Superman: Americans Raised in Kansas

When Superman emerged in Action Comic #1 back in 1938, the United States was grappling with something beyond just borders or diversity. It was facing a profound issue: Fertility collapse.

Historic lows in fertility rates have become a pressing concern. Many American families have chosen to delay marriage, push aside childbirth, or, in some cases, come to terms with not having children at all. Economically, this has led to early signs of a demographic recession, illustrated by empty homes, declining demand for schools, and the unsettling fear that a graying population may hinder economic vitality.

The downturn in fertility didn’t just begin recently; it’s a trend that has persisted through various cycles—economic booms, recessions, peace, and conflict. By 1938, many observers viewed this decline as a certainty. Economists voiced concerns about stagnation. Schools were half-filled, and it seemed America was aging, slowing down, and losing its edge.

For years, social scientists thought the decline would persist indefinitely. The prevailing notion was that as society modernized, fertility would continue to drop. Not even the most prominent economists and demographers could foresee a different chapter. However, within a decade, there was an unexpected turnaround: the birth rate surged. The baby boom fundamentally changed America’s demographic landscape. In retrospect, Superman appeared not as a harbinger of despair but rather as a sign of renewal.

A new life seemed to fall from the heavens over this landscape.

A Childless Country Finds Its Hero

Superman’s story has evolved over the years, often intertwined with themes of immigration. He hails from another world, adopts American values, and finds a sense of belonging. This is how James Gunn, the director of the newest Superman film, interprets the narrative.

“We stand by ‘our people,’ we value immigrants, and, sure, Superman represents an immigrant… If that doesn’t resonate with you, then you might not be American,” Gunn stated.

This interpretation, though, reflects a modern cultural lens applied to age-old tales. It’s a bit of a return to the roots.

In the original 1938 tale, Clark Kent wasn’t portrayed as an outsider striving to integrate. Instead, he was a child raised by an American couple unable to have kids. Kent grew up in the heartland, embodying the nation’s moral compass. His extraordinary abilities were otherworldly, yet his values were fundamentally American, instilled in him from the very beginning.

He lands like a newborn in the center of Kansas. The couple, wishing for children, embraces him, not out of obligation but joyfully, as they were unexpectedly granted a son. They nurture him with love, teaching him values like humility and justice, and through their guidance, he becomes a protector of the American spirit.

This aspect is crucial, as it positions Superman in a unique category. He isn’t merely a representation of migration; rather, he symbolizes a fortuitous arrival, an unforeseen bond between parent and child, and the importance of family in upholding civilization. He appears when many Americans quietly question what the future holds for their children.

His journey is straightforward: found in a field by people he initially perceives as strangers, they take him home. They provide a nurturing environment, and through their belief in this peculiar child, he ultimately becomes a guardian of the world.

He arrives during a time when there’s a palpable fear that Americans might retreat from the idea of parenthood. He resonates deeply with readers, symbolizing hope reborn amid economic and demographic struggles. Just a decade later, America witnessed a resurgence in both prosperity and fertility through the baby boom, defying what many thought impossible.

Superman: A Hero for Our Demographically Challenging Era

This theme feels more relevant now than ever. The US birth rate has fallen yet again, now below 1.6 children per woman. This rate is insufficient to sustain the population without relying on immigration. Economists express concerns regarding a contracting workforce, diminishing qualification ratios, and potential stagnation in innovation and consumption. Other nations, such as Japan and South Korea, are already facing a demographic crisis, with Europe not far behind.

America, too, is seeing its child population dwindle.

This is why revisiting Superman’s core symbolism is essential. In an era when biological parenting feels increasingly out of reach for numerous individuals, his arrival was fundamentally not political but remarkably genuine.

It’s often said that children are blessings. The narrative of Superman doesn’t just proclaim this idea—it embodies it. He is not a mere result of governmental policies or social theories; rather, it’s about when two ordinary people courageously choose to embrace children as their own.

If there’s anything for policymakers to take from this, it’s not about repeating slogans or symbolic gestures. It’s more about understanding that real change in a nation begins, much like it did in Kansas, with the bravery to raise children.