Washington, DC — Informative, interesting, and humorous are three adjectives that can be used to describe this documentary. Taking place in the concrete jungle of New York, this documentary highlights the lives of several West African families and how their idea of the American dreams translated into a need of American dollars in order to survive.
In the beginning, everyone seemed to believe in what they thought was an indisputable fact about America, "life is better and money grows on trees". Yet, when they arrived on the so called golden streets of America, many were hit with the reality of minimum wage and even homelessness. Then to add to their misconceptions, most of them also agreed to the same creed of not giving up or going back home because their families are counting on them to fulfill that construed American dream.
As the documentary voices more outlooks it provides diverse point of views, from a taxi cab driver, street vendor, and a multimillion dollar entrepreneur. Three men, though different in class and wealth, each follow a similar motto, "you have to do what you have to do to survive". As the documentary gets deeper into the lives of West Africans living in New York City, it discusses unfair immigration issues such as detention, discrimination, integration into the American school system, and overall acceptance into the melting pot.
All in all, from the lives of West Africans doing all that they can to survive while still incorporating their unique cultural traditions, this film highlights the dreams and realities of being an immigrant in America. The story line was solid and the film was a great attempt at trying to reveal what it is like being a West African in America.
Dollars and Dreams: West Africans in New York: 56 min, 2007. Produced by Jeremy Rocklin and Abdel Kader Ouedraogo
Debbie C. Origho is a graduating senior at Howard University. Her major is broadcast journalism and her minor is African American Studies. She serves as the Senior Producer of WHUT-TV Student Training Department and the President for the Howard University Association of Black Journalists. Debbie has written for the District Chronicles and The Hilltop as well as worked with the National Geographic Channel and local television stations.
