The Myth of the American Dream

Starred review from January 20, 2020
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.

May 1, 2020

In this latest work, Mayfield (Assimilate or Go Home) explores four basic values of the American dream through a series of short essays: affluence, autonomy, safety, and power. The myth of the American dream, in her words, is that "anyone can make something of themselves if only they try hard enough." Throughout, the author exposes a continuous tension between the reality of the modern United States and the ideal that Christ proclaimed of "bringing good news to the poor, the captive, the blind, and the oppressed." Mayfield purposed to make a difference and pay attention to the inequality around her. As she documents the process, she delves into the reality of the American dream for those who are not white and middle class, but are marginalized by society. She concludes that simply living in the neighborhood or attempting to make a difference is not sufficient. Rather, "proximity only changes us if we enter into other people's suffering...without rushing to explain it away." The author succeeds in beginning the conversation of widening American Christianity to include those traditionally excluded. VERDICT Similar in tone to Terence Lester's I See You, this work will appeal to Christian readers seeking to make a change within their world. Recommended for all libraries.--Ray Arnett, Anderson, SC

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.