America is going through a transitional period, not only because of the recent controversial election, but also because of the growing tension over diversity. In “The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation,” Jonathan Hennessey and Aaron McConnell display a sequence of illustrations in the beginning of the comic that shows America thriving as a nation. Throughout the whole visual text there are scrolls with quotes from the constitution to go along with the scenes. The second half of the visual text shows how later in America’s history, after amendments were passed, white males weren’t the only ones with equal rights. This image is important to focus on in order to better understand what modern America should resemble. In the first scene of the image with an American flag trapped in the vault, an angel backed by minorities and women held the white legislative males trapped and panicked. This image represents the God-given rights of different gender and cultures being suppressed. A few symbols within the image that go along with the theme are the hourglass and scythe held by the angel. The next scene in the same sequences of images is the image of the vault being opened with soldiers  holding the free flag with a diverse population honoring it.   The image from the story represents unity within America’s diverse population today, however it is more prominent today considering current tension between diverse cultural and social backgrounds.

Since the creation of America, white males have always held the highest authority. When creating the government, the founding fathers preached “all men are created equal,” despite the apparent discrimination of minorities, especially African-Americans. The angel represents how they preached everyone deserves their “God given rights,” while the hour glass and scythe represent the ultimate reality that their suppressing reign isn’t everlasting and will eventually be eliminated. The transition of the American flag between images is key to understanding what the image is portraying. The flag was originally trapped by the white politician but now stands free from the suppressing bank vault. Current events arising in the U.S. media today can highlight why the picture on page 203 doesn’t appeal to certain point of views.

History is the best way to prepare for the future because ultimately history repeats itself. Since the beginning of America’s history, minorities in general have made tremendous strides in earning freedom and equal rights. During the process, we have seen great leaders emerge and change the image of America. In the 19th century Abraham Lincoln emerged as the leader credited with freeing slaves against all social normality’s. In the 1950s and 60s Martin Luther King Jr. stood up for the evils of racial discrimination and suppression. Even in the 1980s the music group “N.W.A.” was being suppressed by authorities because of their outspoken lyrics and the color of their skin. These movements that fought against discrimination and suppression are still alive and present in society today. The “Black Lives Matter” protests along with the growing freedom of speech through different forms of media, seem to be a common tactic of modern protesting.

Some modern events that are dividing the nation are the police shootings of black people. Riots and protests often times stem from these violent police shootings, creating widespread paranoia. What adds fuel to the fire is the constant media coverage of these events. Depending on what news channel one watches, these outlets tend to form one’s viewpoint, devoting them to a specific “side.” The atmosphere within the U.S. today is a “us vs. them” mentality. On top of all this division within our country, the past historic election defines views and seemingly divides the people within the U.S.

There is a new form of protest currently arising in America. Football is one of America’s most popular sports and is turning into an outlet for political propaganda.  Starting this year there have been multiple instances where some of the leagues prominent minority African American players kneeled or sat during the national anthem. This started with the San Francisco 49er’s quarterback, Colin Kaepernick. This form of protest blew up on all types of media and drove the sports world crazy while pushing and advocating social change within the black community. This act received a lot of negative attention from white Americans because it was peacefully public, making a profound statement on civil rights regarding the African American population. Many thought this act was a direct shot at the ideals of America because it directly involved the American flag and the national anthem, but in reality these NFL players were just making a statement to raise awareness within their population and to end social injustice. 

It is hard to say that division in America isn’t apparent. It seems as though Americans are not living under a constitution that “today follows more closely to the values most Americans share”(Hennessey/McConnell, 203).  This quote accurately describes how the image is portraying what America should look like, but obvious current divisions within the country seems to contradict what the picture stands for. Rational people must realize that the situation in America currently does not represent  the second image where the flag stands free from the vault with diverse smiles standing together. There is corruption on both sides of the argument. This division is no longer a legislative battle, but it is a battle within our own citizen’s individual stubbornness. The comic ends with “to know the legacy of political exclusion that once existed in the constitution is to have a greater insight on the most unflattering chapters of the nation’s history”(203). America must wake up and realize that this is not a legislative battle anymore, but instead it is a battle of an instilled social dynamic. From the start of this country the transition this country has made in protecting everyones freedom is substantial, however it has been developed over an extended period of time. Social dynamics are always changing so that the America we live in can be like the America resembled in the picture. This shift in dynamics is only possible with the shift of the American people’s stubborn mentalities change with it. 
