How Do The Two Captain Americas In Gillis Show Ethnic And Civic Nationalism?
Captain America is a symbol of unity and national cohesiveness. His persona embraces people from all walks of life and he embodies justice and civic nationalism. It is rare to draw out political lessons from a comic character, however Captain America has proved time and again that he stands for justice and equality. Captain America is forced into politics in what appears as a trial to change America for the better. He begins to support patriotic initiatives such as “the national identity card bill’ (Gillis 16) with this bill the government will be able to fight illegal aliens and deal with other issues such as unscrupulous employment which overworked and underpaid American workers. According to Grant, America was one of the first nation to adhere to the rule of law and respect the precepts of democracy hence dubbed ‘New World’ (Grant 43) because of its diversified culture. The American culture has always been founded on convergence of the past, contemporary and the future. Americans are taught to be just and fight for ideals they deem right in their own eyes. Thus, the two Captain America stand up for justice as exemplified in their own words, “for whatever from the forces of tyranny and subversion take, they will find Captain America ready” (Gillis 6). This shows the determination and courage Captain American is willing and determined to take in order to bring justice within the American borders. In summary, Captain America is not only rescuing people from villains seeking to destroy the world, but he is making a clear stand against bad leadership by taking part in political matters such as voting for a bill. As a result, American fundamental ideals are founded on unity, justice, peace and equality. The Americans values a system where people can live in harmony, access basic needs without any prejudice or discrimination.
According to Kendi, the American people have grappled with inequality, racism, and even gender imbalance for a very long time. Currently, President Donald Trump’s utterances revealed the nation’s hidden prejudice hence forcing other Americans to confront racisms head on. Even though peaceful protests were termed “looters and thugs” (Kendi 50), black Americans never loosen their grip on seeking the wheels of justice. After the president assumed office, he undeniably went on a racial assault ever recorded in the American history. Since the president holds the most powerful office in America, people could no longer hide the entrenched racial systems put in place to slow down the minority ethnicities in America. The secret was out in the open and this forced an open conversation on the issue. Based on Kendi’s details Americas were stack in denial about racism for the longest time. However, President Donald Trump brought it out as an issue which needs to be solved. The president of United States of America is supposed to be a symbol of national unity and cohesion. Unlike the president Trump, Captain America steps up to the plate. One American releases Captain American from his ‘suspended animation’ (Gillis 12) because Americans are in dire need of a hero. Americans are known to be patriotic despite of the changing political landscape. No matter the injustice meted out against him Captain America thanks an ordinary American citizen for freeing him from his suspension. Sometimes even the just people experience injustice in their own land. Captain America signifies justice and correction, “the world’ll be strange to you now but you’ll see what needs to be done” (Gillis 13). Americans are confident in Captain American because he knows what needs to be done and he is willing to go an extra mile to see to it that justice prevails on every corner of America. In summary, America is grappling with injustice, entrenched racism, and poverty. The will power to stop this menace is in the hands of brave men and women who will stand up against injustice.
Some critics and outsiders claims that USA only upholds negligible fabrications of national unity. The core fundamental entities of USA fail to live up to their perceived standards. The variance in terms of demographics and national identity date back to foreign nationalities. This is because, most Americans are foreigners and do not have a common identity. Consequently, most Americans’ identity is dependent upon the founding fathers of the nation. The diversity of Americans has proved futile as it destroys their authenticity as a nation. Genealogy proves that Americans come from distant countries. Similarly, captain America stands up and assumes one identity, which is ‘I’ll try to live up to your expectations” (Gillis 8). Captain America is already recognized as a hero and he himself recognizes that people regard him highly. His identity is entrenched in people’s expectations. For instance, he stops crime and makes America safe and for this reason, people have high hopes towards him. More so, identity is not about genealogy or origin but also values. The Americans values have shaped the way other nations perceive them. Thus, human values should shape how people perceive other human beings because deep down, the sense of belonging and basic needs and emotions makes people human. Captain America is deeply disturbed about “how much American values have been eroded” (Gillis 14). This implies that Captain America is well aware of the values that makes people American. In short, identity should be rooted in value systems and humanity and not just genealogy and background. People should recognize that deep down they are humans and humanity should be the core agenda of any human being.
