{"id":25638,"date":"2012-09-27T17:35:36","date_gmt":"2012-09-27T17:35:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mixedracestudies.org\/wordpress\/?p=25638"},"modified":"2016-08-27T19:03:17","modified_gmt":"2016-08-27T19:03:17","slug":"obamas-america-a-transformative-vision-of-our-national-identity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mixedracestudies.org\/wp\/?p=25638","title":{"rendered":"Obama’s America: A Transformative Vision of Our National Identity"},"content":{"rendered":"

Obama’s America: A Transformative Vision of Our National Identity<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Potomac Books<\/a>
\nJuly 2012
\n270 pages
\n6″ x 9″; Notes; Bibliography; Index
\nClothbound ISBN: 978-1-61234-472-0<\/p>\n

Ian Reifowitz<\/a><\/strong>, Associate Professor of History
\nEmpire State College of the State University of New York<\/em><\/p>\n

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What it means to be an American today<\/em><\/p>\n

Our national identity is defined by what it means to be an American and whom we include and why when we talk about \u201cthe American people.\u201d A country\u2019s national identity is fluid, and Ian Reifowitz argues that President Barack Obama<\/a>, by emphasizing the ideals Americans hold dear, hopes to redefine ours in a fundamental way. Obama\u2019s conception of America emphasizes two principles of national unity: First, all Americans, regardless of their heritage and cultural traditions, should identify with America as their country, based upon shared democratic values, a shared history, and a shared fate. Second, America should embrace all its citizens as active participants in one \u201cfamily.\u201d Reifowitz explores Obama\u2019s belief that strengthening our common bonds will encourage Americans to rectify the injustices and heal the racial divisions that still plague our country.<\/p>\n

We have the opportunity to demonstrate to the world that a society of many races and cultures can truly become one people. In facing terrorism, violent fundamentalism, and other security issues, Obama\u2019s response centers on a powerful, inspiring, and truly inclusive American narrative. By bolstering America\u2019s identity as diverse yet unified, he aims both to counter the anxieties and fears that radicalism stokes and give proponents of religious and political freedom a model they can defend. The stakes couldn\u2019t be any higher in determining America\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n