Information Density: The Free Press – Signal Evidence & AI Readability

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Discuss with Other Free Pressers in the ForumForumNewslettersSign InSubscribeColeman Hughes: The Case for Progressive Patriotism“If we compare America to the world as it actually is, it is one of the most progressive cultures on Earth,” writes Coleman Hughes. (Zahab Zaribaf/AFP via Getty Images)There’s a reason the groups most valued by progressives—people of color, the poor, residents of the ‘global South’—want to migrate to America.By Coleman Hughes06.19.26FOLLOW COLUMN --:----:--Upgrade to ListenProduced by ElevenLabs using AI narration142150READ IN APPAmerica’s 250th birthday is sure to be an occasion for competitive displays of patriotism emanating from every corner of the country. But while many Americans find that patriotism comes effortlessly, others struggle with it mightily. Every July 4, Frederick Douglass’s 1852 speech “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” circulates on what people used to call “Black Twitter.” At the time, Douglass’s speech was a much-needed call to action and a stinging rebuke of America’s hypocrisy in tolerating slavery while claiming to be a nation devoted to liberty. Now slavery is long gone, but the speech remains as a symbol of the fact that for many African Americans, the historical fact of slavery makes patriotism complicated. Can we celebrate the birth of American liberty when we were not included in it?Back in 2019, The New York Times released the The 1619 Project, by Nikole Hannah-Jones. It is remembered by its admirers as an ambitious and necessary attempt to retell the American story with white supremacy and slavery at its center. It is remembered by its critics as an exercise in ahistorical nonsense—in particular for the falsehood, put forth in Hannah-Jones’ lead essay, that the American Revolution was fought in order to preserve slavery.What is less remembered is that the thesis of that essay was a progressive case for American patriotism—albeit a bizarre and twisted one. Hannah-Jones argued that African Americans, more than any other group of Americans, can claim ownership of this country’s great ideals. “Our founding fathers may not have actually believed in the ideals they espoused,” she wrote, “but black people did.” In fighting for our freedom and equality, she argued, we have made the American ideals of freedom and equality true for everyone.Her backdoor case for patriotism, in other words, was that the Founding Fathers were ideological frauds whose poor handiwork in creating America 1.0 was luckily bailed out by African Americans—who built the America 2.0 that we all enjoy today. Nor was Hannah-Jones eager to share credit for this accomplishment with any other group of people. In her words, African Americans “fought back alone” against the forces of white supremacy that plagued the country prior to the civil rights movement. Thus, black people should be the most patriotic flag-wavers of all.Continue Reading The Free PressTo support our journalism, and unlock all of our investigative stories and provocative commentary about the world as it actually is, subscribe below.Annual$8.33/monthBilled as $100 yearly Save $20!Monthly$10/monthBilled as $10 monthlySubscribe NowAlready have an account?Sign InTo read this article, sign in or subscribeColeman HughesColeman Hughes is the host of Conversations with Coleman. He is also a Free Press columnist who specializes in issues related to race, public policy, and applied ethics. He has appeared on prominent TV shows and podcasts including The View, Real Time with Bill Maher, The Joe Rogan Experience, and Making Sense with Sam Harris. In 2024, Hughes released his first book, The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America.Tags:RaceProgressivesAmerica at 250CommentsJoin the conversationShare your thoughts and connect with other readers by becoming a paid subscriber!Upgrade todayAlready a paid subscriber? Sign inNo posts

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Discuss with Other Free Pressers in the ForumForumNewslettersSign InSubscribeTGIF: No One Is Getting Left Behind This TimeIran fizzles, UFC pyrotechnics pop, Ozempic brings us closer to peace, Meta fixes its snacks, and more!June 19, 2026Nellie BowlesTGIF: We Economists Have Done the MathsKarmelo Anthony trial reactions, college costs cross six figures, the vice president owns birds, Rosie O’Donnell looks amazing, We the Economists make…June 12, 2026Nellie BowlesTGIF: I Would Never Have Forgotten My DrugsThe end of the slush fund, money can’t buy California, the oysterman is all shell and no belly, the SAT is cool again, the Bidens are back, and more. June 5, 2026Nellie BowlesNellie Bowles Here . . . Introducing The Free Press ForumI want to tell you about a members-only digital space where Free Press subscribers can connect, trade recommendations, debate the news, and occasionally…May 26, 2026Nellie BowlesTGIF: I Have a Thing Called IranHarvard stops giving everyone A’s, an American politician floats ‘Zionist’ internment camps, the Taliban needs your cash for women’s rights, protein…May 22, 2026Nellie BowlesTGIF: Sort of a Fat SlobTrump Mobile ships a rebranded T-Mobile phone, Princeton kills its 133-year honor code, $10 billion in Covid relief went to really fun stuff, AOC says…May 15, 2026Nellie BowlesTGIF: Too Crazy and Not Crazy EnoughDenmark punishes its elderly for climate change, JPMorgan’s sex slave lawsuit, RIP Spirit Airlines, the Palisades arsonist is a Luigi wannabe, Kash…May 8, 2026Nellie BowlesTGIF: A New Tux on the Dirty Hilton FloorAn Oxford professor teaches biochemistry in Z-cup rubber breasts. A soldier bet $33K on his own raid and won $409K. Golf is killing humanity. And much…May 1, 2026Nellie BowlesTGIF: We Live in the World We’re InStealing is cool, the scammers got scammed, the public transit is safe, the socialists are rich, and the vaccines are back, baby!April 24, 2026Nellie BowlesTGIF: The Luddite PartyTom Steyer goes hard in the paint, the father of SantaCon and the missing SantaBucks, World Liberty Financial gets accused of being an ATM, and Allbirds…April 17, 2026Nellie BowlesTGIF: MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+Is J.D. Vance the real bell hooks? Is the Easter Bunny in the cabinet? And are we ready for a new Canada Research Chair in Forestry and Environmental…April 10, 2026Nellie BowlesTGIF: The Truth of the Conspiracy of the ConspiracyIran’s supreme leader is AI, the pickleball court is a deathtrap, Cuba’s best ambassadors, and the Cesar Chavez take no one wants to hear. March 27, 2026Nellie Bowles

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