Based on kendi’s observations, the current “political stale” (Kendi 56) mate was triggered by racism and police brutality. In the midst of a pandemic, political indifference, police killing and protests, the Americans have sought out justice through legal means. Their voice needs to be heard at a time, the president office is not sensitive racial slurs and the needs of the people. Thus, the call for justice for police is a necessity and required by all the people. For many years, Black Americans have been considered marginalized and left to fend for themselves, even at a time when the pandemic is killing most of their kin, they have no protection against an unfair justice system that seeks to incarcerate them. In Gillis, Captain America stops injustice on its tracks as he stops robbery with violence and returns things back to normal. In the wake of the meaningful ban of Captain American comic, people are worried that they might be attacked or experience other forms of injustice. Once, Captain America is freed, he captures America’s enemies as implied in this statement,” It was a freak accident, and until we can figure out what happened, we can’t risk letting the enemy duplicate the process and put us back under” (Gillis 17).This statement truly demonstrates the sheer will and courage to bring peace and normalcy into American societies. Most of American are free but sometimes, prejudice and injustice has forced all races and people to fight back and ensure that justice prevails at the end of the day. No matter the time or period, justice remains justice, one journalists asks captain America, “so tell me Cap, how does and old Nazi-buster find it living now in today’s society”? (Gillis 16). The question sought to unveil the American principles in the past and presently. In the past, blacks were slaves ad worked in cotton farms, however, in the current world, everyone is free and the society is fair and free. Anyone can voice their concerns about anything bothering them. In summary, justice and a fair society is a progressive step in the current world. Everyone needs to fight for justice no matter the time or place so that the world can become a better place as time goes by.
According to Kendi, during the Obama presidency, America society denied systematic racism. However, in the Trump administration, systematic racism could not be denied due to the president’s utterances and social surveys carried out showing that black Americans were not employed and were more likely to be incarcerated than other ethnicities or minority races. Discrimination is nothing new in American but this does not mean that people cannot overlook the racial discrimination experienced in the current world. Due to the sensitive nature of discrimination, most people tend to come out forcefully and deny the fact that racism exist and that it affects most parts of their lives. In Gillis captain America, USA was a united nation and stood against many ills,” during the big one, America stood united against the Axis! There was a real sense of loyalty to America’s ideals of patriotism!”(Gillis 10). Captain America’s statement Americans are a cohesive people who can join forces to fight foreigners but the same force cannot be applied in rectifying years of unfairness and slavery. In the long run people have to fight for justice and make their voice heard. It a fact that the current American society is riddled with mischief and injustice, despite of the inclusive face it portrays in television programs and government appointments, discrimination and injustice are the order of the day. Thus, may be America never changed nor did it abolish slave and its vices. Thus, the current state the earlier point to a problem that never really went way, the government needs to formulate new policies which can stop systematic racism and bring about inclusion in the communities. Based on the facts presented in Gillis’s Captain America, the society is quickly changing and Americans need to live up to their ideals so that they can make the world a better place for everyone. In an interview, Captain America implies that Americans should be fair and no one should live in an unequal society as it makes it hard for good people to go about their business as usual,’ and this agitation even if well meant only helps them and makes it harder for the good guys—if I’m worthy to be called that—to do their jobs” (Gillis 6).The rich cannot live peacefully if the poor are always at their throats, borrowing or looking for something to eat. Thus justice should bring about balance in the society so that everyone can live a peaceful life.
Works cited
Grant, Susan-Mary. "In War Time: Dialectics of Descent, Consent, and Conflict in American Nationalism." Genealogy 2.4 (2018)
Kendi. I. The End Of Denial. The Atlantic, 2020
Gillis IF Captain America Were Revived today? 1984
