4+The+American+Dream

=** The Pursuit of Happyness ** =

Watch the trailer for the movie The Pursuit of Happyness.[|The Pursuit of Happyness] This movie is based on the true story of Chris Garner. What do you think happiness meant and means for him? Does this story validate the American dream or was it a fluke that Chris succeeded in obtaining the American Dream?

Listen to an interview hosted by Ed Gordon interviewing Chris Gardner, who wrote the book: **A homeless Father's 'Pursuit of Happyness'** which the movies is based on.

In this interview Chris Gardner talks about a time when he was receiving an award at the National Fatherfood Initiative, and the MC was stereotyping people and this got Chris Gardner very angry, so he wrote this book.

**__ Vocabulary __**

** Incredible odds- **

** To let hardship stand in his way- **

** Rags-to-riches story- **

** The MC of a program- **

** National Fatherhood Initiative- **

** Keep program rolling- **

** Citing- **

** BS- **

** High road to hoe- **

** Guiding force- **

** Intestinal fortitude- **

** Ticker tape running- **

** Placism vs. Racism- **

**Brokerage Firm-**

** A conduit of change- **

**Chris Gardner post listening questions and discussion about the American Dream** **After you listen to the podcast:**

Interview with Chris Gardner author of memoir “The Perusit of Happyness” [] If you want to read the transcipt at home and listen to the interview at the same time go to: Discuss these questions:

1) Why is Chris Gardener’s story a rags-to-riches story? Would you say that this is an American Dream story come true?

2) In this interview, Chris Gardner refers to the MC at the National Fatherhood Initiative awards, who kept citing various statistics about the correlation between class in society and success. For example If you were well off family, you would have better chances of being successful. IF you came from a situation of poverty, you were likely to stay in poverty. Why did Chris Gardner disagree with the MC assumption? What did he say in his acceptance speech? Did he come from a well to do family?

3) How did people react to Chris’ speech?

4) What was Chris’ youth like? Did he go to college? Was he raised in a two parent household? Did he experience abuse as a child?

5) Why was Chris' step-father influential to Chirs? Was the stepfather a positive or negative roll model? How do you know? 5) 6) Who did Chirs get this "intestinal fortitude" to follow his dreams from?

7) What quality of the American spirit do you think Chris Gardner embodies? Why does he mention "going out on his own" (2 times in the interview) as part of pursuing the American dream? What does that tell you about American Values?

8) Chris’ inspiration was also being a single father and the responsibility that this entailed? Is single parenthood something that you see in your culture?

9) Why does Chris believe that the bigger problem in the US is placism and not racism? Do you agree?

10) Chirs says that besides raising his family, the most important work he is doing now (as a multibillionaire) is the philanthropic work he is doing in participating in the ownership of the South African economy. What does that say about American Values?