Americans, the eyes of the world are upon you. How can you expect

"Americans, the eyes of the world are upon you. How can you expect the world to believe in you and respect your preaching of democracy when you yourself treat your colored brothers as you do?" These words from Josephine Baker are a profound challenge, not just to the nation of America, but to the very principles of justice, equality, and human dignity that are often claimed to define it. In this statement, Baker cuts to the heart of the hypocrisy that can arise when a society preaches freedom and democracy to the world but fails to extend those same values to all its citizens, particularly its African American brothers and sisters. She is questioning the integrity of a nation that promotes equality abroad while denying it at home. In her words, there is an urgent call for true action over empty words—a demand that respect for human rights be universal, not just reserved for the powerful or the privileged.

In the ancient world, the Greek philosophers often discussed the relationship between a nation’s values and its actions. Plato, in his dialogues, argued that a just society is one where the principles of justice and virtue are not just espoused in theory but are embodied in every action of its citizens. He believed that a society must live in alignment with its stated values if it is to be truly just. If a nation preaches justice but allows injustice to persist, it is doomed to corruption and failure. Similarly, Aristotle maintained that virtue lies in the consistency between what we say and what we do. In this, we see the ancient understanding that true respect for a society’s principles comes not from its rhetoric but from its actions that reflect its most fundamental beliefs.

Baker’s words also remind us of the Roman concept of dignity, known as "dignitas"—a quality that was regarded as a measure of one's moral worth and public respect. In Roman society, one’s dignitas was not simply given; it had to be earned through one’s actions, through the respect one gave to others, and through the justness of one’s actions. The Romans understood that a nation’s reputation on the world stage was built upon its internal respect for human rights and the treatment of others. If a society failed to respect its citizens' rights, it undermined its own dignity and would eventually lose the respect of the world. Baker’s call is an echo of that ancient wisdom: if America was to claim the mantle of democracy, it could not simultaneously uphold systems of racial injustice.

In more recent history, we have the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, which Josephine Baker was actively part of, as a performer, an activist, and a symbol of strength and dignity for African Americans. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and countless others challenged the system of segregation and racism in America, demanding that the nation live up to its own ideals. They spoke out against the contradiction of a country that claimed to be the land of freedom yet systematically oppressed its black citizens. Their struggle was a direct response to the same hypocrisy Baker pointed out: how can a country claim to preach freedom and democracy to the world when it treats its black brothers and sisters as second-class citizens? Their fight was for true equality, where the promise of democracy extended to all, without discrimination.

Baker, who lived both in the United States and France, experienced firsthand the disparities between how Americans treated their black citizens and how they were treated in a more egalitarian France. This personal experience shaped her sense of justice, and she used her platform to call attention to the injustice back home. By living abroad, she was able to see with a clearer lens the contrast between the lofty ideals of the American Dream and the realities of life for African Americans. She was one of the few who had the courage to call out the hypocrisy of the American system, despite the immense backlash she faced, both as an entertainer and an activist. Her message is as relevant today as it was then: injustice anywhere diminishes the credibility of any nation that claims to be a beacon of freedom.

The lesson we can draw from Baker’s words is a universal one: a society that claims to be founded on justice and freedom must ensure that these principles are upheld in every aspect of life. The true measure of a nation is not in its ability to speak of democracy but in its commitment to acting justly within its own borders. To treat some of its people as inferior, while claiming to fight for the rights of others, is the highest form of hypocrisy. Equality, respect, and justice must be real in every aspect of society, not just in words. If we are to build a better future, we must examine and address the injustices within our own lives and societies and act to right those wrongs.

In our daily lives, we are called to align our actions with our words. If we stand for justice, we must stand for justice for all, regardless of race, gender, or station in life. Whether in our workplaces, communities, or personal relationships, we must live with integrity, ensuring that we uphold the values we profess. By doing so, we honor the legacy of those like Josephine Baker who fought for equality and justice, and we contribute to the building of a world that respects the dignity and humanity of every individual. Just as the ancients taught us, a society can only thrive when it lives its truth, and when it treats all its citizens with the respect and justice they deserve.