America at 250: The Racist Contradiction of American Democracy

Join Dr. Peter Jauhiainen and St. Paul’s as we examine a contradiction at the heart of our nation’s founding. The Declaration of Independence affirmed that “all men are created equal” and are endowed with “unalienable rights,” and yet, the historical reality was that certain people, due to their race or ethnicity, were excluded from full participation in American democracy. Have we moved beyond this problem, or are we still feeling the effects of our failure to resolve this historic contradiction?
This is part of a series of presentations that explores a range of topics related to our nation’s founding and history, providing a context for understanding our current situation as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. To what degree have we as a nation lived up to our founding ideals? Is what we believe about U.S. history more myth than reality? What does the future hold? What is the meaning of America? Come to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids for America at 250 events on Sunday, June 28; Tuesday, June 30; and Thursday, July 2. Each session stands alone.
Dr. Peter Jauhiainen (PhD, University of Iowa; MDiv., Princeton Theological Seminary) is an experienced scholar and American religious historian who teaches at Kirkwood Community College. He frequently presents at community forums and academic settings on topics related to American history, religion, and society, with an eye toward answering such questions as “How did we get here?” or “Why is this happening now?”