The Myth of the American Dream

Mayfield (Assimilate or Go Home) uses her own experiences and biblical stories in this incisive work to make the bold claim that Jesus’s commandment to love thy neighbor has been forgotten by Christians and has been turned on its head due to American values of personal prosperity. Mayfield describes her own life as a pastor’s daughter preaching the gospel to Muslim communities abroad. Over time, her work with Muslim refugees in the U.S. and other marginalized communities led her to question everything she stood for as she witnessed little acceptance or aid for recently arrived refugees. Mayfield argues that the American socioeconomic system has inherent and deliberate design flaws, such as a criminal justice system disproportionately concerned with immigrants and the children of immigrants. She urges readers to halt their traditional ways of helping others, such as charity, and work toward justice and reform that lift up everyone—even if it means taking a loss for oneself or one’s families—such as volunteering and voting for reform. This trenchant Christian critique of American exceptionalism provides an essential, passionate interpretation of the ideals of egalitarianism and will appeal to readers of Michelle Alexander. [em](Apr.) [/em]