Dreams, though abstract in nature and, often, in content, seem to have very concrete and applicable roles for their possessors. Whether serving as a driving force behind the achievement of one's goals or simply conjuring vague and forgotten traces of the subconscious, a dream's idealized purpose is hazy at best. But it is this condition that lends dreams their tremendous versatility. Particularly, dreams may have the capacity, due to their occasionally revelatory nature, to spur active manifestation. Namely, Langston Hughes' "Deferred Dreams," Rita Dove's "Daystar" and Nikki Giovanni's "Dreams" collectively illustrate the role of dreams as vehicles through which to achieve empowerment. There is evidence in all three of the aforementioned pieces to suggest that, through modes such as self-honesty, resistance to racism and persistence in the face of external negativity, dreams may be unparalleled in their effectiveness as tools to self-empowerment.

Such empowerment may be difficult to perceive immediately...
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