Obama's America: A Transformative Vision of Our National Identity
"In this innovative, tightly reasoned, and concise work, Ian Reifowitz shows that Barack Obama’s contributions to strengthening America’s understanding of itself as an inclusive society transcend his status as the nation’s first African American president. Reifowitz brings a bracing dose of optimistic vision to today’s usually dreary and polarized political debates."—Allan J. Lichtman, author ofWhite Protestant Nation: The Rise of the American Conservative Movement, and professor of history, American University"With lively prose and interpretive precision, Ian Reifowitz reveals the forty-fourth president’s pivotal role in the remaking of American identity.Obama’s Americais one of those rare works of history that should enlighten the future as well as it explains something of great significance about the past."—Michael Kazin, author ofAmerican Dreamers: How the Left Changed a Nationand professor of history, Georgetown University"This is social science at its best. The book focuses on the president but employs insights into his identity as an individual to provide a penetrating and novel view of our identity as a people."—Amitai Etzioni, author ofThe New Golden Ruleand University Professor, George Washington University"Scrupulously attentive to the exact words used by Obama and his critics, Ian Reifowitz analyzes the discourse of race and national identity as it has swirled around the first black president. This book is a conscientiously documented, vigorously argued defense of Obama’s conception of the United States as an ethnoracial 'gumbo' sustained by a vibrant civic nationalism."—David A. Hollinger, author ofPostethnic America: Beyond Multiculturalismand professor of history, University of California, Berkeley"Tracing Barack Obama’s discourses on national identity, Ian Reifowitz demonstrates how Obama privileges unity over division, nation over identity, and the pursuit of the common good over the pursuit of individual gain. Reifowitz explains clearly and engagingly how and why Obama’s vision of America is more inclusive and less divisive than that of any previous president. This book will be of interest to scholars of rhetoric, multicultural studies, and the American presidency, as well as to general readers of American history and politics."—Jennifer Mercieca, author ofFounding Fictions, and associate professor of communication, Texas A&M; University"The election of Barack Obama was a major victory for race relations in America, pushing forth one of America's best values: cultural unity.Obama's America: A Transformative Vision of Our National Identityis a discussion of culture, social issues, and politics as Ian Reifowitz presents an optimistic view of what Barack Obama can do for America culturally, the fierce response to his rise, and what it ultimately means for America's future. An intriguing alternative perspective on the influence that Barack Obama holds on American culture,Obama's Americais a solid addition to any cultural studies collection, highly recommended."—The Midwest Book Review