Born into poverty, this retired Exxon exec has lived the American dream by giving his own kids a much richer life

Source: New York Post

Through July 4, The Post, in conjunction with the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, is featuring US citizens explaining what the American dream means to them in 2026 — including Jimmie James, who lives in Pennsylvania and retired as an executive at Exxon. My great-grandfather was born into slavery. But soon after, the Emancipation Proclamation was signed … That’s where my family starts — the tobacco and cotton plantations in east Texas.