’s American Creed Essay, Research Paper
Lipset’s American Creed
Liberty. Egalitarianism. Individualism. Populism. Laissez-faire.
These five concepts embody the “American creed” as described by author Seymour
Martin Lipset. Lipset feels that this “American creed” is representative of an
ideology that all Americans share. Lipset’s argument is on shaky ground,
however, when scrutinized under the microscope of race. Racial relations in
this country do much to undermine the validity of Lipset’s argument, especially
the concepts of egalitarianism and populism.
Take, for example, The Deforming Mirror of Truth, the introduction to a
book by Nathan Huggins entitled Black Odyssey: The African-American Ordeal in
Slavery. This introduction focuses on how slavery fit into the national
consciousness. Without a doubt, there is a powerful abnormality in the founding
of America. The documents establishing a country where all men are created
equal neglect to address, or even mention by name, those people whose lives were
“merely the extension of the master’s will” (Huggins xiv). Indeed, this
suggests that the Founding Fathers had an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality
towards the issue of slavery.
While Huggins understands why the Founding Fathers may have elected to
ignore the issue, he hardly thinks that it was a good idea. “It encouraged the
belief that American history-its institutions, its values, its people- was one
thing and racial slavery and oppression were a different story” (Huggins xii).
He reinforces this idea by looking at the historical perspective that was
prevalent in America until only recently. “American historians, guarding the
ideological integrity of the center, have wanted to treat race and slavery as
matters apart from the real, central story of American history” (Huggins xvi).
Race and slavery. Two concepts that most people would agree are forever
linked in America. To assume that blacks and white became equals after the
Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War is ludicrous. The South immediately
began establishing what came to be known as Jim Crow laws. Roger B. Taney,
Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, wrote in a court document that “black”
Americans (which is to say any American of African decent) had “no rights a
white man need respect”. This statement included those blacks who were not
slaves. Furthermore, it was only in the latter half of this century that the
nation became integrated, and there are still Affirmative Action laws in place
to ensure fair consideration of all individuals on the job market. Is this a
country of equality? Is egalitarianism a value embraced by all Americans? It
is obvious what Nathan Huggins thinks of the matter.
The concept of populism also falls under fire when considered from a
racial standpoint. The idea is rooted in the our lack of an aristocracy and our
belief in social equality and common rights. Social equality and common rights
for the white majority, that is. Minority groups have been fighting for these
for quite some time, and it is arguable whether or not they have been attained.
Consider The Truly Disadvantaged by William Julius Wilson. Through his use of
statistics, Wilson paints a grim portrait of black ghetto life, a life we only
get a glimpse at through the media. From the violent life of the Boyz in the
Hood to the comedic plights of the Evans family on the TV show Good Times, most
people have only a dim understanding of what life in the ghettos and housing
projects of major cities is really like.
Social equality does NOT exist in these places, and Wilson provides a
multitude of examples to prove it. 1/9th of the American population is black,
although they made up nearly half the total number of people arrested for murder
and nonnegligent manslaughter in 1984. In the Robert Taylor Homes project in
Chicago, where only .5 percent of the city’s population lived in 1980, “11
percent of the city’s murders, 9 percent of its rapes, and 10 percent of its
aggravated assaults were committed in the project” (Wilson 25). In 1983 all of
the households in the project registered with the housing authority were black.
People are dying in places like this, and most often it is young men. Women are
increasingly becoming the head of the household. IN 1965 25 percent of black
families were headed by women, and this was an alarming figure. By 1984 the
percentage had increased to 43. Only 13 percent of white families were headed
by women in 1984, an imbalance that can hardly be attributed to chance.
Violence and family breakdown are not the only issues which show gross
inequality between whites and blacks. Consider family incomes. According to
the US Bureau of Census, in 1978:
15.9 percent of all black families had an income of under $4,000
85.1 percent of black metropolitan families with female heads earned the
same.
