be tough, especially for people who have been labeled as convicted felons. Their difficulties highlight a larger problem of unfair treatment and exclusion in our society. Many ex-offenders want to change their lives for the better, but they often face many challenges that make it hard for them to fit back into everyday life. It’s important for us to recognize how strong they are and to help them in rebuilding their lives. By creating a welcoming environment that gives people second chances, we not only show kindness and fairness but also make our communities better for everyone. At the end of the day, the true meaning of the American Dream is the idea that everyone should have a chance to start fresh and grow as a person. It’s up to all of us to make sure that everyone gets a fair opportunity to chase that dream.