In the process of deconstructing the glorification of America we must construct disillusionment, dissemble patriotism, and proliferate the awareness that America is a nation founded on colonialisation, slavery, and genocide.

Myth one: The discovery of America was an illustrious achievement with Christopher Columbus as its righteous representative.

Beginning with the slaughter of 90% of the indigenous Americans in order to found the dazzling new nation of the US, colonialists repainted America white. Stained from the beginning in the blood of the murdered natives, the white façade of discovering a new and glorious land will never lose its red pigment. With the raping, pillaging, and killing of 130 million people under its belt, the new America begun with pride and hope for a fruitful and honourable nation but the memory of those massacred millions is one that can never be washed away.

Christopher Columbus was previously venerated for his work but finally righteous anger has befallen his legacy. Known formerly for a brave expedition and enlightening exploration, his image is tarnished by his association with the extinction of the Taino people, promotion of slavery, and general tyranny.

Myth Two: America is a thriving economic power based on its own merit.

Founded on the enslavement of over 10 million African people, America’s significant capitalist impetus and power is a lie. Ignoring the human rights of its workers, the labour force was inconceivably proliferated by slavery to no economic loss of the slave masters and business owners. In comparison, many African countries are considered third world through no fault of their own; with their work forces ravaged centuries ago, their attempts at industrialising were stunted by a grossly unfair theft of an equal playing field. Despite this, barely any thought has been given to compensation.

Myth Three: America is the land of the free and equal.

Thomas Jefferson famously wrote ‘all men are created equal’, a seemingly momentous step towards a more egalitarian society. And yet this same man kept slaves, belittled women, and thought Blacks were less capable of rationality than whites. Taking what he believed to be a physical imbrutement as a reflection of an internal savagery, he saw Africans as a lesser people and white, Europeans to be a more beautiful, civilised people. And still this original racism has stamped America with an indelible ink. Even today there are accounts of lynching, of institutionalised racism, of police brutality. Young black males are 21 times more likely to be killed by police than their white counterparts. Was Jefferson’s statement exclusive to white men, not ‘all men’? With this in mind, it is impossible to consider America the land of the free.

So in answer to the statement ‘Make America Great Again’ I want to know, ‘has America ever been great?’