Obama's America: A Transformative Vision of Our National Identity
Obama’s America: A Transformative Vision of Our National Identity
This essay will discuss and examine the major themes associated with the novel Obama’s America: A Transformative Vision of Our National Identity by author Ian Reifowitz. Themes discussed will focus on a brief history of American national identity including radical multiculturalism, Obama’s search for his own identity and his views on the manner, and President Obama’s vision on American national identity. My opinions and other outside sources will be incorporated into this essay.
As the author mentioned, American national identity is as unique as being American itself. At the formation of our nation with a document forged by Thomas Jefferson The Declaration of Independence, at the time it written eloquently demanded the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The problem with this document was that it was only exclusive to some, mainly white Anglo - Saxon males. Groups such as African Americans, women, and Native Americans were not inclusive of these rights in a new American society. In fact it has been documented that the words originally drafted in the early stages of the declaration by Jefferson stated “the rights of life, liberty, and property” a line borrowed form 17th century philosopher John Locke’s “Two Treaties of Government” but was later changed to “pursuit of happiness” for a broader understanding. African Americans and women had no legal standing to be inclusive as it pertain to this document due to slavery and women's no existed rights under the husband. Both of these groups were regarded as property in the beginnings of our nation.
Since then, many of these rights have grown to include individuals of other ethnic groups mainly through Supreme Court decision cases, congressional legislation, and the process of amendment to the U.S. Constitution. From the 1960s through the 1990s a battle on principles within the progressive movement ensued through
This essay will discuss and examine the major themes associated with the novel Obama’s America: A Transformative Vision of Our National Identity by author Ian Reifowitz. Themes discussed will focus on a brief history of American national identity including radical multiculturalism, Obama’s search for his own identity and his views on the manner, and President Obama’s vision on American national identity. My opinions and other outside sources will be incorporated into this essay.
As the author mentioned, American national identity is as unique as being American itself. At the formation of our nation with a document forged by Thomas Jefferson The Declaration of Independence, at the time it written eloquently demanded the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The problem with this document was that it was only exclusive to some, mainly white Anglo - Saxon males. Groups such as African Americans, women, and Native Americans were not inclusive of these rights in a new American society. In fact it has been documented that the words originally drafted in the early stages of the declaration by Jefferson stated “the rights of life, liberty, and property” a line borrowed form 17th century philosopher John Locke’s “Two Treaties of Government” but was later changed to “pursuit of happiness” for a broader understanding. African Americans and women had no legal standing to be inclusive as it pertain to this document due to slavery and women's no existed rights under the husband. Both of these groups were regarded as property in the beginnings of our nation.
Since then, many of these rights have grown to include individuals of other ethnic groups mainly through Supreme Court decision cases, congressional legislation, and the process of amendment to the U.S. Constitution. From the 1960s through the 1990s a battle on principles within the progressive movement ensued through