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Captain America and the nation's conscience

6/16/202613 min

What does it mean to be American? For one superhero, it means donning yourself in the colors of the American flag, sticking up for the little guy, and making sure you stick to your morals. This week, we dive into the comics of Captain America, and what happened to him – and to the country – post World War II.

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Clips

CRAP vs Creep Satire
Captain America Quits America
Ideals Over Government
Invested 36 Cents

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Speaker 10:00

    This message comes from NPR sponsor Carvana. Your time is worth more than a waiting game. Carvana gives you a transparent offer for your car in minutes and picks it up from your door. Sell your car today at carvana.com. Pickup fees may apply.

  2. Rund Abdelfatah· Host0:15

    [Instrumental music playing] This is America in Pursuit, a limited run series from NPR and Throughline. I'm Rund Abdelfatah. Each week we bring you stories about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in the US that began 250 years ago. Over the past few months, we've been exploring how people have pushed and fought to make the promises laid out in the Declaration of Independence come true, and in so doing, they've defined and redefined what it means to be American. And what better example for understanding the identity of the nation than an American superhero?

  3. Captain America· Soundbite0:55

    [Instrumental music playing] We shall call you Captain America.

  4. Rund Abdelfatah· Host1:02

    Captain America. Because of all the heroes, Captain America has always been a mirror into what it means to be American.

  5. Captain America· Soundbite1:11

    One nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

  6. Rund Abdelfatah· Host1:18

    First introduced to comic readers in 1941 on the eve of the United States entry into World War II, Captain America was depicted as a blonde-haired, blue-eyed,

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