As is evident in the film The Color Purple, Franklin's assertion that the American Dream is available to all people is incorrect because not everyone in the story is able to find self-fulfillment and success as a result of their own hard work, diligence, and drive. Sofia, for example, goes to jail for a number of years because she spoke disrespectfully to the mayor's wife and then hit him back after the mayor hit her. She ends up broken for a long time as a result of the years stolen from her.

Celie herself would likely never have escaped abuse from Albert had it not been for Shug Avery's interference and involvement in her life. She would not have been able to create her business, Folkspants, if Shug had not taken her away from Albert, given her a place to stay, and encouraged and funded that project.

Harpo does start a pretty successful jukejoint, and Shug has made quite a name for herself as a talented performer. However, for every example of a person who achieves the American Dream in the novel, there are at least one or two others who are beaten down by the system which privileges whites people over Black people. Thus, we can conclude that the American Dream is simply not available to all people.