American Society Throughout America\'s History, American Society

American Society

Throughout America's history, American society has been plagued with racial division and civil rights movements. Ethnic groups vie for their rights, protesting imperialistic democracy. The above quote by Woodrow Wilson, is a reiteration of the same struggle for the American identity in the midst of civil rights chaos. What the American public and the political leaders strive to instill on a reluctant society is the concept of Americanism, an ideal that allows all national groups to become one. But in their naive attempts they have not considered that America is the result of these same nations.

Americanism is merely an ideal that presents the notion of liberalization, suppression of racism, equality and the harmonious existence of all nation groups. However, this notion is naive as no two groups can be identical considering their culture, ideals, political consideration of civil rights etc. Hence equality or harmonious existence is impossible. W.E.B. Dubois for instance in his book Quest for the Silver Fleece [1989, p.362-370] talks about a "free community." But he also rejects the notion because he believes a free community in the wrong hands, those acting against the interest of the free individuals, is as much subjected to imperialistic suppression as in an oppressed slave society. He attributes Realpolitik power as the hurdle to real freedom and to the establishment of the ideal American. In this light Wilson's defense of the American group cannot be validated.

Similarly, on an individual level if we were to consider freedom of perception, ideals and existence, the notion of an ideal American regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or group is difficult to accept when everyone of us is a product of some individual ideal [Moraga, 2000, p.2]. In America we see ethnic groups converge while retaining their separate beliefs; each exile from their own homeland due to suppression because of political or social reasons. As James Baldwin indicated in his work Another Country [1988, p.292] these groups, whether Africans or Latinos or Asians have been subjected to "hostile circumstances." They do not need another authority to impress upon with the so-called American ideal when in fact the American ideal is American Capitalism. They want to retain their identity.