What comes to mind when you hear, “The American Dream”? Freedom? Opportunity? Wealth? Fame? While the American Dream was once about affluence and materialism, it is now considered to be the hope that any American has the opportunity and freedom to earn success if they work hard enough. This means that race and economic class do not play a role in achieving happiness. Success is when you achieve your goals, which means you consequently feel happiness. While many may gain wealth, they may not feel happy. Many are unable to achieve either. Nostalgia (a particular affection for the past) and materialism (the tendency to prioritize physical possessions over other aspects of life) are both large factors in The Great Gatsby and Between the World and Me . The corrupted, materialistic Dream of gaining wealth without happiness is demonstrated well in The Great Gatsby , and the fact that many Americans (specifically African Americans) are at a great disadvantage towards achieving the American D