But both would present a nuanced narrative—one full of struggle and loss, yet also one of hope and gradual progress, even as we still have more to do. In The Audacity of Hope, Obama asserted that on civil rights "things have gotten better," yet added: "better isn‘t good enough."
Even in his statement strongly criticizing the court's decision on the Voting Rights Act, Obama made sure to declare: "As a nation, we’ve made a great deal of progress towards guaranteeing every American the right to vote." That's the kind of narrative that is both accurate and far more likely to be accepted as consensus by a broad swath of Americans of all backgrounds. That matters in political terms, and Douglass, even though not running for office, was a political figure and activist of great importance.
On a related note, the president has not hesitated to highlight continuing threats to that progress in the form of highly restrictive "voter ID" laws, declaring in April: "America did not stand up and did not march and did not sacrifice to gain the right to vote for themselves and for others only to see it denied to their kids and their grandchildren."
I believe Obama and Douglass would characterize black Americans' relationship to their country as follows: They have both dreamed of a better future in America—one where justice and equality have fully triumphed—and have fought for centuries to make it reality.
We progressives must emphasize that our responsibility as a country is to make those very American dreams of equality and justice come true for every one of our people, whatever their ancestry, beliefs or affiliations.
Meteor Blades is right to identify Frederick Douglass as a hero. Along a similar vein, Michael Lind characterized him in The Next American Nation as: "perhaps the greatest American of any race, of any century."
It's highly appropriate in 2013 to remember Douglass's 1852 speech, especially on July 4. I want to reinforce that here. What I am also doing here is using Meteor Blades' post about Douglass as a jumping off point for a related, but different discussion.
From a political perspective, we on the left have to be wary of focusing too much on feelings of alienation from this country. I'm not trying to tell anyone how they should feel. No one should do that. I'm talking about what we publish, our public rhetoric and its strategic value. What we cannot do, what Douglass himself did not do as seen in the conclusion to his 1852 speech, is cede patriotism and an embrace of America to the right wing.
Lind wrote further about the importance of embracing an inclusive, singular national narrative of our country's history with which Americans of every background can identify as their own:
An allergy to the idea of a national history is an understandable reaction, but it is mistaken -- as mistaken as the idea that nationalism in politics is, by its very nature, the ally of intolerance and tyranny. Just as there is a liberal and enlightened nationalism, distinct from illiberal nativism, so there can be a conception of national history that is not simply a tool of political regimentation or a weapon in the arsenal of a dominant class, race, or ethnic group....What is more, to the extent that liberal nationalism de-emphasizes race, religion, and political belief as the criteria that define nationhood, it becomes necessary to put more weight on a common public memory....
Americans share common national ancestors, whatever their genetic ancestors. Even if our genetic grandparents came from Finland or Indonesia, as Americans, we are all descendants of George Washington -- and his slaves.
Even in writing this, I want to be crystal clear about what I'm saying, so that nothing is misconstrued. I'm emphatically NOT saying that Meteor Blades or anyone else should tone down their criticisms of this country's flaws or injustices, whether in the present or the past. To be more specific, I am NOT saying that black or brown or red or yellow or gay folks, or anyone who feels marginalized should keep their thoughts to themselves because they might scare the straight white folks.
I'm saying that there has to be a way we can do what needs doing, to shine a light on the problems and injustices in our country, while still publicly embracing a commitment to the whole country, the whole community. We have to do both of those things at the same time, over and over again, in order to get our point across successfully and persuade people to join our movement. If we don't do that, we can't solve those problems and fix those injustices.
As politically engaged progressives, we know that this country can and must do better on a whole host of different fronts, and in order to do so we need to understand our history in full. A history that emphasizes only our crimes and ignores the progress is but the mirror image of one that does the opposite—one that presents our history as one solely bathed in glory and righteousness. And if those are the only two options, many middle-of-the-road Americans, in particular whites but others as well, are likely to be more attracted to the Pollyanna-ish view simply because it sounds more familiar and feels better.
We progressives have to make sure that we present a balanced picture. That way we can get those people who sometimes forget about the crimes to remember them and to commit to reversing their effects, rather than dismiss our criticisms as "anti-American" because we talk only about the negatives in our country. We have to present our case as representing the true American values, and contrast them to the values of those whom we oppose.
This is the way Barack Obama speaks about America's past, present and future, and connects his vision of America to policies he is proposing going forward. We can see it in his remarks of July 4, 2012:
On that July day, our Founders declared their independence. But they only declared it; it would take another seven years to win the war. Fifteen years to forge a Constitution and a Bill of Rights. Nearly 90 years, and a great Civil War, to abolish slavery. Nearly 150 years for women to win the right to vote. Nearly 190 years to enshrine voting rights. And even now, we’re still perfecting our union, still extending the promise of America.
That includes making sure the American dream endures for all those -- like these men and women -- who are willing to work hard, play by the rules and meet their responsibilities. For just as we remain a nation of laws, we have to remain a nation of immigrants. And that’s why, as another step forward, we’re lifting the shadow of deportation from serving -- from deserving young people who were brought to this country as children. It’s why we still need a DREAM Act -- to keep talented young people who want to contribute to our society and serve our country. It’s why we need -- why America’s success demands -- comprehensive immigration reform.
Because the lesson of these 236 years is clear -- immigration makes America stronger. Immigration makes us more prosperous. And immigration positions America to lead in the 21st century. And these young men and women are testaments to that. No other nation in the world welcomes so many new arrivals. No other nation constantly renews itself, refreshes itself with the hopes, and the drive, and the optimism, and the dynamism of each new generation of immigrants. You are all one of the reasons that America is exceptional. You’re one of the reasons why, even after two centuries, America is always young, always looking to the future, always confident that our greatest days are still to come.
And those who have fought for equality have long sought to connect that idea to America's fundamental principles, to our own history. Frederick Douglass did it, even in the speech discussed above, as did the black abolitionist David Walker a generation earlier, who
called on us to "Hear your languages, proclaimed to the world, July 4th, 1776."
So did Martin Luther King Jr. in his "Letter From a Birmingham Jail," where he predicted that the civil rights movement would succeed because "the goal of America is freedom," and in his "I Have A Dream" speech, in which he proclaimed that the dream he described that day was "deeply rooted in the American dream."
So did Harvey Milk when he said: "All men are created equal. Now matter how hard they try, they can never erase those words. That is what America is about.”
So did Barbara Jordan, who noted, "What the people want is simple. They want an America as good as its promise."
Progressives must criticize, that is crucial. But we must also inspire, because inspiration is how we motivate action.
(This is a revised and updated version of an essay I have posted previously July 4.)
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