What does it mean to say that Superman fights for "the American Way"?

Following the finale of Max Landis' American Alien, The Hub City Review posted this historical survey as to how various writers have emphasized the character’s alien heritage, immigrant status, and never-ending battle for “the American Way.

@rideaspacecowboy:

THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS

Fight the librarians!

The "American Way" at the time they created it was meant to be about working hard and doing what was right no matter what anyone else thought. It was about being a good person, and helping those who needed help. It was about having hope when everything seemed hopeless.

And hope is the most important part of Superman's character.

• From an historical perspective It was a championing of American cultural superiority primarily during the Cold War era...The statement was used by the comic writers working at the time to untimely defend democracy at a time when the whole of America felt their economic integrity and just common way of life was under attack from the Soviets..Now what the character Superman himself meant was equal opportunity and fairness for everybody...
• Which is why i love characters like Supes and Cap becuase even when the find themselves at odds with US government or anybody else they always stick to their morals no matter what.

Far from sitting on the sideline, Superman (as a hero in his universe and as a character in ours) has played an active role in redressing racial injustices. Though it was controversial at the time, Superman took on the Ku Klux Klan in his radio serial, which directly lead to a decline in the Klan's popularity and acceptance by the public, especially among the younger generation at the time.

@rideaspacecowboy: yeah I saw that one time old scan of it. Doesn't change the fact that DC was still putting out racist stuff years after. Or that we never see Supes combat racism against us. Unless you're saying the only issue we "blacks" have had were all klan members? Stop while you're ahead. Even if you weren't intending to be disrespectful it still is, never see people defend antisemitism the way they do racism in America.

I never thought I'd see a picture of Landon Donovan on a comic forum hahahahah. From my understanding, the 'American Way' is the perceived common ground that all true Americans acknowledge, embodied by the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. Life, liberty and happiness can be restricted of course, but only if the person you're restricting intends to break Federal Law or breach basic human rights.

American exceptionalism

Shoot first, ask questions later?

Personal liberty, privacy, agency and the improvement of your own life through hard work

Y'know, opposite of what Obama preaches

The quote wasn't used in the comics for quite some time actually. There were several places it was thought to have originated The original quote from the 1941-43 Max Fleischer serial cartoons was "a never ending battle for truth and justice"

In 1948, particularly after the world, and so far as it affected many American military men after WW2, the new live action starring Kyrk Allen where Pa Kent taught young Clark to use is powers "in the interests of truth, tolerance, and justice"

It wasn't until the 1950's with the George Reeves Superman TV show where "Truth, Justice, and the American Way" became popularized. However...

It's been found in the radio archives that during the war, especially in the reruns between 42-46, the Truth, Justice, and American Way" phrase was added to the serial, basically to boost morale in the States.

So...it wasn't created to defend our lack of economic integrity or anything to do with the Soviets. It was brought back, maybe even at the time it did have something to do with what you're talking about...however, that's not what it was created for.

I think people look way to deep into this. It's not very political and it in no way really represents any certain racist or negative message. It just simply means he stands up for the things all Americans support and what, in a perfect comic book world where men can leap tall building in a single bound, would be about. I think it just simply means he stands up for freedom, looks out for the little guy, and always does the right thing no matter what. The American Way means whatever you want it to mean, just like how Superman is however you imagine him to be.

@petey_is_spidey said:

That image never fails to bring a chuckle.

Perhaps the title of this post was poorly worded. The article it links to assumes that whatever "the American Way" is, as an immigrant it's something which contrasts with Superman's Kryptonian heritage. The article is a historical survey on how some writers have emphasized his full assimilation, and others his non-assimilation into American culture. These follow general trends, with the former currently in vogue. Does anyone have thoughts as to those particular points?

White people

I'm genuinely curious: if you were writing Superman, how would you have the character combat racism in America?

I think that it's because of the character's origin. Like, original origin. The late 1930's, America's Great Depression, Superman is created as a symbol for hope and justice.

His entire existance as a fictional character centres on those principles.

He's kept that mantle ever since, even if in his later years it seems less and less so.

@rideaspacecowboy: depends what you're talking about, racism exists in every nook n cranny of America. Give a specific scenario.

@nite_nite said:

Would the story you wrote be a metaphor, with the bigotry which Superman combats not racism itself, but a reasonable analog? Would the bigotry be embodied by a villain or would it be the state of society, sans a specific face? Would you pull inspiration from any personal experiences?

@rideaspacecowboy: not being a d*** but I'm having a hard time fully grasping your response. Was it was asking me if I'd use metaphors in a story instead of actual racism?

Experiencing and dealing with racism I don't think there's metaphors to explain what I've witnessed personally. I asked you for a scenario so I could give you a clean answer. If most people are like me, they're not looking up metaphors to get around racism. In America a majority of the racism switched from the honest "out n the open", to the subtle "your hair isn't proper for this school" angle.

I'm indifferent to the phrase as it means nothing to me, nor do I think it should be a part of the character.

Never liked applying the phrase to him. He's not a symbol of hope for merely a country. He's a symbol for all of existence.