In his landmark 1944 book, *An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy*, Myrdal explored the contradiction between America's espoused values and its discriminatory practices. He argued that:
* The American Creed (the belief in equality and opportunity for all) was a powerful moral force, but it was contradicted by the reality of "the Negro problem", which encompassed issues like lynching, segregation, and economic inequality.
* This contradiction created a moral dilemma for Americans, forcing them to confront the hypocrisy of their beliefs and actions.
* The "dilemma" was not just a problem for Black Americans, but for the entire nation, as it undermined the legitimacy and moral foundation of American democracy.
Myrdal's work was groundbreaking in its systematic analysis of race relations in America. It helped to bring the issue to national attention and provided a framework for understanding the complex and enduring challenges of racism in the United States.