10: North America

Re-Framing North America

One goal of a world regional geography course is to offer students a new perspective—to “see the world with new eyes”. A foundational understanding is that a person’s perspective is situated in a particular time and place. This is true for the authors of this textbook, who are community college geography professors in California. In this textbook, each world region is presented from a spatial perspective that highlights the interconnectedness of people and places around the world. In doing so, it’s important to uncover the biased notions that we have about faraway places developed from misleading media, Eurocentric educational practices, and other sources of information that do not take into account the diversity of experiences in places we might never have direct contact with—what Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie calls a “single story”. This chapter’s goal is to continue to dismantle preconceived ideas, challenge spatial heuristics, and provide a more inclusive spatial perspective. This effort is particularly demanding because of the pervasiveness of the ideas of American exceptionalism, the attempted erasure of Native Peoples in both the past and present, and the unresolved and contradictory histories of both Canada and the United States. This chapter on North America is an invitation to question previous narratives about the American experience, and if not to see North America with new eyes, to at least build a depth of understanding to perspectives that are often ignored.

American exceptionalism refers to the beliefs and practices that the United States is superior to other countries. One policy example was “Manifest Destiny” which was used as a rationale to expand westward in the 1800s because God ordained it to be so with a complete disregard for the original inhabitants of the continent, causing genocide and dispossession of Native Americans. “Most statements of ‘American exceptionalism’ presume that America’s values, political system, and history are unique and worthy of universal admiration. They also imply that the United States is both destined and entitled to play a distinct and positive role on the world stage”.^[1]

National pride is a common feeling experienced in countries all over the world,and that alone does not have negative outcomes, but the American experience of pride can be rooted in erroneous assumptions of how the United States compares with other countries. This hampers an understanding of world affairs. Certainly, there is no single perspective that could sum up how people in other countries view the United States, it’s government, it’s people, and it’s cultural exports. But it is important to note that “nothing is more vexing to foreigners than Americans’ belief that America is a shining city on a hill — a place apart where a better way of life exists, one to which all other peoples should aspire”.^[2]

Let’s consider how the United States and Canada rank in terms of key indicators provided by the CIA World Factbook, the United Nations, and other sources when compared to the more than 190 countries in the world (Table 10-1). In doing so, it is clear that while the United States might be first in the hearts of Americans, it does not rank first in some key international comparisons. By understanding these realities we can address the underlying societal issues and make a better world for the future.

Table 10-1. Rankings of the United States and Canada on Selected Economic and Demographic Indicators.

As we consider these indicators and how they challenge the narrative of American exceptionalism, we invite you to reflect on a quote from the renowned writer James Baldwin: “I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually".^[10] Born in Harlem in 1924, James Baldwin made important and lasting contributions to American literature and social history (Figure 10.1). As a gay Black author, civil rights activist, and social commentator, Baldwin shaped discussions about race and sexuality. He was active and influential in literary, political, and social circles. Due to racial tensions in the United States, and especially to his personal experiences, Baldwin moved to France. He described himself as a “transatlantic commuter,” traveling often between the United States and France. His work continued to focus on America’s ongoing struggles with race. He wrote and spoke extensively about the Civil Rights movement and the reality of Black lives in America.

The World Geographies Atlas: Navigate each world region through maps

For each of the world regions, our original atlas provides detailed maps to help you navigate the places discussed in this book. These maps are meant to be explored before and during the reading of this chapter. These maps are best enjoyed enlarged. Click on each map for an enlarged view, and zoom in to see the prominent biomes, physical features, and population centers of Middle and South America. We recommend that you download these for reference as you read this chapter's content and hope that you enjoy this original compilation.

References:

[1] Walt, Stephen M. 2011. The myth of American exceptionalism. Foreign Policy.

[2] Kohut, Andrew & Stokes, Bruce. 2006. The problem of American exceptionalism. Pew Research Center.

[3] CIA World Factbook. 2022. Real GDP per capita, Maternal Mortality Ratio, Life expectancy at birth, Public Expenditure on Education.

[4] UN Data. 2022. Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI).

[5] Reporters without Borders. 2022. World Press Freedoms Index.

[6] Pew Research Center. 2022. Turnout in U.S. has soared in recent elections but by some measures still trails that of many other countries.

[7] Economist Intelligence Unit. 2023. Democracy Index 2022.

[8] Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy. 2022. Environmental Performance Index.

[9] Sustainable Development Solutions Network. 2022. World Happiness Report.

[10] Baldwin, James. 1955. Notes of a Native Son. Boston: Beacon.

Attributions:

“Re-Framing North America” is adapted from James Baldwin Residence, New York City by the U.S. National Parks Service (public domain).