Black Lives Matter in Historical Perspective

By comparing and contrasting articles, we get a better understanding on how past events might have inspired the current events happening in our country. Whether or not they might have been actually inspirational, we can see a repeat in history itself.

Though history might not repeat itself exactly, we can see some similarities between past articles and current articles today. The expectations the early settlers might have had when founding the U.S are similar to the expectations current politicians have for the future of our nation.

The fight to stop cruel acts towards a group of people are being fought today by Black Lives Matter activists just like they were once fought for in the past by De las Casas to protect Indigenous people. Exceptionalism is explored by using the definitions given by Michael Lind to compare the change in taxation on the rich and how it has cost Americans more than their money. Howard Zinn’s definition of exceptionalism can be used to analyze everything wrong with our country and the unfair treatment towards immigrant children and families.

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The problem with gun control within the youth is mentioned to explain why the second amendment needs to be enforced. Trump’s vision for America is not far from Winthrop’s vision and that’s another similarity between then and now.

Article 1

According to Michael Lind, American exceptionalism has two meanings. The first definition is used by politicians to compare the success of the United States to other countries. The second definition is explained by social scientists and political philosophers as an intellectual problem (FHY, pg 135).

Despite the many flaws in our country, politicians today still believe that America is truly exceptional and unique. Perhaps politicians believe this because they are a part of the 1% that is thriving in our country.

“In 2015, the richest 1 percent of American taxpayers drew more than 20 percent of the nation’s income, including capital gains, according to the tabulations by the French scholar Thomas Piketty and his colleague Emmanuel Saez. You can bet it has gone higher, given the bull run in the stock market since then. And Republicans just passed another round of tax cuts to offer a helping to the upper crust” (Porter, 2108). In The American Creed: Does It Matter? Should It Change? By Michael Lind, a comparison in taxes between the nations is shown. 'As of the early nineties, overwhelming majorities, 87 percent of West Germans, 86 percent of Italians, and 75 percent of Britons, believe in levying higher taxes on the rich to produce greater income equality, as compared to a much smaller majority, only 74 percent of Americans' (Lind, 1996).

Rich Americans in the 90’s paid higher taxes to create fairness between the rich and the poor. Today, according to New York Times Journalist, Eduardo Porter, “America is doubling down on its exceptionalism. The rich got a tax break. Bankers got a break from the pesky rules written in the shadow of the financial crisis to protect the little guy. The poor and near poor were freed from their ability to afford health insurance.” Lind’s definition of exceptionalism corresponds to the 1% in our country today because of their lack of worry and mediocre problems that are incomparable to the struggles the rest of the country faces.

Porter, E. (2018, May 29). The Profound Social Cost of American Exceptionalism. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/29/business/economy/social-cost-american-exceptionalism.html

Article 2

The Devastation of The Indies can be compared to the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States. The movement was developed to bring awareness and protest against police brutality towards African Americans. A similar issue was happening during the era of Christopher Columbus. “From the beginning of Spanish conquest, there were debates over the treatment of indigenous peoples, and laws were created to protect the native population...De las Casas was part of a large movement among mendicant religious orders that questioned the treatment of Native Americans and defended them from rapacious colonists, the encomienda (a feudal system of forced labor), and other mistreatment.” (FHY, pg 107).

Similar to Black Lives Matter, the movement during that time was created to stop the mistreatment towards the indigenous people and bring peace within the colonies. “The Movement for Black Lives is distinctive because it defers to the local wisdom of its members and affiliates, rather than trying to dictate from above. In fact, the local organizers have insisted upon it. This democratic inflection will pay off if they persevere. Brick by brick, relationship by relationship, decision by decision, the edifices of resistance are being built. The national organizations are the mortar between the bricks. That fortified space will be a necessary training ground and refuge for the political battles that lay ahead, as white supremacists inside and outside of our government seek to undermine racial and economic justice” (Ransby, 2017). Black Lives Matter activists fight endlessly to bring awareness to the ongoing discrimination towards black youth in our country.

