Camille Streeter
AF AM 110U
12/16/14
Take Home Final
The United States of Who?
14,000 years ago a group of people found a large ice strip that expanded from
the tips of Russia to present day Alaska. They were migrating because their food
source had done the same. As they reached Alaska, their tribe dispersed, some
continuing to live in the north (present day Canada), while others migrated south
(America). 13,500 years later, the first European named John Cabot discovered
what the Natives called home. He named his discovery Newfoundland. Not shortly
after the Spanish began colonizing the land and the English were not far behind. A
century later, some British found themselves in debt and decided to escape their
troubles by immigrating to America. They established their first colony called
Jamestown. After several battles, these colonist were able to secede from the British
and found their own country they called the United States of America. For 300 years
their economy expanded shiftily and quickly under the use of free labor. It wasn’t
until their Civil War that these slaves received a taste of freedom. This taste has
fueled them to fight for rights since then. With such a rich integrated induced
history, the question of whom America belongs to is a debatable one. Many Civil
Rights activists have responded to the question differently.
W.E.B Du Bois was an American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist,
author and editor. He wrote several works, one being The Souls of Black Folk. The
novel discusses problems with having a color line in America. It then assesses a
solution to the race problem, the obstacles to that progression, and the possibilities
for future if the complication was cured as the nation entered the twentieth century.
Camille Streeter
AF AM 110U
12/16/14
Take Home Final
In the fifth chapter titled The Sorrow Songs, Du Bois discusses the contributions
African Americans have made. He argues that “…we brought our three gifts and
mingled them with yours: a gift of story and song- soft, stirring melody in an illharmonized and unmelodious land; the gift of sweat and brawn to beat back the
wilderness, conquer the soil, and lay the foundation of this vast economic
empire…the third, a gift of the Sprit”(Du Bois). Du Bois believes that the country
should belong to whoever contributed the most physically and emotionally. All of
the gifts he mentions are symbolic. Story and Song are the major impacts Blacks
have made to arts in this country. Unfortunately they are rarely ever recognized or
appreciated appropriately. Sweat and Brawn represents the labor, from slavery to
unfair waged jobs, that African Americans have endured all their lives. Slavery is
responsible for the rapid success of this country becoming a superpower. With free
labor for 300 years, the U.S only made profit. The gift of Sprit is the complete
essence of black people. There is a vibe that African Americans carry with them.
Although, they have been excluded from several things in this country, they still
tend to be accepting of others. Du Bois goes on to mention that “…actively we have
woven ourselves with the very warp and woof of this nation, - we fought their
battles, shared their sorrow, mingled our blood with theirs…”(Du Bois). He purposes
that African Americans have been nothing, but positive for the country. Along with
the great deal of contributions, African Americans rarely every recieve a thank you.
As Du Bois mentioned, they have fought wars for a country that didn’t consider
Camille Streeter
AF AM 110U
12/16/14
Take Home Final
them their own. The least America could have done was recognize all of their
citizens and give credit where it was due.
Exactly 60 years after the publication of Du Bois’ The Souls of Black Folk, Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his memorable “I Have a Dream” speech to over
250,000 people on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The speech centers on his
hopes for the future generations of America. He believes that “…we must learn to
live together as brothers or perish together as fools”(King). Integration had always
been the main goal for Dr. King. He felt that this country belonged to everyone. It
models under the idea that the America is a “melting pot” of cultures. Their
supposed acceptance of diversity is what makes this country special. Although
America has struggled with equality, Dr. King expressed his strong hopes for the
future. He believed that the only way to gaining equality is “to develop and maintain
the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the
power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us.
When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies” (King). King feels
that it is best to acknowledge the past and accept it. It is a waste of time to focus on
the negative. The first step to moving forward is forgiving one another. This country,
in his eyes, belongs to everyone. To propose that it should belong to someone else
defeats the purpose of equality. If one owns something, there will always be tension
between the ruler and participant. Forgiving and ruling collectively is more
beneficial.
