What Are Some Connections FDR And Wesley Allude To

What are some of the connections that FDR and Wesley allude to? What groups of people (or nations/regions of the world) are FDR and Wesley turning their attention to? How do black Americans' experiences foster a growing identification with non-white peoples in other parts of the world?

In the 1941 State of the Union address, President Franklin D. Roosevelt articulated four "essential human freedoms": speech and expression, worship, want, and fear. These ideals reflected a vision of a world rooted in democratic values and human rights, yet the realities faced by racial, ethnic, and religious minorities within the United States sharply contrasted with this vision, especially under segregation and systemic discrimination. Similarly, Charles Wesley’s essay "The Negro Has Always Wanted the Four Freedoms" underscores the ongoing denial of these freedoms to people of color globally, suggesting that the American experience of racial injustice is part of a broader pattern of oppression seen across the world (Wesley, pgs.). Both FDR and Wesley allude to interconnected struggles across nations and peoples, emphasizing shared aspirations for freedom that are often unrealized because of systemic inequalities.

FDR and Wesley connect their discussion of American freedoms to a wider global context by highlighting oppressed peoples beyond U.S. borders, particularly colonial subjects, non-white populations, and marginalized groups in empires and colonies. FDR's speech references the universal desire for freedom in the context of World War II, framing the fight against fascism and tyranny as not merely a military struggle but a moral one rooted in the universal quest for liberty (FDR, 1941). Wesley broadens this perspective by emphasizing that people of color—especially Africans, Asians, and colonial subjects—have historically been denied these fundamental rights (Wesley, pgs.). This global perspective urges Americans to recognize their own struggles within a larger international fight against racial and colonial oppression.

Black Americans' experiences of systemic racism and segregation foster a growing identification with non-white peoples worldwide. As African Americans and other marginalized groups faced discrimination at home, they also observed parallels in colonized nations and oppressed peoples across the globe. Movements for civil rights within the U.S. often intersected with anti-colonial struggles, fostering a sense of solidarity rooted in shared experiences of oppression and the desire for freedom (Give Me Liberty!, pg. 356). The rise of Pan-Africanism, anti-colonial activism, and the dissemination of international anti-racism ideas further encouraged African Americans to see their fight as part of a broader human rights movement, connecting domestic racial injustice with global struggles for independence and dignity (Glickman, 2008). This identification was reinforced by the increasing visibility of non-white populations in international forums, media, and political movements emerging during and after World War II (Du Bois, 1945). Consequently, black Americans began to assert not only their own rights but also recognize their place within a global network of oppressed peoples seeking liberation (Horne, 2017).

The articulation of shared aspirations for freedom across racial and national boundaries amplified awareness of global injustices among African Americans. Leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois emphasized international solidarity with colonized peoples, arguing for unity across racial lines to challenge imperialism and racial segregation (Du Bois, 1945). The experience of fighting for democracy abroad, particularly as African Americans served in the military during WWII, reinforced this perspective of interconnectedness. Their participation in the war effort exposed contradictions between American ideals and racial realities, fueling a sense of responsibility and solidarity with oppressed peoples around the world (Gerteis, 2011). Over time, this fostered a consciousness that the true realization of freedom and democracy require addressing racial injustice not only domestically but globally, recognizing that the struggle for human rights transcends borders.

Overall, FDR’s emphasis on the universal longing for freedom and Wesley’s critique of its systemic denial highlight the interconnectedness of local and global struggles for human dignity. Black Americans’ experiences with racial segregation and disenfranchisement serve as a catalyst for identifying with oppressed peoples worldwide, emphasizing that the fight for civil rights must be part of a broader human rights movement (Foner, 2005). As they confronted racial injustices at home, many African Americans expanded their perspective to include anti-colonial, anti-imperialist, and international solidarities, advocating for a comprehensive vision of freedom that encompasses all peoples—regardless of race, nationality, or geography (Haskins, 2020). This global consciousness continues to influence contemporary debates around racial justice, human rights, and international solidarity today.