Ransby, B. (2017, October 21). Black Lives Matter Is Democracy in Action. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/21/opinion/sunday/black-lives-matter-leadership.html

Article 3

With new laws and regulations set by the Trump Administration, it’s hard to see America as truly exceptional. Howard Zinn debunks the idea of American Exceptionalism by referring to it as a myth and disagreeing that this nation could ever be exemplary. “The notion of American exceptionalism—that the United States alone has the right, whether by divine sanction or moral obligation, to bring civilization, or democracy, or liberty to the rest of the world, by violence if necessary—is not new...The idea of a city on a hill is heartwarming. It suggests what George Bush has spoken of: that the United States is a beacon of liberty and democracy. People can look to us and learn from and emulate us” (Zinn, 2005). By setting inhumane laws that hurt hopeful people, America is not unique or exceptional, but instead it is immoral and unsympathetic.

“It seems that the idea of American exceptionalism is pervasive across the political spectrum” (Zinn, 2005). With thousands of children being separated from their families at the border, America is far from being a city on a hill. Under Trump’s new enforcement policy, thousands of children are being caged without a clue that their immigrant parents are being prosecuted. “But at least their children had been with them. Now they were gone. The immigration authorities would not say where the children had been taken or when they would be returned. As part of the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policy, several thousand children were being separated from their parents at the border — a tactic that previous administrations had avoided and that the mothers could not have anticipated” (Draper, 2018). Separating children from their families and not informing parents of where the children are is not exceptional, but instead is inhumane.

Draper, R. (2018, October 10). The Democrats Have an Immigration Problem. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/10/magazine/the-democrats-have-an-immigration-problem.html

Article 4

President Trump’s vision to make America Great Again is similar to winthrop’s vision of a city on hill because both visions revolve around making a community/nation better than the rest. With cuts and changes made in the government, President Trump’s vision is slowly coming together. “While he has not won the needed funding from Congress, Trump still talks about his beloved “big, beautiful” border wall. Even without the funding, Trump’s message has had a dampening effect on illegal immigration. By July, the number of illegal border crossings was down 47 percent, and the number of voluntary departures of undocumented immigrants was up 31 percent” (Saunders, 2018). By removing illegal immigrants from The United States, Trump believes the nation’s crime will decreasing making the United States a better country Since the beginning of Trump’s presidential career, Trump made many promises on how he would change the country for the better. Determined to show the country and the world that he was more than just a businessman, Trump began to make changes. “At the end of Trump’s first full week in office, the president signed an executive order that suspended refugee entry and ordered a 90-day entry ban for individuals from seven predominantly Muslim nations: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen” (Saunders, 2018).

Similar to Trump’s Make America Great Again, Winthrop envisioned a city on a hill which would serve as an example for the rest of the world and would have a positive impact in the Puritan community. Unlike the Trump administration which separates families and destroys bonds, Winthrop envisioned a nation ruled by God and brotherly love. “Beyond individual predestination, Winthrop described a vision of the Puritan community as a whole. It was to be a city on a hill for others to emulate, but the world would know if the Puritans failed” (FHY, pg 24). Both visions are unrealistic and flawed. Though both men want to build a perfect nation, it is impossible due to the fact that their plans will always be flawed and unfair to some.

Saunders White House, D. J. (2018, January 05). In first year, Trump reshaping government to reflect his vision. Retrieved from https://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion/opinion-columns/debra-saunders/in-first-year-trump-reshaping-government-to-reflect-his-vision/

Article 5

The second amendment in the Constitution’s Bill of Rights reads, A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. The right to bear arms is something the American people pride themselves in the most. But with recent gun control problems, the American people have started to wonder if there should be stronger laws that enforce the second amendment. The Las Vegas Sun writes in an article that “High school and middle school students will now be subject to random searches to discourage them from bringing weapons on campus”. It is hard to believe that gun control has gone so out of hand that middle schoolers, ages 11-14, will soon undergo random searches for weapons.

With recent shootings and the major mass shooting in the city of Las Vegas, it is understandable why school district officials feel it is appropropriate to search students. “The random searches are just one strategy the district is employing to improve school safety, officials said. A working group of principals, police officers, community leaders and others will present other recommendations to the School Board by Dec. 1” (Staff, 2018). Random searches might prevent students from bringing weapons into the school, but there are no current laws that are strong enough to prevent students from buying weapons on the streets. The issue is not within the students or the school district, but instead it is within the weak system and lack of enforcing stronger gun laws.

Staff, S. (2018, October 19). Students to undergo random searches to deter weapons. Retrieved from https://lasvegassun.com/news/2018/oct/19/schools-to-start-searching-students-to-deter-weapo/

Conclusion

In conclusion, the comparisons between the articles and readings mentioned above can be used to acknowledge the growth and change in our society.