4.3 percent of all white families had an income of under $4,000
51 percent of white metropolitan families with female heads earned the
same.
13.4 percent of all black families had incomes of over $25,000
29.5 percent of all white families were in that income bracket.
Such figures cannot be ignored, nor can they be attributed to anything
other than inequality. “Discrimination is the most frequently invoked
explanation of social dislocations in the urban ghetto” (Wilson 30). Blacks
simply do not have social equality with whites, and without it, populism does
not exist in any real manner.
The writings of Nathan Huggins and William Julius Wilson do much to
discredit Lipset’s claim about the “American creed”. Huggins’ piece shows that
the “American creed”, from its beginnings in the birth of our nation, overlooks
the effects of slavery and racism on American culture, while Wilson’s work
completely refutes the idea of populism. Lipset’s argument is flawed, to be
sure; perhaps if he considered race more of a factor is claim would stand on
firmer ground. I think both Huggins and Wilson would agree on that point.
Другие работы по теме:
Организации: структуры, процессы и результаты
Результаты жизнедеятельности и теория организаций. Функции и компоненты лидерства и руководства. Организационная структура: типы и возможности. Восходящая и горизонтальная коммуникация. Характер власти в организациях. Принятие стратегические решений.
Политическая психология Шестопал Е Б
Е.Б. ШЕСТОПАЛ ПОЛИТИЧЕСКАЯ ПСИХОЛОГИЯ УЧЕБНИК Допущено Министерством образования Российской Федерации в качестве учебника для студентов высших учебных заведений, обучающихся
Роль политической культуры
Сроки полномочий президента и кабинета министров не зависят от голосования в законодательном собрании. В результате этого партийная дисциплина, скажем, в американском конгрессе гораздо слабее, чем в британском парламенте.
Интеллектуалы в сельском хозяйстве России 1930-1980-х гг.
Статья посвящена описанию нового социального класса, сформировавшегося в советском обществе 1930-1980-х гг. - сельскохозяйственных интеллектуалов (собственников знаний и квалификаций) - агрономов, ветеринаров, зоотехников, инженеров-механиков, экономистов. В статье определена специфика бытования класса интеллектуалов в развитии советского общества, сопряженная с владением ими передовым видом капитала - интеллектуальным.
Политиология
А.И.СОЛОВЬЕВ политология ПОЛИТИЧЕСКАЯ ТЕОРИЯ ПОЛИТИЧЕСКИЕ ТЕХНОЛОГИИ Рекомендовано Министерством образования Российской Федерации в качестве учебника для студентов высших учебных заведений
Политология, как наука и учебная дисциплина
БЕЛОРУССКАЯ АКАДЕМИЯ ПОЛИТИЧЕСКИХ НАУК ПОЛИТОЛОГИЯ Учебник для вузов Под редакцией проф. С.В. Решетникова Утверждено Министерством образования Республики Беларусь в качестве учебника
Власть и проблемы ее легитимности
Эффективность политического режима в условиях трансформации политической системы. Отношение граждан к политической власти, ее решениям и действиям, ценностям и социальным ориентациям. Проблемы признания правомерности существующей политической власти.
Элвин тоффлер.
С. (гл. 18-19), Бурмистров К. (гл. 1-4), Бурмистрова Л. (гл. 5-10), Заритовская (гл. 13), Комарова Е. (гл. 14), Кротовская Н. (гл. 20), Кулагина-Ярцева В. (гл. 15-17), Микиша А. (гл. 21), Москвина-Тарханова И. (гл. 22-24), Руднева Е. (гл. 25-26), Татаринова К. (гл. 11 - 12), Хмелик Н. (гл. 27-28).
Социально-культурные и институциональные основания российского политического режима
Д.В. Гончаров Рассматривается вопрос о социально-культурных и институциональных основаниях политического режима в современной России. Автор исследует российскую политическую эволюцию в контексте вопроса о модернизации российского общества и приходит к выводу о том, что в условиях догоняющей модернизации в нашей стране сложилась модель «антисовременного общества».