On the other end of the spectrum, Malcolm X disagreed with almost
Camille Streeter
AF AM 110U
12/16/14
Take Home Final
everything Dr. King proposed. In his earliest years of protest, Malcolm X was a
follower of the Nation of Islam. He was mentored by the Honorable Elijah
Muhammad and preached all of his teachings. Titled “Racial Separation”, Malcolm X
gave a speech at the University of California, Berkeley, outlining the philosophy of
Black Nationalism as promoted by the Nation of Islam. During the speech, he
discusses how African Americans “… are trapped in a vicious cycle of economic,
intellectual, social, and political death. Giving birth to children who see no hope or
future but to follow in our miserable footsteps” (Malcolm X). Malcolm X feels as
though blacks have no future in America. They have been used since the minute the
first slaves stepped off the ship. In his opinion, African Americans have been given
the illusion of freedom. There is still inequality and prejudice in society. This is why
he proposes the solution to “…establish our own government and become an
independent nation. And once we become separated from the jurisdiction of this
white nation, we can then enter into trade and commerce for ourselves with other
independent nations” (Malcolm X). The country is filled with so much evil that
Malcolm X believes it is best to abandon ship. There has been nothing good happen
to the African Americans since they were forced to migrate to the country in his
eyes. If asked who this country belonged to, Malcolm X would reply the same as Du
Bois, the African Americans. They have contributed to the country and deserve as
much as they have worked for, but he knows that this will never happen. He believes
that with the African American’s history of strong work ethic, they could easily
establish a successful country. One that could become a superpower.
Camille Streeter
AF AM 110U
12/16/14
Take Home Final
All of these Civil Rights activists propose great ideas to the question, but I beg
to differ. Personally, I believe that the United States should belong to who ever was
there first. In case, it would be the Native Americans. I find it preposterous that in
history books it states that John Cabot discovered America. The Europeans never
discovered America; there were people already there. How can anyone discover
something that had already been discovered? It is insulting to ignore a complete
group of people who had already established a home. Unfortunately, almost 30
million Native Americans were either murdered or died of European diseases
leaving roughly less than 3 million in the last 500 years. Is it best to leave the
country to a dwindling culture is a debatable question. But one cannot ignore the
horrendous occurrence of slavery. The majority of the African Americans’ ancestors
did not immigrate to America by choice. They were taken from their homes and
forced to work for free for over 300 years. America would not be as successful as it
is presently, if it were not for slavery. Slavery is responsible for their rapid economic
expansion. In this light, I do agree with Du Bois in his beliefs of America belonging to
the groups of people who contributed the most. I believe that these contributions
that African Americans have made do no receive nearly as much appreciation as
accredited for. It truly a shame, that textbooks are slowly desensitizing slavery and
the Civil Rights Movement. In a perfect world, it would be nice to receive
reperations, but it there really a way to repay for slavery?
Philosophically, it would be nice for the country to belong to African
Americans, but there are people here whose ancestors were never a part of the
Camille Streeter
AF AM 110U
12/16/14
Take Home Final
Slave trade. I believe the best solution is recognizing our history. Slavery should not
be a “touchy” topic. It should be taught in schools completely, not downgraded.
Slavery or Civil Rights should not be just a chapter in a textbook. African American
Studies should not be a course solely offered in college. African American history IS
American History. Once we accept our history completely with our terrible deeds,
we can effectively move forward and be the true UNITED States of America that it
aspires to be.
Camille Streeter
AF AM 110U
12/16/14
Take Home Final
Bibliography
Bois, W. E. B. "The Sorrow Songs." The Souls of Black Folk Essays. State
College,Pa: Pennsylvania State U, 1996. Print.
King, Martin L., Jr. "I Have a Dream." Speech.
X, Malcolm. "Racial Seperation." Speech.