Cold War Civil Rights: Race and the Image of American Democracy

Describe in your own words Mary Dudziak’s core argument. What are the strengths and weaknesses of her thesis? Overall, do you agree with her thesis? Why or why not?

Discuss the narrative that the United States was trying to promote during the Cold War. What was it? Why was civil rights both a problem and an opportunity for that narrative? What were the strengths and weaknesses of this narrative?

Why would the Soviet Union and China exploit racism in the United States? How did racism hurt the United States’ international image? List and discuss three specific cases.