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21 February 2008
Professor Discusses African Americans’ Role in Foreign Policy
Ask America webchat transcript, February 20
Professor and author Clarence Lusane answered questions in a Feburary 20 webchat on how African Americans are helping to shape U.S. foreign policy.
Following is the transcript:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
Ask America Webchat Transcript
African Americans & U.S. Foreign Policy
Guest: Clarence Lusane
Date: February 20, 2008
Time: 11:00 a.m. EST (1600 GMT)
Moderator: Welcome to our webchat! We look forward to hearing from you. You may begin sending in your questions now.
Clarence Lusane: Hi. I am now on line and ready to chat.
Moderator: Dr. Lusane is reviewing your questions now. If you have more than one question, please ask each one separately.
Question [redwain5]: hi i would like to ask two question: The first one is who Guarantee to the americans a larger area of freedom of expression and democracy are they democrats or republicans? my second question is who cares more about deployment of democracy in the world and defending freedoms the democrats or republicans? mohammed alghamdi
Answer [Clarence Lusane]: This is an excellent question. Both political parties, of course, believe that they fight for freedoms for the American people. I would hesitate to over-generalize about the views of either party because within the parties there are major differences over issues. Most would agree that there is a hard conservative as well as a more moderate wing in the Republican Party. In the Democratic Party, there is also a moderate wing as well as a more liberal wing. The current presidential campaigns in both parties is demonstrating to some degree these differences.
Q [adolatkal]: Dear Professor! So many Asian American are living in the USA! Their influence and role are great too! Will be here an extra Month dedicated to them?
A [Clarence Lusane]: Hi. Actually, May is designated Asian American month in the United States. Although it is not as well known as Black History Month (in February), it is a time when Asian Americans and others celebrate the contributions of Asians to U.S. society as well as it reviews the often brutal history that Asians have faced in the United States. I think as the population grows and becomes more prominant in U.S. society, the contributions of Asians will become better known.
Moderator: If you are just joining us, welcome! Dr. Lusane continues to answer your questions. Participants in today's webchat may wish to visit America.gov's homepage on Diversity at: http://amlife.america.gov/amlife/diversity/index.html
Q [adolatkal]: Dear PhD expert! Also, "Piling Higher and Deeper!" But what about applying a Theory into the Life? You have graduated from the University in 1997. We have here in Uzbekistan a saying, that, in between so great masses of water are gone/passed! Even the hero of your recent book is gone from the mainstream stage. So many changes from black political theory to black political behavior!
What is your forecasting in this changeable political environment: is the black behavior of Obama the same as you predicted? Who will win?
A [Clarence Lusane]: A series of provocative questions.
I do think that black politics in the United States is changing. Both the rise of Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice as well as the emergence of Barack Obama reflect these changes. We are moving past the dominance of civil rights leaders such as Jesse Jackson and Andrew Young to younger black leaders who arena of politics is much broader than just black community issues. The generation that is under 40 view themselves much more in a national sense and even an international sense.
In addition, the growing presence of black people from the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America and elsewhere is also changing black community politics. I think Obama has a very good chance of winning the Democratic nomination and possibly the presidency. And significantly, it will be because his base of support is far and wide beyond the black community to others such as young people, college-educated, males of all color, and increasingly across income groups.
Q [Naimat Ullah Khan: LC Karachi]: When we go through the African American History, we find it's great leaders, supporters & sponsors paid their life for African Americans, from Abraham Lincoln to Martin Luther King Jr. & Malcum X.
Does the Other dominant part of American society bear the same sacrifices, could you share?
A [Clarence Lusane]: I think like most societies, the US has had its share of political violence. If you mean by the other side conservatives or those who opposed civil rights, then there have been instances of violence and assassinations within those movements. The political right in the US has a long history of internecine violence and self-destruction.
Moderator: Thank you for your questions, Dr. Lusane continues to review them.
Q [Naimat Ullah Khan: LC Karachi]: Can you please share the resemblance of Ms. Sojourner Truth (1851) & Ms. Condoleezza Rice, both black women have proven their skills to prove:
‘AIN’T I A WOMEN’?
A [Clarence Lusane]: This is a very interesting comparison. I can not explain the physical resemblance but I will say that Dr. Rice certainly fits within the pantheon of black women who have made their mark on U.S. society and indeed the world. Whether one agrees with Dr. Rice's views or not, there is no denying that she has made a number of historic breakthroughs and remade the image of African American women. Also, I think she would acknowledge the importance of black women such as Sojourner Truth to black history and American history and be proud of that heritage.
Moderator: You can learn about the life and work of Sojourner Truth at our "Women of Influence" homepage: http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/womeninfln/truth.htm
Q [Naimat Ullah Khan: LC Karachi]: We have celebrated National American Indian Heritage Month in November & are celebrating this African American History Month to commemorate the struggle of these two vibrant parts of American Society.
How do you compare these two histories? What are the commonalities & differences?
A [Clarence Lusane]: A great question. First, I would note that these histories have often intersected and to the degree that many African Americans have Indian heritage (including myself). Though this is often not acknowledged, it means that the black community and the Indian have a great deal in common. During the slavery era, often when those blacks who were enslaved escaped they found refuge with Indian communities.
