Across America, the once-shining promise of the American dream is fracturing along the fault lines of inequality, geography, and luck.
The American dream, that classic tale of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, feels more like a fairy tale in some parts of the country. It’s the promise that hard work guarantees a better life, a home, and a future for your kids. But what happens when the bootstrap is broken, and the ladder of opportunity has missing rungs? For millions, that promise is fading into a myth.
From hollowed-out industrial towns to glittering cities with a dark side, the landscape of opportunity looks wildly different depending on your zip code. The system feels rigged, and the goalposts keep moving further away. This isn’t about a lack of effort; it’s about playing a game where the odds are stacked against you from the start. It’s where hope struggles to take root.
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore is a city of stunning contrasts, with beautiful historic neighborhoods existing alongside areas suffering from decades of neglect. For thousands of residents, the dream is blocked by crime, blight, and a feeling of being completely left behind. It’s hard to believe in upward mobility when your zip code determines your destiny.…