Exploring American Identity: A Semiquincentennial Reflection
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, a prominent American news organization has initiated a comprehensive exploration into the multifaceted concept of national identity. Through a special edition of its daily news briefing and an accompanying podcast, the publication invited its journalists across various beats to define “the most American thing” from their professional perspectives, yielding a diverse and often surprising collection of insights.
The project, spearheaded by journalist Jodi Rudoren and described by some participating editors and critics as an “absurdist” yet “important” undertaking, aimed to capture the essence of American culture, values, and inherent contradictions. Journalists were tasked with identifying elements within their areas of coverage that uniquely embody the American experience, resulting in a spectrum of responses ranging from the historically revered to the contemporarily contentious.
Defining the ‘Most American’
Among the selections deemed “straightforward” or “canonical” were established cultural touchstones. These included musical compositions by Aaron Copland, the expansive poetry of Walt Whitman, and the historic triumphs of U.S. Olympic hockey teams. These choices largely reflect a traditional view of American exceptionalism, artistic achievement, and collective national pride.
However, many contributions diverged significantly from conventional patriotism, offering more nuanced or provocative interpretations. For instance, some journalists nominated “Bama Rush,” referring to the highly publicized sorority recruitment process at the University of Alabama, which highlights aspects of American youth culture, social media phenomena, and competitive collegiate traditions. Other unexpected nominations included liquid rocket fuel, symbolizing American innovation, technological ambition, and its expansive military-industrial complex, and demolition derbies, representing a unique form of popular entertainment characterized by competition, spectacle, and destruction.
Jon Caramanica, a host of “Popcast” and a pop music critic, articulated a particularly contemporary perspective by choosing “Trump Trump Baby,” an anthem by a rapper who identifies as “the Mayor of MAGAville.” Caramanica acknowledged the song’s questionable artistic merit but emphasized its unique existence within the current socio-political landscape of the United States. He noted, “America isn’t only what you look at and what you listen to. It’s what you avert your eyes from,” suggesting that a holistic understanding of American identity necessitates confronting its less comfortable or celebrated aspects and the diverse cultural expressions that emerge from its political divisions.
Cultural Symbols and Economic Realities
The discussion extended to everyday phenomena and globally recognized brands. Kevin Roose, a technology correspondent, identified Amazon Prime as profoundly American. He explained that its existence is “based on a fundamentally American premise — that people want things fast, cheap and all the time.” This perspective underscores a consumer-driven culture and an expectation of immediate gratification that has become emblematic of modern American life and its economic priorities.
Television critic James Poniewozik posited that the long-running reality show “Survivor” offers a compelling metaphor for American society. He described it as a scenario where “a bunch of people come from somewhere else, and they are stuck with each other and they have to set up a society and figure out how to get along or not get along.” This observation highlights themes of immigration, social construction, intense competition, and the often-reluctant collaboration inherent in the nation’s historical development and ongoing social dynamics.
Food writer Kim Severson presented the M&M as a condensed history of America. She noted its creation by individuals benefiting from familial connections (termed “nepo babies”), its journey into space aboard the shuttle, and its evolution into a globally recognized brand with dedicated retail outlets and anthropomorphic spokescharacters. This choice illustrates themes of entrepreneurship, commercialism, brand ubiquity, and the often-unseen advantages that shape American success stories.
Severson also contributed an analysis of Lean Cuisine, Stouffer’s low-calorie frozen dinners, as a defining product of the 1980s. She argued that Lean Cuisine embodied a new era of American diet culture, emerging as national obesity rates climbed, the practice of home cooking declined, and an increasing number of women entered the workforce. Its strategic marketing success, promoting “elevated diet food,” paved the way for a generation of portion-controlled, low-fat, and low-carb products. This reflects significant shifts in American eating habits, gender roles, and societal norms around health and convenience.
Contradictions and Historical Echoes in American Identity
Art critic Jason Farago offered a provocative interpretation of the Statue of Liberty, an artwork of French origin, as the “most American.” Having recently toured its interior, Farago observed the unexpected thinness and malleability of its copper construction. He described the statue as an “extraordinary symbol that’s also an empty shell — it’s something that’s very, very strong, but it’s also vacant.” Farago suggested that these inherent contradictions – strength alongside emptiness, a powerful symbol with internal fragility – might embody a fundamental American ideal, inviting introspection into the gap between national ideals and lived realities.
