Obama !

I chose this image of Barack Obama to represent how America still is the land of the 'new' and 'exceptional.'

I believe this image shows this, as only 200 years ago black people would have been sold and bought as slaves and less than 50 years ago Martin Luther King made his memorable 'i have a dream' speech to try and bring equality to black people. Although by 2008 America had a black president. This is seen as astonishing that we would see this in out life time and amazing that a black man was able to run for presidency, let alone win the campaign and become president of America.

Letters from an American farmer details how black slaves from Africa were mistreated in America ' a negro, suspended in the cage and left there to expire!'

This in comparison to a black man being able to run America shows the 'new' change of America and how this 'new' is still a surviving image of the nation.

This emphasises the idea of America as a 'new place' as in letters from an American farmer, America is seen as the land of opportunity and a better country than any other in the world. This is still recognised today with many people immigrating to America to live the 'dream.' For Barack Obama whose ancestors would of been seen as second class citizens, by being 'born' in America or 'coming' to America has allowed him to chase the American dream and change the original ideology of the 'new.'

This is why it is also seen as 'exceptional' that a black person only a few years back would have not been equal to have their say or equal rights and opportunities as others, could then be running one of the worlds most powerful nations. I think it's also important to look at the ideologies around this concept as over time this has changed and developed. From the book letters to an American farmer, the whole land was new and you could be whoever you liked and at this point in time this was recognised as what you wanted to achieve, to be in the land of the 'new.'

However in today's society due to the slave trade and the inequality black people have faced it would seem that they would want to achieve being an influential and powerful representatives for your nation. So i believe that the ideas around America still being 'new' and 'exceptional' are still a clear vision for many, due to people becoming equal and being able to do and say as they please, which is represented through Barack Obama.