Bags & Riches

The cliché “American Dream” seems more and more out of reach as America spirals into a dystopian capitalist nightmare. It’s hard to believe that by just working hard, you’ll be able to make a nice life for yourself where you don’t have to bust your ass at multiple jobs to make ends meet. 

A glimmer of hope shines through all the white privilege of people who have never had to work a day in their life. A glimmer of hope shines through all the mediocre individuals who you must work twice as hard as to be still paid less than. That glimmer of hope is named Belcalis Almanzar, famously known as Cardi B. If you’re wondering why the hell someone would think that Cardi B is the gleaming image of the American Dream, you are about to find out.

Cardi B started out from humble beginnings; some of you reading may be able to relate. Cardi was just a girl from the Bronx who had big dreams. I’m positive some of you reading can relate. This isn’t your typical “rags to riches” story (not saying that Cardi came from rags in the first place). Cardi’s rise to fame started on social media. She was a dancer with a personality that could barely fit into Instagram’s tiny dimensions. 

That huge personality landed her on the popular show “Love and Hip Hop.” You see Cardi’s journey from being “just a regular, degular, smegular girl from the Bronx” to being recognized when she went places. You also get to see clear as day that despite being talented and driven, some people on the show still didn’t believe in Cardi.

Did we see any tears? Hell no. She continued to grind; she worked harder than before. And wouldn’t you know that she ended up where she is now, being insanely rich, successful, and at the top of the music charts?!

While it seems like a stroke of luck, a one-in-a-million chance, a streak of good fortune, this seems more than anything, a story of how the “American Dream” may still be attainable. Cardi is just one example. There are women of color everywhere who are doing it. But if a Latina girl from the Bronx can do it, then maybe there’s some hope for the rest of us. 

About Kaitlan Darby

Kaitlan Darby is a graduate of UL Lafayette. She has a B.A. in Mass Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in promotional management. She is a publicist, writer, and aspiring actress. She is the founder of Black Mamba Creative, which is her creative arts/services outlet.

Instagram: @blackmambacreative

LinkedIn: Kaitlan Darby

Website: https://www.blackmambacreative.com