Introduction:

The United States declared its independence from Britain in 1776, and was built on the ideas and foundation of freedom for all. However, 'all' in this context meant Whites, and freedom and other basic human rights didn't extend to other groups, specifically African Americans. Hundreds of years later, the Civil Rights movement formed with a new dream and hope: American Universalism. This idea was not to gain freedom and equality for African Americans, but to gain basic human rights for all oppressed groups around the globe. Historian Nikhil Pal Singh highlights the irony in the fundamentals of American beliefs, while also bringing forth the true equality ideals of African Americans in his nonfiction book Black is a Country: Race and the Unfinished Struggle for Democracy.  The desire for true equality, or “black freedom dreams,” exceeded “the sanctioned boundaries and brokered compromises of the established political order.” These dreams aren't a fight for the oppressed, but rather, a fight against the international oppressor: White Supremacy.


However, in the course of fighting white supremacy, equality for all is achieved. The efforts to make equality global was particularly seen during World War II. It was a time of crisis and death, with white power spreading through much of Europe. In an effort to understand the political strategies and ideas of Black women during the 1940's, Keisha Blaine began looking at writings by Josephine Moody. Moody was a Black women's activist in the 1940's who truly displayed the global passion of African Americans by writing about Black Nationalism.  When talking about World War II, Blaine writes “concerned about the future of millions of people of color across the globe whose lives would be greatly impacted by the Second World War, black activists across the diaspora amplified their efforts to end global racism, white imperialism, and colonialism,” displaying the efforts to spread true universalism and freedom.   The African Americans were willing to put in extra work to spread equality to other nations, while still fighting on their home front. This American universalism is exemplified during the March on Washington in 1963, when white Americans were more worried about the image of the United States rather than actually helping equality. Mary L. Dudziak, a legal scholar, writes that “equality was presented as evolutionary, and the inevitable byproduct of American politics and value,” which would make America appear as a country promoting equality to the rest of the world. The Black Freedom Dreams, and the writings from Moody show that the Civil Rights movement cannot be contained to domestic influence.

Document 1:


In this piece from W.E.B. DuBois, we can see a struggle for democracy.  He criticizes the United States system, as it has been oppressing African Americans for all of United States history.  From the beginning black individuals were treated differently, enslaved after becoming a free country, getting partial votes per person, and under represented in the electoral college. In a country based fundamentally on the ideals of freedom and equality, he wonders how could such a democracy develop.  According to Dubois the only attempt to reconstruct the flawed system of the United States was after the Civil War, which made very little impact outside of freeing the slaves.  DuBois sees a paradox unfold as change must be made to underrepresented of African Americans, but to bring about change, they must be represented enough to change the political system.  This impossible change of state is the true problem of the African American, according to DuBois, because without a way to  triumph the failed democracy, African Americans will never be truly free.

This document connects to Singh's interpretation of DuBois and the Civil Rights Movement. DuBois categorizes the problem of inequality among African Americans not as a problem limited to the United States, but a problem that is "fundamentally human." All humans around the world are struggling to justify solutions that would include people of color, despite their contributions. African Americans played a role in fighting the English off of American soil, and were still exploited for their labor afterwards. Not only this, but the inclusion of Haitian volunteers in the Revolutionary war to fight for independence shows that fighting for liberty, freedom and equality is not only ingrained in Americans (or the Declaration of Independence/Constitution), or in Haitians, but to every human. Singh interpreted the Civil Rights movement as being international, but DuBois and the Civil Rights movement can be seen from an International perspective.

Document 2:
https://bltc-alexanderstreet-com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/philologic/BLTC/navigate/6/1/

This image is of young African Americans in the New York Metropolitan Museum learning about black culture.  The photo was taken in 1961, which was a critical time of efforts to change civil rights in America. Tensions between races soared as African Americans fought the constraints of Jim Crow through demonstrations and protests like the Freedom Riders. Much of black nationalism, a movement promoting racial pride, black separatism, and economic self-sufficiency for African Americans, was the fight and struggle for black rights, which was displayed at the museum these kids are in.  The kids are very young, meaning they are learning about the awful cruelties of America at a young age. American history isn't a peaceful and pretty story, but it helps the children understand the countries origins. However, it also helps the children to be proud of their culture and heritage. Seeing members of their race struggling for hundreds of years fight for a different interpretation of "We the People" which included people other than White Americans. Because American nationalism is so split (Between black nationalism and 'white nationalism'), it is important for the young African American boys to take pride in who they are early on in life. It's important so that they can band together, and be united and proud to include their side of the story in American history. From slavery to marching on Washington, pride of culture and ideals of freedom brought the oppressed African Americans together, united by their history, culture, heritage and struggle.

Conclusion:

All throughout history, the United States was struggling with its identity.  A false idea of universal freedom founded the country that did not include all the people who helped get this country moving. It had a strong foundation, but lacked a core that truly believed in entirety what the founding ideas actually meant. Seen in DuBois's piece, change is needed in the United States to allow improvement in the nation, not only for African Americans, but for everyone, demonstrating that "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" are international. The need for change creates a fundamental issue for all of the underrepresented and marginalized black Americans, which cannot be solved.  As seen in the image of the young African American boys in the museum, the African American struggle demonstrates a divide in the United States nationalism. Two sides of a fight, who are fighting for different views of a better America. This created a race specific pride, for both white and black Americans, causing an even further separation in the population. These sources exemplify the fights and impossible challenges that needed to be overcome during the civil rights movement.

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