Liberty

Liberty: The Myth of Manumission

In Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson (originally portrayed by Daveed Diggs) raps “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness: We fought for these ideals, we shouldn’t settle for less.” But just how frequently in history has America settled for less?

Various musicals tackle issues of slavery, internment, and imprisonment. A recent production at London’s The Young Vic showcased the powerful story of Nelson Mandela. American stories are told in shows like Allegiance and The Scottsboro Boys.

Foundational Claim:

“...Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness...”

Begin: this week’s work with a few starting questions in the Anthem Analysis, which you should answer before you review any of the other materials below.

Case Study 1: Slavery

Explore: these historical overviews of slavery in the United States. (Note: Some of the timeline events are quite simplified - we will talk about a few of the complications in class!)

Witness: testimonials about the experiences of enslaved persons in the United States.

Debunk: a few myths you might have about President Lincoln while reviewing just how central slavery was to the development of the US economy.

5 Things You May Not Know About Abraham Lincoln, Slavery and Emancipation | HISTORYThe 16th U.S. president was firm in believing slavery was morally wrong, but his views on racial equality were sometimes more complicated.

How slavery became America’s first big businessHistorian and author Edward E. Baptist explains how slavery helped the US go from a “colonial economy to the second biggest industrial power in the world.”

Case Study 2: Japanese Internment

Review: this article about Japanese internment in the United States during WWII, especially if you are not already familiar with this chapter of US history. Optionally, we also suggest you read from a more personal perspective in the second article from NBC that shares memories from internment camp survivors.

Japanese American Incarceration | The National WWII Museum | New OrleansAt the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, about 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry lived on the US mainland, mostly along the Pacific Coast. About two thirds were full citizens, born and raised in the United States. Following the Pearl Harbor attack, however, a wave of antiJapanese suspicion and fear led the Roosevelt administration to adopt a drastic policy toward these residents, alien and citizen alike.

Behind Barbed Wire: Remembering America's Largest Internment CampBy the time Tule Lake Segregation Center closed on March 20, 1946, more than 18,000 Japanese Americans had been incarcerated there during the war.

Listen: to “Resist” from the musical Allegiance. (Make sure to read the lyrics if there are any words you’re unsure of.)

Jay Kuo (Ft. Michael K. Lee & Original Broadway Cast of Allegiance) – Resist[FRANKIE, spoken] / I got my draft notice. I'm supposed to report for induction next week / [KEI, spoken] / How can they force you to fight? / [FRANKIE, spoken] / I won't go. Not

Case Study 3: The Prison-Industrial Complex

Understand: what is meant by the ‘prison-industrial complex’ through the resources below.

Learn: about carceral injustice through the case of the Scottsboro boys, whose story is told in a 2010 musical. (This video might be helpful for additional context.)

Consider: how race and gender discrimination intersect for Black women via this clip from The Color Purple, a musical based on a 1982 novel by Alice Walker set in the American South during the early 1900s.

Compare: vaious portrayals of prisons in musical theatre. Who is considered a ‘prisoner’? What is the ‘prison’? How do theatrical components such as set design, costuming, and musical choice influence how you perceive the prison and prisoners?

Complete: Anthem Analysis # 5 by answering the questions below.

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