Today, the ties are not as strong in part because the geographies of the two communities are very different - black Americans tend to be located in major urban areas and disproportionately on the East Coast, Southeast, and mid-West and Indian populations in the Southwest, West, and Northwest.
In addition, Indian communities view themselves as separate nations within the Western hemisphere, and have been accorded some official recognition along those lines, while the black community sees itself as solely within the boundaries of the United States.
Q [Naimat Ullah Khan: LC Karachi]: Racial & color discrimination remained an issue at re-birth of American Nation in 17th Century, when Abraham Lincoln raised his voice against racial discrimination of immigrants from Africa & slavery, even he paid his life for it. What lessons taken by death of 16th American president since 1960’s revolution?
A [Clarence Lusane]: Certainly when Lincoln was assassinated the country was going through turbulent times. The Civil War and the aftermath of slavery, when suddenly millions of individuals had to be incorporated into society, was a chaotic social period of grand transition. In many ways, the 1960s in the United States was also a period of grand transitions (the Vietnam War, urban revolts, and the demand for equal rights by blacks, Hispanics, women, seniors, gays and lesbians, and young people). In the immediate aftermath of both Lincoln's assassination and the 1960s revolt, the country created progressive legislation and policies to address the concerns that were being raised.
However, the debates did not end there and there was a conservative backlash of sorts in the decades following those years of reform. There are certainly those today who argue that the pendulum is swinging back toward a more reform and liberal-oriented public policy agenda. This year's presidential race perhaps embodies this dilemma.
Q [Naimat Ullah Khan: LC Karachi]: FREEDOM, this word changed its meaning in American History each time it interacted with Americans & their society. Some times it meant liberty for all, some times a war to end slavery, some times marching to freedom land & democracy.
Is today the meaningful achievements have been obtained for all Americans regardless of their origin?
A [Clarence Lusane]: You are right, freedom is a challenging concept in terms of its meaning at any given point in history. I think most Americans, across all racial and ethnic groups, would agree that basic freedoms exist and that the segregation laws and policies of the past are gone and simply have no acceptance in today's USA.
However, this does not mean that discrimination (public and individual) does not exist. Some would point to the disparities between whites and people of color in the US in terms of access to education, income, job opportunities, health care outcomes, criminal justice and other areas as institutional discrimination that still must be addressed. For some, the notion of freedom embodies freedom from these disparities.
Moderator: Thank you for your many questions! Dr. Lusane continues to review and answer them.
Q [Naimat Ullah Khan: LC Karachi]: As the cultural revolution of 1960 changed American Nation to a more civilized nation, can you please tell us were “Negroes” benefited as part of Baby Boomer Campaign in 1945-1950?
A [Clarence Lusane]: I think that if you mean by "more civilized" that the country ended its formal and informal discrimination laws and policies, that certainly was the case. And in that sense, the civil rights and voting rights laws that were passed substantially benefitted the black community. It meant that access to jobs and education that did not exist before was not available. And since that time there has been a large growth in the black middle class. At the same time, however, many areas of poverty persisted and, some would argue, created a schism between the black middle class and black poor.
Many black baby boomers did go to college and were able to establish professional careers and lifestyles while many, many others were not able to take advantage of the new opportunities. What we have witnessed is that many of the children of the baby boomers have not done as well as their parents.
Q [Naimat Ullah Khan: LC Karachi]: "As color define vision itself, race shapes the cultural eye, what we do notice, the reach of empathy and the alignment of response".
Is this a true perception, which shaped the destiny of American Nation?
A [Clarence Lusane]: Hi. Certainly in many ways the issue of race was central to the destiny of the US. Not only did the slavery system serve as an economic engine, all of the issues regarding slavery had cultural, social, and political impacts as well. The most serious issue to split the country and drive it into a civil war was over slavery and by definition what role those who were enslaved would play in US society. These issues, albeit with very different parameters, are alive today and expressed perhaps most publicly in the candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for presidency. While his campaign can not be reduced simply to his running as a black person, the historic nature of his chances do speak to a history and present that remain important to how the US sees itself as a united country.
Q [Naimat Ullah Khan: LC Karachi]: From James Forten, the powder boy of eighteenth century to Gen. Colin Powel, what milestones American Africans achieved.
Would you like to extend our knowledge?
A [Clarence Lusane]: The appointment of Colin Powell as Secretary of State was significant in a number of ways. First, it was unimaginable only a short time ago that a black American would be allowed such as decisive role in US foreign policy. This was perhaps the last arena in which black Americans and other people of color were excluded. Second, it was widely understood that Powell's qualifications were superb and without challenge. Third, race virtually never entered the picture. Criticisms aimed at his tenure were based on political and ideological disagreements.
Clarence Lusane: Thank you all for your interesting and challenging questions. I very much enjoyed the engagement and conversations. Thank you. Prof. Lusane
Moderator: We wish to thank Clarence Lusane for joining us today. The webchat is now closed.
A full transcript of today's webchat will be available on our Ask America Homepage (http://www.america.gov/multimedia/askamerica.html usually within one business day.
(Guests are chosen for their expertise. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of State.)
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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
