The United States is no stranger to racial tensions. It dates all the way back to the European colonization of North America, where indigenous tribes across both North and South America were subject to genocide and removal. The violence was so horrific that a little over four centuries after Christopher Columbus’ “discovery” of North America, the population of indigenous peoples within the borders of the United States dwindled from over 10 million to under 300,000.
While the genocide of one race became the foundation of the United States, the enslavement of another built its economic supports. The fact that slavery was legal in the United States until 1865 is one of the most basic tenets of US history and the long and deeply unsettling history of violent racism against black Americans is so ingrained within American institutions that its scar will never fade away.
In a country that prides itself on the freedom of speech, while also traditionally espousing dangerous beliefs on matters such as race for centuries, then, it comes as no surprise that there are white supremacists who are not afraid to speak out in their hatred, as seen in Charlottesville recently. So why do Americans continually act like this attitude is distinctly un-American?
Only 53 years have passed since institutional racial segregation was made illegal. In 2015, 3,444 out of 5,818 reported hate crimes were committed as a result of racism/ethnicity/ancestry bias. Clashes between civil rights movements, such as the Black Lives Matter movement, and opposing viewpoints, continue to this day. The attitude of racism and racial tension in the United States has never ceased to exist, and is actively fostered within our politicians and other officials who have a hold on institutional structures. It is not un-American to hold prejudiced thoughts and values, nor is it un-American to support fascism.
The US has helped implement and/or protect dictatorships in various places of the world. And upon recalling the US’ reasons for entering World War II, it was not out of genuine concern for Jewish populations in Europe. The fact that the Holocaust specifically targeted Jewish people was a fact frequently avoided in US newspapers, all while American attitudes towards Jewish people become more and more hostile. In fact, it was the lynching of a Jewish man that helped spark a resurgence in the KKK in the 1920s.
While it is direly important to take a stance against prejudice and discrimination, it is also ignorant to erase the fact that such prejudices and discriminations have been a part of American history. To simply assert that any neo-Nazi or white supremacist is un-American is to refuse to take responsibility for the environment manifested within our country. In order to make our country a better and safer place for everybody, it is crucial to hold each other accountable, and to address the harmful flaws built into the American identity.
Be mindful of our history. Know it. Own it. And use that knowledge in our fight to create change.
