American history is whitewashed
How much of the real American history do students really know?
History textbooks often only include pictures of white men despite the diversity seen in schools.
March 31, 2023
I sat in the back of my US History I class sophomore year, listening to my teacher talk about the Transcontinental Railroad and what a feat it truly was for our country at the time. As I typed my notes and listened to my teacher, I waited for him to mention to the class that this miracle of a project was made possible not only just by the hands of white men, but also by the hands of Chinese and Irish immigrants. He never did.
I already knew and understood just how fervently these two important groups of people, especially the Chinese, toiled to revolutionize our country; they shed their blood, endured life-threatening working conditions, settled for unfair wages, and even died while pursuing the success of this project. Their contribution to one of America’s greatest achievements cannot be denied or overlooked, yet somehow my history teacher and the history textbook failed to do anything more than just mention the Chinese and Irish immigrants. Their toil and labor was erased from American history, and it angered me to see just how whitewashed our history is.
This is not the only thing American history textbooks have kept from its students. George Washington was portrayed to almost every student as an upright and unblemished man despite the fact that he owned hundreds of slaves. Abraham Lincoln, glorified for “freeing the slaves,” only signed the Emancipation Proclamation in an effort to save the Union. The American government used to practice redlining, a discriminatory policy designed to prioritize White families to Black families in the housing market. History textbooks did not teach me these ugly pieces of American history. I was the one who taught myself.
History textbooks also generously use euphemisms. Euphemisms are words or phrases that are used to substitute another word or phrase, usually used to understate an expression that may be considered offensive or harsh. For example, take into consideration the term “race riots.” Google defines the word “riot” as “a violent disturbance of peace by a crowd.” By that definition, the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 that has an estimated death count of 300 wasn’t just a “riot.” It was a massacre. But of course, the severity of the situation was covered up and sugarcoated by the word “riot.” During World War II, Japanese American citizens were forced from their homes into what the government called “relocation centers,” a term used to cover up the mistakes of the government. In reality, the nature of these centers was more like that of a concentration camp that traumatized the Japanese citizens it held.
Had I not done my own research on these historical events, I would be a victim of the American education system— blinded by ignorance to the truth. But that’s the issue. I should not have to dig to find the simple truth of our history. The truth should be common knowledge among all students, but it isn’t, and it can’t be until we stop feeding our students an American history that solely glorifies the achievements of white men and suppresses the oppression of others.
The truth behind American history is that people of color helped build America; why else do they call our country a “melting pot”? People from all over the world chose America as the land they’d settle in. They brought with them their own unique traditions, food, values, music, and dances that have all impacted our country’s development to where it stands today. America would be close to nothing without the simple presence of people of color, so why are our history books not reflecting that?
As society continues to adopt a progressive and inclusive mindset, we cannot continue to teach our students a whitewashed version of America’s history. We cannot continue to downplay America’s mistakes or water-down the severity of major historical events.
It was once said that the truth will set you free. Only if America is able to fully face the raw truth of its past, will we be able to be freed from the chains of deception and shame.