Липсет, Сеймур Мартин
Введение 1 Биография на английском 3 Библиография Введение Се́ймур Ма́ртин Ли́псет (англ. Seymour Martin Lipset; 18 марта 1922, Нью-Йорк — 31 декабря 2006) — американский социолог и политолог, один из основоположников теории модернизации.
A New Nation Essay Research Paper A
A New Nation Essay, Research Paper A New Nation Begins ?A City on a Hill? Lipset Starting things off, Lipset seems to be a very articulate man. His views on this beautiful country are exactly down to earth. Lipset began talking about how this country is the best in some areas but how we lack our supremacy in other areas.
Democracy In Indonesia Essay Research Paper It
Democracy In Indonesia Essay, Research Paper It seems to me that, if it is admitted that some day we may be forced to have some form of democracy in Siam, we must prepare ourselves gradually. We must learn and educate ourselves. We must learn and experiment so as to have a better idea of how a parliamentary government would work in Siam.
Socialization Of Self Essay Research Paper American
Socialization Of Self Essay, Research Paper American values are a tricky thing. It seems that the value set changes with each individual. “American pragmatism is actually rooted in deeply held anti-authoritarian, individualistic, egalitarian, activist ideals, which privilege personal choice, flexibility, and technical efficiency with the pursuit of success, however success is defined.” (Hall, Lindholm, pg. 91) Basically, an individual’s values are what that individual decides they are.
Power Essay Research Paper POWERThere are three
Power Essay, Research Paper POWER There are three primary frameworks pertaining to the subject of power: Consensus/Pluralism, Elitism, and Class. Through the course of this class, we have seen evidence that one or more of these frameworks have been at work for a very long time in both America and Latin America.
Was The American Revolution A True Revoultion
? Essay, Research Paper American Revolution Was it a True Revolution ? In 1789 the American Revolution came to an end ,when the Constitution was ratified . But was this revolutionreally a revolution ? Skocpol , Martin Lipset and other wellrenowned experts on revolutions have argued whether ornot the American Revolution was in actuality a revolution .Did the American Revolution cause social , political , andeconomic change ? And were they revolutionary ?TheAmerican Revolution was a true in political , social , andEconomical aspects .
1972 Presidential Election Essay Research Paper The
1972 Presidential Election Essay, Research Paper The 1972 Presidential Election: The Changing United States and its Search for a Leader The election of 1972 was one of the largest landslide victories by a presidential candidate in United States history. President Nixon was reelected to the presidency by beating Senator George McGovern of South Dakota in an impressive victory.
Canada 2
Canada – Of The United States Of America Essay, Research Paper CANADA – OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The Canadian identity has always been difficult to define. We, as Canadians, have continued to define
Affirmative Action Public Policy Vs Public Opinion
Essay, Research Paper AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: PUBLIC OPINION VS. POLICY When Justin Ketcham, a white college student from the suburbs, thinks about affirmative action, he thinks about what happened when he sent out letters seeking scholarships so he could attend Stanford University after being accepted during his senior year of high school.The organizations that wrote back told him their money was reserved for women or minorities.
Ideologies Of The Democracy Movement In China
Essay, Research Paper After Deng Xiaoping gained power in 1978, a new political atmosphere was promised for the Chinese people. A promise of a free land with a modern economic state was made by Deng in order to gain public support. During Deng’s reign, a series of economic reforms were made. These reforms had major impacts on both the economy and the society of China.
Анализ коррупции в сфере высшего образования
Понятие коррупции в российском законодательстве и науке. Понятие коррупции в международном праве. Особенности и масштабы распространения коррупции в сфере высшего образования. Меры борьбы и профилактика коррупции в системе высшего образования (в СФУ).
Government and Politics
CONTENT Introduction 3 POWER 3 How is political power distributed among members of society? 3 TYPES OF AUTHORITY 4 Traditional Authority 4 Legal-Rational Authority 4