History Is A Social Justice Issue

Democracy thrives on both respect for the rule of law and knowledge of history.

The myth of America is that ours is a country that’s strong enough to face any challenge. Yet, somehow, we find ourselves afraid of a full accounting of history. The suggestion is that some of us are being “divisive” for not sticking to unquestioned patriotism. That’s hardly a free and open society or a country that stands confidently in its history.

But history is a particularly tough sell in a country whose culture is, generally, ahistorical.

Given the right-wing legislations against teaching full American history, it’s time to frame access to history as a social justice issue. Not a civil right, because those–like access to reproductive healthcare–are given, taken, and/or guaranteed by the government. We need history to be told in its fullness, as a means of strengthening our sense of citizenship and our ability to effectively fight back against threats to democratic governance.

We can turn things around for the better. But only if we’re willing to grapple with our history. So now a new front has opened in this fight for our collective future. Sadly, in addition to everything else, we also must fight for an accurate and full accounting of how we all got here.

Let’s go!