Un-Americanism: A History of the Battle to Control an Idea

Inside notorious and influential struggles to define what it
means to be "un-American," illuminating the complex evolution of the
term throughout US history



The
term "un-American" has been wielded as a powerful tool throughout US
history, from Jefferson's vision of the early Republic to the Trump era,
yet no objective definition has ever been universally agreed upon. For
the first time, George Lewis's Un-Americanism offers a long history of
this term, tracing what it has meant to whom through close looks at the
most prominent contests for control of its definition and deployment.

Lewis examines case studies that show politicians using the idea of the
un-American to advance their agendas, organizations using it in racial
nationalist campaigns, and federal committees using it in investigations
such as those of the anticommunist "Red Scare" of the Cold War--along
with activists and coalitions who have countered rhetoric of the
"un-American" by claiming their own use of the term. In these chapters,
Lewis delves into the role of institutions and organizations such as the
American Legion, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), and
the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Lewis paints a compelling
picture of how the term has both shaped and been shaped by the country's
social and political landscape.



Un-Americanism offers
a profound analysis of how this term has drawn and redrawn lines
between what is considered "good" or "bad" politically. By exploring its
complex evolution, the book highlights how the term has impacted each
generation's understanding of national values and American identity.
Lewis challenges readers to reflect on its ongoing influence in defining
who truly belongs in the American story.