Beyond cultural artifacts, the project delved into political rhetoric. Critic A.O. Scott examined the enduring campaign slogan “Make America Great Again,” noting its deep historical roots predating its prominent use by Donald Trump. Scott highlighted that Ronald Reagan first employed the phrase with his 1980 campaign buttons, “Let’s Make America Great Again.” A decade later, Bill Clinton declared his presidential candidacy by stating, “I believe that together we can make America great again.” Scott observes a significant evolution in its usage and implied meaning: while Reagan’s version implied a subjunctive wish and Clinton’s a collective endeavor in the first person, Trump’s appropriation on items like baseball caps removed these nuances, transforming it into an imperative. “This isn’t a wish or a suggestion; it’s an order,” Scott noted, underscoring a profound transformation in political messaging and national sentiment over decades.
The collection of these diverse perspectives forms a comprehensive, if unconventional, portrait of the United States at a pivotal historical moment, encouraging both internal reflection and external understanding of its complex and often contradictory identity.
Why This Matters
This extensive journalistic endeavor to define “the most American thing” holds significant importance for both domestic and international audiences. Firstly, it provides a unique and nuanced lens through which to understand the evolving national identity of the United States. By moving beyond simplistic, traditional symbols and embracing a wide array of cultural, technological, and political phenomena—from popular music reflecting political polarization to the engineering marvel of rocket fuel—the project illustrates the complexity and inherent contradictions within American society. This internal dialogue is crucial for American self-assessment and navigating future domestic challenges.
Secondly, for international observers, such a discussion offers invaluable insight into the American psyche and its societal undercurrents. Understanding what Americans themselves identify as core to their nation—whether it is the drive for speed and convenience (Amazon Prime), the competitive spirit of social formation (Survivor), or the often-uncomfortable realities of political discourse (the “Trump Trump Baby” song and the “Make America Great Again” slogan’s evolution)—can help explain its foreign policy decisions, cultural exports, and global influence. It demystifies the nation by showcasing its internal diversity of thought and experience, moving beyond facile stereotypes and towards a more granular understanding.
Furthermore, the exploration of symbols like the Statue of Liberty as an “empty shell” or the M&M as a story of “nepo babies” and pervasive commercialism reflects a more critical and mature introspection within American media. This indicates a willingness to engage with the nation’s less flattering aspects and its historical complexities, fostering a more robust and honest public discourse. In an increasingly interconnected world, where national narratives are constantly scrutinized and often contested, such deep self-reflection by a major global power is not merely an academic exercise but a vital component of fostering international relations and mutual understanding. Ultimately, by dissecting what constitutes “American-ness” at this milestone anniversary, the project contributes to a broader global conversation about national identity, cultural influence, and the ongoing challenge of reconciling ideals with reality in a dynamic modern state.
America at 250: Reflecting on Ideals, Contradictions, and Enduring Legacies
WASHINGTON D.C. –As the United States approaches its semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary, the nation is engaging in a period of profound reflection on its founding principles, historical complexities, and the evolution of its national identity. Discussions span the shifting landscape of political ideology, the persistent struggle for freedom and equality, and the re-evaluation of contentious historical figures and narratives.
The Evolution of American Political Thought
Recent analyses highlight a significant transformation in American political discourse, particularly within conservative ideology. Journalist Tony observes that figures like Ronald Reagan in the 1980s aimed to bridge the gap between the aspirational idealism of the 1960s and a subsequent period of nostalgia, often centered on the middle class.
However, this broad lament transformed into a more defined set of grievances under former President Donald Trump. Trump articulated specific accusations against concepts such as “wokeness,” Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) initiatives, and “Marxism,” framing them as “manifestations of liberal waywardness.” While often characterized as a politics of resentment, Trump’s “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) movement is also described by Tony as a “catechism of blame.” This framing, Tony suggests, frequently brings to the forefront the racial and nationalist animus that earlier conservative movements had largely kept as an unspoken subtext.
Unknown Founders: Challenging America’s Contradictions
The nation’s founding, steeped in declarations of liberty, also grappled with the institution of slavery. By the end of the Revolutionary War, approximately 700,000 enslaved people resided in the colonies. Among them was Elizabeth Freeman, known as Bett, an enslaved woman in Massachusetts, where roughly 5,000 enslaved individuals lived.
Freeman was held by John Ashley, a prominent landowner who, in 1773, hosted discussions that led to the Sheffield Declaration, a document advocating for liberty that predated the Declaration of Independence. Historian Martha S. Jones notes that Freeman likely overheard conversations about “natural rights” within the Ashley household. Driven by these discussions, Freeman took the unprecedented step of approaching Theodore Sedgwick, one of the authors of the Sheffield Declaration, to sue for her freedom under the new State Constitution. She ultimately won her case.
Jones emphasizes that Freeman “exposed the faulty terms of America’s fundamental contradiction: enslaving people in a nation founded to ensure liberty and equality.” Her case underscores that “efforts to abolish slavery in the new United States often were driven by the initiative and insistence of enslaved people themselves,” highlighting their active role in shaping the country’s legal and moral landscape.
