When people think of Manifest Destiny, they may think of ideas of "moving westward." During the nineteenth century, many people were expanding the United States across the North American continent. During this expansion, countless Indigenous lives and cultures were destroyed in the process. In its place came Anglo-Saxon and Protestant ideas that promoted white supremacy.
I've noticed that in my research and time here in Brazil, those ideas of Manifest Destiny went hand in hand with Black erasure. For example, while traveling around the country, I've noticed a growing number of Protestant churches that were established around 1900 and starting to compete with the predominant Catholic faith in Brazil. There is high regard and respect for those who speak English, and whenever I went to different archives and museums, they were impressed that I could speak the language.
For example, one day when I was speaking to a friend on my phone (in English), a woman was standing nearby listening. When I got off the phone, she said to me in Portuguese: "You speak English so well!" I told her, "Thank you, but it's my native language." "How can it be your native language?" she asked, confused. "Well, I'm from the United States." "YOU?!?" she gasped.
