What do dueling crises reveal about American exceptionalism?

When President Ronald Reagan left office, he defined America as a “shining city on a hill,” a country that other nations would look to as a model of prosperity and freedom. Reagan, like many other presidents and politicians, lauded the country for its “American exceptionalism,” the set of beliefs that the country’s history, values and politics make it distinct and worthy of respect and leadership on the world stage.

But amid dueling crises — the coronavirus pandemic and the racial reckoning — belief in American exceptionalism has been deeply...