In 'Behold the Dreamers', Imbolo Mbue crafts a poignant tale of the American Dream through the eyes of Jende Jonga, a Cameroonian immigrant in the hustle of New York City. Jende seizes an opportunity to become a chauffeur for a Lehman Brothers executive, envisioning a pathway to success for his family. As his wife Neni enters the service of the family, the Jongas glimpse the glamorous veneer of their employers' world. However, as the 2008 financial crisis looms, the Jongas witness the crumbling of their employers' lives along with their own aspirations. Confronted with his marriage's fragility and moral dilemmas, Jende must choose between the dream he's chased and the values he holds dear. Mbue's narrative is an incisive exploration of race, class, and the immigrant experience, challenging the cost of pursuing dreams in a society riddled with inequality.