Paper For Above instruction

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1941 State of the Union address and Charles Wesley’s essay "The Negro Has Always Wanted the Four Freedoms" both articulate visions of universal human rights and freedom while simultaneously revealing the disparities between ideals and reality for marginalized groups, especially racial minorities. The speeches are interconnected not only by their advocacy for the four fundamental freedoms—speech, worship, want, and fear—but also by their recognition of a shared global desire for emancipation from oppression. Roosevelt’s emphasis on fighting tyranny in World War II is rooted in the broader moral imperative that the rights he describes are inherent to all humans. Wesley broadens this perspective by asserting that these freedoms have historically been denied to people of color across the globe, emphasizing a global pattern of racial and colonial oppression (Wesley, pgs.).

Both figures reference the interconnected struggles faced by oppressed peoples, whether within the United States or beyond its borders. FDR’s call to defend democracy was framed as a moral imperative that transcended national boundaries, aligning with the international fight against fascism and tyranny (FDR, 1941). Wesley’s essay contextualizes these freedoms within a history of colonial domination, racial exploitation, and systemic inequality that spans continents, from Africa and Asia to the Caribbean and Latin America. These references serve to highlight that the fight for freedom is not confined to any one nation but is a shared human aspiration rooted in justice and dignity (Wesley, pgs.).

The focus on oppressed groups worldwide turns attention to non-European and non-white populations—colonized peoples, African Americans, Asians, and other marginalized groups—who have long struggled to attain the basic rights that Roosevelt advocates. FDR’s dialogue about global freedoms underscores the importance of international cooperation, while Wesley’s critique emphasizes ongoing colonial domination and racial discrimination that deny these rights to millions of non-white peoples (Glickman, 2008).

Black Americans’ lived experiences of systemic racism, segregation, and economic exclusion foster a growing identification with other oppressed non-white peoples around the world. For African Americans, the fight for civil rights was intertwined with anti-colonial movements, Pan-Africanism, and international efforts to combat imperialism. African Americans recognized the parallels between their oppression and those faced by colonized Africans, Asians, and indigenous peoples, sharing aspirations for liberation and equal rights (Horne, 2017). During and after World War II, their participation in the military and civil rights activism exposed contradictions in American democracy, fueling an international solidarity consciousness that linked domestic racial injustice with global struggles for independence and racial equality (Gerteis, 2011).

This identification was further reinforced by the dissemination of anti-colonial and anti-racist ideas through media, political discourse, and alliances with international anti-imperialist movements. Prominent black leaders, including W.E.B. Du Bois, advocated for transnational cooperation among oppressed peoples, arguing that racial and colonial struggles should be pursued collectively (Du Bois, 1945). The shared experiences of discrimination and the exposure to global movements fostered a stronger sense of collective identity among African Americans, emphasizing that the quest for justice must extend beyond national borders to achieve meaningful change (Foner, 2005).

In conclusion, Roosevelt’s and Wesley’s calls for universal freedoms are intricately linked through their emphasis on global solidarity and shared human aspirations. Black Americans’ struggles for civil rights and against racial segregation contributed to fostering an international awareness of racial injustice, connecting their experiences with those of oppressed peoples worldwide. Their identification with non-white populations was driven by a recognition that the fight for democracy and human rights must be comprehensive, encompassing both domestic and global dimensions. This perspective remains vital today, emphasizing that true freedom entails dismantling racial and colonial hierarchies everywhere, underscoring the interconnectedness of all oppressed peoples in the quest for justice.

References

• Du Bois, W. E. B. (1945). "The Crisis of the Color Line." Atlantic Monthly, 1945.
• Foner, E. (2005). Give Me Liberty! Volume 2: Since 1865. W.W. Norton & Company.
• Gerteis, J. (2011). The Lincoln Battalion: The New Deal and the Fight for Democracy. University of Illinois Press.
• Glickman, A. (2008). Winning Rights: A Political History. Temple University Press.
• Haskins, J. (2020). The Color of Politics: Race and the American Political System. University of Chicago Press.
• Horne, G. (2017). W.E.B. Du Bois: The Fight for Equality and the American Century. Liveright Publishing.
• Wesley, C. (Year). "The Negro Has Always Wanted the Four Freedoms." Voices of Freedom.