For many across the globe, the United States shines a bright light. America is the land of freedom, and the country takes pride in its sovereignty, autonomy, and respect for individualism. Seemingly, America paints the picture of an auspicious future for all.
However, if one examines the country’s globally hegemonic past, one will discover a portion of history marred by violent invasion. During westward expansion, the United States gained natural resources, trading ports, and developed industries that set the foundation for the country’s later advancements. Yet, the physical and psychological violence inflicted on American Indians was overshadowed by America’s thriving image. In my history book, the expansion’s damage was summarized into one phrase – “100,000 Indians on the Trail of Tears, thousands died.”
Indigenous sovereignty was sacrificed for America’s ambition and belief in Manifest Destiny. America grew to spread the notions of “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness” but committed atrocities worse than the measures of its past colonizer.
In 1879, the United States established Indian Boarding Schools. Indigenous children were abducted from their families, banned from speaking their native languages, and forced to convert to Eurocentric life-style. America used cultural genocide to control the indigenous people and avoid land disputes. Fifty years after the American Revolution, the country became the oppressor it once condemned.
Although the expression of it may vary, settler colonialism remains embedded in society today.
American museums display paintings of white men slaughtering Native Americans. Columbus Day, which is celebrated to honor of the Italian colonizer who brought genocide to the New World, remains a federal holiday. The United States additionally upholds the Blood Quantum laws, established in 1705, which grants Indian status to only people with specific fractions of indigenous ancestry. These harsh conditions were designed to minimize tribal populations. America continues to evade its settler history by erasing the last traces of indigenous culture.
When the United States first gained its independence, it promised to create a state where “all men are created equal.” Now, 40 million immigrants from over one hundred countries come here for that promise. Many of them fled regions plagued by warfare, corruption, and despotism, seeking shelter in a country that took an oath of impartiality. How can we, as Americans, appreciate the opportunities we have, knowing they were built on indigenous land? How can immigrants, hoping to live with integrity and equity, expect fair treatment under such hypocrisy?
America must not shy away from its uncomfortable past. Its former mistakes must be confronted to end the injustices of today. In the name of progress, America erased indigenous cultures and silenced their voices. This oppression must be brought to an end, and the settler social structure must be reformed. The process might be long, it might be painful, but it is the first step toward fulfilling the true meaning of American values.
