This year, we will celebrate the founding of our nation, and it promises to be great fun! Flags will be flying, bands will be playing, fireworks will be exploding, and Americans everywhere will be rejoicing… hopefully. Will history remember our joy, or will our celebration be altered, distorted, or revised in the future?
Historians recognize that history is inherently revisionist. This emphasizes how new evidence and perspectives can help us better understand past events, rather than merely reflecting the suppression of facts for political reasons.
The Lost Cause Narrative used by Southerners after the Civil War is only one of many instances where people tried to rewrite factual history. We attempted to romanticize the Old South by downplaying the central role of slavery in the conflict. As a result, this narrative was widely accepted by white America for decades and influenced textbooks nationwide.
Textbook censorship and bias have existed for over a century. Â Political battles have erupted over the content in history books, with some demanding that publishers alter the narrative to align with regional perspectives.
The truth is that history is always marked by events we would prefer to forget or wish would disappear. All nations have histories that include shame, regret, and actions driven by hate—ours included.
The horror that Native Americans endured on the Trail of Tears and the injustices faced by Japanese Americans during World War II cannot be erased or sanitized; our actions were real. We cannot eliminate the bloodshed caused by antisemitism or racism. No power can rewrite the hate and bigotry that so many people still remember today.
We have made errors in the past, and our leaders have as well. The only way to correct these mistakes is by learning from history. We cannot ignore the truth or create a false version of events, as the facts will always prevail over our words. Truth and facts must take precedence over denial. Accepting reality, whether positive or negative, allows future generations to thrive and helps them avoid repeating our errors.
There are days in my life as an American that I wish were just a bad dream. For instance, the day when fire hoses were turned on Black protesters in Birmingham, or the times when men shrouded in white burned crosses. I recall an era when children of color were banned from entering schools or denied food services simply because of the color of their skin.
How can we allow such egregious behavior to be whitewashed? I pray that our history teaches our children to never close the door to anyone due to the misguided belief that they are better than others.
We must not erase history or ignore facts to create a more patriotic or sanitized version of America. Our identity is shaped by the lessons we’ve learned from our mistakes, and we continue to evolve.
Another day I wish I could erase, but cannot, is January 6, 2021. The images from that day still haunt me and will never fade away. Like many others, I witnessed the events unfolding. Six demonstrators lost their lives, and many more were injured. A police officer also died, and several others later took their own lives. We all know the story, but how many have tried to sanitize the vision?
Our president pardoned those who participated in the march and has recently rewritten the narrative surrounding the events of January 6. He now portrays it as a peaceful protest, despite the facts that played out before our eyes. The truth is stark and undeniable, marked by the blood spilled in our Capitol’s halls, the vandalism on the walls, and the shame it represents. This serves as a reminder of the importance of honesty.
We have fought against nations that committed atrocities, including the murder of six million Jewish people, terrorized their own citizens, and lived under ruthless dictatorships. Countless soldiers lost their lives in these battles to prevent such horrors from reaching American shores.
The goodness of America must continue to shine through our dark times. Our patriotism will thrive if we unite and acknowledge the reality of our sorrowful days. No one can truly rewrite history, as it has a way of revealing the truth and resurfacing. Therefore, when future generations read about us, let them read that we learned from our mistakes and forged a path forward in unity, resolving to become better people, embracing forgiveness, and honoring God.
Did Japanese Americans finally assimilate back into society? Do Native Americans still endure pain? Do we still see the Ku Klux Klan burning crosses? Are fire hoses still used on Black American protesters today?
The answer should be no, as we hopefully have learned from the lessons that truthful history provides.
As we celebrate our 250th year, may the banners fly, and fireworks glow, for we have survived both good and evil days to live free in this land called America.
