What is an American Identity

By: Aaron Schwartz
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:25:24
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher |

Rating:

 

The twentieth century was marked by significant changes practically in all spheres of human life. Naturally, it influenced traditional human perception of the world and people that live around. In the USA, this period was the time of great changes too, particularly changes on the national level and in relations between all members of American society, which represented different cultures, nations and races. As a result, there appeared a new perception of American identity at large. One of those who significantly contributed to the development of new regard at an American identity was a prominent Afro-American writer Langston Hughes. In order to realize this fact it is necessary to study his works, for instance his “The Big Sea”. On reading his works a reader cannot fail to agree that the author’s ideas reflect the main trends of his time. Being an Afro-American writer, Langston Hughes naturally wrote about the problems that were close to him and at the same time these problems were common for a great part of American society and they concerned not only Afro-Americans but the whole society at large as well. The explanation is quite simple. Since Afro-Americans constituted a significant part of American population they could not remain deprived as they used to be and they had to fight for their rights by all possible means. At this respect, the work done by Langston Hughes was extremely important because he managed to convey the entity of problems of deprived population of the USA, basically it was Afro-American community, and in such a way he contributed to the formation of a new view on American identity. He insisted that any kind of deprivation, exploitation, racial or any other kind of discrimination is absolutely unacceptable in a well-developed democratic society like American one. He is particularly concerned about Afro-Americans especially when their role for the US economy and social stability had become extremely important during the period of Great Depression. Consequently, Langston Hughes suggested that a perspective American identity should include tolerance in relation to all citizens regardless, their race, social status, nationality, etc.

Thus, it is possible to presuppose that, according to Langston Hughes, Americans should become a society of equal citizens that actually are basic principles of any democracy.

Looking back at the epoch he worked in, it is hardly possible to imagine how a person could foresee the prospects of his own country. Obviously, his beliefs and ideas concerning a new American identity had been basically realized during the 20th century. It is quite evident that nowadays when one speaks about Americans traditionally implies a tolerant person that is quite simple in communication with representatives of different peoples and nations. It is because Americans themselves have changed. They have equal rights and practically equal opportunity though sometimes social status of a person still plays an important role because it may influence a person’s opportunity to get better education, or job, etc.

Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, it is possible to say that Langston Hughes ideas about a new American identity were quite progressive and what is more important they were quite right. Moreover, they had been practically realized during the 20th century but the contemporary American society should not be idealized since it is still not perfect and has some negative sides that should be improved in order to form an ideal American identity.

college essays

Custom Essays

research papers

Article source: Expert Articles