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Heather Griffiths

Professor Granillo

English 101

7 February 2020

The Patriotic Helpers

What is the most patriotic action that an American could do for their country? Most

would answer that serving in the military, police force, or as a firefighter would be very patriotic.

Someone volunteering to save others while risking their own lives is an action that the majority

of Americans would see as very patriotic. Something that all these careers have in common is the

ability that these jobs give the person working in them to help others. Helping others should be

considered as the most patriotic action in America. Most people help others and are recognized

for giving up their time and skills to help others. However, one racial group is not being

recognized fairly by many Americans: African Americans. Although America prevents African

Americans from being seen as patriotic, they should be recognized as patriots because of their

willingness to help themselves, their community and the world do better. This definition has

provided a pathway for African Americans to succeed in America.

In America, the oppression against African Americans has prevented them from being

recognized as patriotic. In an article discussing religion and state-sanctioned black violence, the

authors, Gray and Finley, two black men, discuss“white supremacy as state violence in the wake

of the deaths of both Eric Garner and Mike Brown, arguing that the vindication of police officers

is a form of theodicy” (Finley and Gray). African Americans are being abused by system. First,

they experience state violence, often from police. Then, the police officers are vindicated. This
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constant violence and oppression against African Americans has prevented many Americans

from seeing them as patriotic.

Many African Americans are oppressed by Americans, whether through discrimination, blatant

racism, or police brutality. The song “Crossfire, Part III” reflects this last situation. Saba, one the

featured artists, raps in the first verse, asking if African Americans can cross the street without

crossfire / Skidmarks under car tires / All [his] neighbours they call prayers” (Stephen

“Crossfire, Part III”). This dangerous living with constant crossfire, or war, between African

Americans and the police costs African Americans a lot more than their lives. It persuades many

Americans to not see them as patriotic. Despite their oppression, Americans should see them as

patriotic.

African Americans help themselves, pushing themselves to succeed, which is patriotic.

This type of help should be distinguished from selfishness. Orly Clerge, an African American

sociologist, describes how many “African Americans and black immigrants in the middle class

spend a significant amount of time navigating racially problematic or hostile situations”

(Bambrick). Instead of accepting or ignoring the racism that they receive, African Americans

help themselves by addressing any potential issues in their lives. Most typically do not let one

comment slide. My mom, for example, is adamant to address when she feels she is being unfairly

treated, regardless of where she is at or who she is with. She wants to see herself succeed in

America. She also wants to see her children succeed in America. This is a very patriotic trait that

should not be ignored by the majority of America.

America should recognize African Americans as patriotic because they help themselves

do well in America. Stephen’s “Sincerely” describes how“These fat cats want us lost in the maze
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/ And they're scared 'cause we're breaking the chain / They're scared 'cause we're 'bout to escape”

(Stephen “Sincerely”). The fat cats that Stephen describes in his song are the Americans that do

not see African Americans as patriotic. They do not want African Americans to help themselves

succeed. They do not want to view African Americans as patriotic. African Americans, as a

result, are breaking free, and the rest of America is scared of the effect that this will have on

America and the success of African Americans in America. Just as a powerful woman is

threatening to powerful men, a powerful African American,who knows how to help themself is

threatening to the Americans in power who are against African Americans.

African Americans help their communities, which allow their communities to succeed,

which are very patriotic actions. In a journal article written about a study done on the influences

of African American fathers, it found that they “can indeed be good fathers and positively

influence their children's educational outcomes” (Ransaw). African American fathers can help

their own communities by first helping their children. When their children are motivated to learn,

they will do better in America because most of American success is built off of education,

whether through school, the internet, or through professionals.

Since they help their communities, they should be recognized as patriots by America. In

“To Be Human”, Marina sings about “All the people living in, living in the world today /

Reunited by our love, reunited by our pain” (Marina). She recognizes that a community that is

consistently helping each other is united in her song. This is what makes communities patriotic.

They all work to help each other succeed. In my life, I have loved the way African Americans

work to support each other. They are willing to give their time and resources to each other, for
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little to no gain. I definitely appreciate the bonds that I have formed because of this, and these

actions deserve to be recognized as patriotic.

African Americans need to be recognized as patriotic because they help the world,

improving how they are viewed. One way this is done is by keeping afrofuturism relevant and

active. Afrofuturism “‘is an intersection of imagination, technology, the future, and liberation”’

(Gipson 84). Afrofuturism as a whole, promotes an equal representation of race. Meaning, that

those who spread the message and the art of afrofuturism are working towards keeping the

concept alive and working towards a goal of equality. This activist message should be

recognized as patriotic by Americans.

African Americans are working towards a better world and should be viewed as patriotic

because of their constant efforts to improve the world. The very popular song “We Are The

World” describes the “choice [African Americans are] making / [They are] saving [their] own

lives / It's true we’ll make a better day, just you and me” (USA For Africa). African Americans

can help save the world through their actions. They can create a better future for themselves and

the world, whether through afrofuturism, or some other type of global activism.

America should not prevent African Americans from being seen as patriotic. African

Americans should be recognized as patriotic by Americans because of their willingness to help,

whether they are helping themselves, their communities, or the world. This definition has

provided a pathway for African Americans to succeed in America. African Americans can help

themselves by standing up for any injustices they recieve. They can help their community by

providing resources. They can help the world by participating in afrofuturism or another global
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activist campaign. African Americans’ constant willingness to help cannot be taken advantage of

for any longer.

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Works Cited

Bambrick, Gail. “Black Identity and America’s Lingering Racism.” Tuffs Now, 2015,

https://now.tufts.edu/articles/black-identity-and-america-s-lingering-racism. Accessed 7

Feb. 2020.

Finley, Stephen C., and Biko Mandela Gray. “God Is a White Racist: Immanent Atheism as a

Religious Response to Black Lives Matter and State-Sanctioned Anti-Black Violence.”

Journal of Africana Religions, vol. 3, no. 4, 2015, pp. 443–453. JSTOR,

www.jstor.org/stable/10.5325/jafrireli.3.4.0443. Accessed 7 Feb. 2020.

Gipson, Grace. “Creating and Imagining Black Futures through Afrofuturism.” #Identity:

Hashtagging Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Nation, edited by Abigail De Kosnik and

Keith P. Feldman, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, 2019, pp. 84–103. JSTOR,

www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvndv9md.9. Accessed 7 Feb. 2020.

MARINA. “MARINA - To Be Human [Official Music Video]” YouTube, 8 April 2019,

https://youtu.be/DM8Tm9ycGz4.

Ransaw, Theodore. “The Good Father: African American Fathers Who Positively

Influence the Educational Outcomes of Their Children.” Spectrum: A Journal on Black

Men, vol. 2, no. 2, 2014, pp. 1–25. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.2979/spectrum.2.2.1.

Accessed 7 Feb. 2020.

Stephen. “Crossfire, Part III (Feat. Saba, Ravyn Lenae, The O'My's & J.P. Floyd)”

YouTube, 30 March 2017, https://youtu.be/XezIKxtGH7Y.

Stephen. “Sincerely” YouTube, 24 Feb. 2016, https://youtu.be/RkiaisTPEl0.

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USAforAfricaVEVO. “U.S.A. For Africa - We Are the World (Official Video)”

YouTube, 12 April 2010, https://youtu.be/9AjkUyX0rVw.