“ Ascriptive outlooks have had such a hold in America because they have provided something that neither liberalism nor republicanism has done so well.”
Rogers Smith, a political scientist, who established the theory of “ascribed Americanism.” Americans have been branded with certain characteristics that are unchangeable since birth. Its characteristics such as an individual’s race or gender sets their status as a citizen, from high-class to low-class. The “superior” race have been ascribed to those born white, regardless of gender, and “inferior” was written on the blacks. These written beliefs offered enough credible and psychological reasons for many Americans to believe that their social roles and personal characteristics have a preeminent worth of things to nature, history and God. These rationales established by the superior race have aided them to transcend the nations political, economic, and social hierarchies. The social construct of racism was built on these beliefs in which white people were believed to be superior and had divine authority over the blacks. Because of the absurd ascriptions, subjugation and enslavement became the lives of African Americans. Smith argues that racist ideology is more than just an absence of values but it has substance, values, and traditions and these traditions are the foundations of the generations to come. The existence of ascription has molded the world in which we live and initiated the acts of imperialism, colonialism, social darwinism and many others. These beliefs are as much as American culture as Americans as liberalism and republicanism.
I chose this quote because I never knew of the term “ascribe American”. In the duration of reading the text, I had come to realize that it was an idea that was not only true but tremendously influential. The ascriptions placed on individuals have shaped and had indirect authority over our lives today. The events in history all dealt with the hunger for power and money, or equality and liberty. This instrument has orchestrated bloody wars and rebellions of different cultures all over the world.
Rogers Smith, a political scientist, who established the theory of “ascribed Americanism.” Americans have been branded with certain characteristics that are unchangeable since birth. Its characteristics such as an individual’s race or gender sets their status as a citizen, from high-class to low-class. The “superior” race have been ascribed to those born white, regardless of gender, and “inferior” was written on the blacks. These written beliefs offered enough credible and psychological reasons for many Americans to believe that their social roles and personal characteristics have a preeminent worth of things to nature, history and God. These rationales established by the superior race have aided them to transcend the nations political, economic, and social hierarchies. The social construct of racism was built on these beliefs in which white people were believed to be superior and had divine authority over the blacks. Because of the absurd ascriptions, subjugation and enslavement became the lives of African Americans. Smith argues that racist ideology is more than just an absence of values but it has substance, values, and traditions and these traditions are the foundations of the generations to come. The existence of ascription has molded the world in which we live and initiated the acts of imperialism, colonialism, social darwinism and many others. These beliefs are as much as American culture as Americans as liberalism and republicanism.
I chose this quote because I never knew of the term “ascribe American”. In the duration of reading the text, I had come to realize that it was an idea that was not only true but tremendously influential. The ascriptions placed on individuals have shaped and had indirect authority over our lives today. The events in history all dealt with the hunger for power and money, or equality and liberty. This instrument has orchestrated bloody wars and rebellions of different cultures all over the world.
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