The Paradox of Visibility

Abstract

Black America is not present, as it should be, in the literature on US soft power. This paper argues that Black culture exerts a powerful positive attraction abroad. This attraction, grounded in the forms of Black resistance to racial injustice, leads to a reconceptualization of America’s identity, by foreign audiences. A counter claim of what counts as “America” takes shape. The rethinking of America’s identity abroad responds to the appeal of the legacy of Black resistance. However, Black culture is, more often, unavailable to policymakers for garnering desired outcomes. Incorporating Black culture into the study of soft power helps sharpen the concept’s definition and points to when and why some forms of soft power are unavailable to decision makers.