Inspired by true events, the story in Cole’s “Neighbors” highlights how the American Dream for Black individuals is just that - an unattainable ideal.Ĭonsidering his status as a Black man, it’s completely un-ironic that the song begins with Cole addressing an accusation of criminality: “I guess the neighbors think I'm sellin' dope.” These systems not only halt racial progress, but also counteract the pursuit of the American Dream for Black citizens. Cole emphasizes that the criminalization of Blackness and the oppression associated with it negates this flawed idea. This backwards notion implies that Black people must work hard and accumulate wealth in order to escape the clutches of racism. Many who believe America has entered into a “post-racial” era following the presidency of Barack Obama, argue that issues of racism will diminish as Black Americans move up the socioeconomic ladder. However, this harsh reality is often ignored by those unaffected.

This truth is self-evident: The perceived threat of Blackness is so pervasive in America that merely existing as a Black person is enough to be unjustly locked away from society or killed.

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