America is not a meritocracy though the merging of meritocracy and rugged individualism narrative fools many into believing the fallacy.
Rugged Individualism
The idea of rugged individualism, where success solely depends on personal effort, is false and misleading. Success in society often requires support from others, and the belief in individualism perpetuates inequality.
The United States of America was never truly a meritocracy. Examples from the entertainment and legal industries illustrate perfectly that talent alone doesn’t guarantee success. Factors beyond personal control, such as societal decisions and systems, play a crucial role in determining who succeeds. Beyonce is a great singer. But I know scores that are better singers and performers in many churches that exceed her prowess even with their hard work. She was chosen even though not necessarily the most meritorious relative to her success.
Many challenge and criticize my views on individualism and meritocracy. It is difficult to bust our bubble that we all have equal access to success, dependent on how much we are willing to work. It makes us blame ourselves for all our failures. But if we accept the truth, we can start instituting structures that really allow us to grow in a meritorious fashion. But one must first accept the truth. It provides a more compassionate and realistic understanding of how success and opportunity function in society and how we can change them to make it fairer.