Black Soldiers in the American Revolution
The contributions of Black individuals to the Revolutionary War are also being highlighted. Historical records indicate that approximately 150 of the minutemen who prepared for the Battle of Bunker Hill were Black. Throughout the conflict, an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 Black soldiers fought for the American cause, while around 20,000 fought for the British, who often offered freedom in exchange for service. Many Black individuals, seizing the opportunity amidst the chaos of war, effectively emancipated themselves.
Contested Legacies: Re-evaluating Historical Figures
The examination of American history also involves confronting contentious legacies, such as that of D.W. Griffith and his 1915 film, “The Birth of a Nation.” This epic about the Civil War, based on a novel by Thomas Dixon Jr., was immensely popular, earning $60 million in its first year and even being screened at the White House. Critics at the time lauded Griffith’s artistic innovation; upon his death in 1948, one prominent film critic likened watching his work to “being witness to the beginning of melody; or the first conscious use of the lever or the wheel; the emergence, coordination, and first eloquence of language; the birth of an art.”
However, the film’s intensely racist portrayal of Reconstruction and its romanticization of the Ku Klux Klan stirred significant controversy, contributing to a revival of the Klan. Civil rights organizations organized protests and boycotts against it. Over time, critical reception of Griffith shifted, with later critics condemning the film’s hateful content and subsequently finding its style rigid and overly sentimental, as noted by A.O. Scott.
Revolutionary Journeys: An International Perspective
For those seeking an alternative perspective on the American Revolution, visiting historical sites in Britain offers unique insights. Claire Moses suggests several locations in London:
A copy of the Declaration of Independence is on display at the National Archives in Richmond, often humorously referred to as a “breakup letter” by some news outlets.
The house near Trafalgar Square where Benjamin Franklin resided from 1757 to 1775, during his efforts to resolve a tax dispute with the British government, offers a glimpse into a pivotal diplomatic period.
A visit to Parliament provides context for the legislative body whose conviction in its authority to tax and legislate the American colonies ultimately alienated them and fueled the drive for independence, according to one historian.
Contemporary Reflections on Democracy
These historical reflections are occurring alongside ongoing discussions about the health of American democracy. Opinion columnist Ross Douthat has addressed the need for a unifying national speech, while the editorial board of a prominent publication argues that “democracy is not a sheltered structure we live inside. It is a habit we must practice — or lose.”
In a lighter vein of celebration, a Vermont couple has marked America’s 250th birthday by creating the “United States of Bourbon,” a blend of 50 bourbons, one from each state, with a 100-proof bottle retailing for approximately $150.
Why This Matters
The current period of introspection as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary is crucial for several reasons, both domestically and internationally.
Shaping National Identity:How a nation understands its past directly influences its present and future identity. By revisiting its founding ideals alongside its historical contradictions—such as the simultaneous pursuit of liberty and practice of slavery—America is engaging in a necessary re-evaluation of its core values. This process helps to build a more inclusive and accurate national narrative that acknowledges the contributions and struggles of all its people, from enslaved individuals fighting for their freedom to Black soldiers integral to the Revolutionary War.
Addressing Contemporary Divisions:The analysis of evolving political ideologies, from the idealism of the 1960s to the specific accusations of modern conservative movements, provides critical context for understanding current political polarization. Recognizing the historical roots and shifts in rhetoric, including the explicit articulation of racial and nationalist grievances, is essential for fostering informed public discourse and seeking pathways to unity in a highly fragmented society. The calls for a unifying national speech and the emphasis on democracy as an active practice underscore the urgency of these challenges.
Global Impact of American Experiment:The American experiment in democracy has long held global significance, influencing political thought and movements worldwide. A clear and objective understanding of its historical trajectory, its successes, and its failures offers valuable lessons for other nations grappling with similar issues of governance, human rights, and social justice. The international perspective offered by visiting Revolutionary War sites in Britain highlights the global context of America’s origins and its ongoing role on the world stage.
Learning from Contested Legacies:The ongoing debate over figures like D.W. Griffith and “The Birth of a Nation” illustrates the importance of continually re-evaluating cultural and historical contributions through a contemporary ethical lens. It demonstrates that artistic merit does not absolve works of their harmful social impact, encouraging a nuanced approach to history that acknowledges both innovation and prejudice. This critical engagement with the past is vital for promoting empathy and understanding, preventing the recurrence of historical injustices, and ensuring that future generations learn from a comprehensive and honest account of history.
In essence, this period of reflection is not merely an academic exercise; it is an active effort to grapple with foundational truths, reconcile historical injustices, and forge a more perfect union, both for its citizens and as an example to the world.