The Impact America’s Past Has On People Today

American history has a huge impact on the way every student learns and grows to use their knowledge in the future.  This correlates to how people perceive and react to different cultures and those with altering backgrounds.  You can tell alot about one’s morals based on what they say, how they act, and the way they think/process things.  Conflicts will inevitably occur when lies America was built on reveals itself.  Due to the fact that America was built off of dishonesty, it’s not surprising that history textbooks are filled with myths and false truths. The government is responsible for miseducating children, all in an attempt to cover their tracks.  This creates a narrative that white supremacy is something that should be tolerated.  Those that are uneducated on the matter of slavery, led to a significant amount of prejudice and racism agaisnt people of color, all based off of being intolerant.Whether it’s because they follow the beliefs their families have or if they are just close minded, those “values” should no longer be tolerated.  Education is not the only factor, the government plays a huge role on why people of color are at a disadvantage to this day.  

The background behind the formation of the United States is darker than you may think.  Have you ever wondered why in New York City you’d approach a pleasant environment and then a couple streets over you’re suddenly in completely different surroundings and conditions?  Have you ever thought to yourself why that is? In simple terms, the government began to redline communities.  The corporate finance institute defines redlining as, “...the discriminatory and unethical practice of systematic denial of providing services, particularly financial services, to residents of certain neighborhoods or communities associated with a certain racial or ethnic group” (“Redlining - Definition…”).  The Federal Housing Administration rationalized these actions because they believed that the property values as well as other factors would go down, if Black people were to start populating that neighborhood.  It’s sad to say that even the way communities were built by virtue of systemic racism.  To further my point, Terry Gross and Richard Rothstein, in their NPR article, “A 'Forgotten History' Of How The U.S.  Government Segregated America,” explains how “In 1933, faced with a housing shortage, the federal government began a program explicitly designed to increase — and segregate —...African-Americans and other people of color were left out of the new suburban communities — and pushed instead into urban housing projects.” This placed people of color at even more of a disadvantage than from where they started.  In comparison, during this time whites gained equity appreciation which gave them access to provide a future for their children, along with building onto what they have for their posterity. 

Furthermore, addressing the ongoing issue of students being misled on what really occurred when people owned slaves must be retaught properly and corrected among all ages. A survey done by the Washington Post between 1,000+ adults the results were staggering. However, most surprising of all only two-thirds believe that slavery affects society today. This may be due to the fact that slavery is taught impartially or just by the surface; According to Clint Smith in the article, “Telling the Truth About Salvery Is Not “Indoctrination”” reveals that, “According to a 2018 report from the Southern Poverty Law Center, only 8 percent of high-school seniors surveyed were able to identify slavery as the central cause of the Civil War.” As well as the past, present, and future this can and has taken a huge impact on how people function in society. Conflicts over a topic that shouldn’t even be debatable is repulsive and insensitive to those that have suffered. In closing, Du Bois wrote in Black Reconstruction that, “We have too often a deliberate attempt so to change the facts of history that the story will make pleasant reading for Americans”. 

Now of the many ways America has tried to change the past, can you believe that the way America itself was founded was really portrayed in a completely twisted way? Shouldn’t be all that surprising at this point right? In fact, Christopher Columbus's “discovery” of North America was all a lie and unfortunately, Indiginous people were the target of his crime. He ensalved and mutilated many innocent, friendly human beings while spreading deadly diseases, but for some reason Americans annually celebrate his so-called victory. Moreover, “The Indigenous peoples were soon forced into slavery, and punished with the loss of a limb or death if they did not collect enough gold… Between the European’s brutal treatment and their infectious diseases, within decades, the Taino population was decimated '' (Myint). Why is it that so many Americans are misled into believing lies painted as the truth? Could it be a manipulation tactic among our own government? In relation, the novel 1984 states, “Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. History has stopped” (Orwell 103). Big Brother altered the way “his” people would think and recall information, which similarly correlates to what the U.S. government has been doing, but on a less dramatic scale. Additionally, people like James Loewen have exposed some untruthful teachings he’s experienced. Anya Kamenetz did an interview and report with findings of, “A third lie would be, whites didn't take control. It was white supremacist Democrats — indeed, it was the original Ku Klux Klan. So I thought to myself, "My gosh, what must it do to you to believe that the one time your group was center stage in American history, they screwed up?" (NPR). The crucial negative impact misleading history lessons has had is impeccable and detrimental to all students of all ethnicities. Certain “legends” get carried down from generation to generation which inevitably cause major issues of indifference. When it comes to making change for the better, why must there be a lack of representation for people of color? The article by Sean Illing, “The Biggest Lie We Still Teach in American History Classes” points out that, “..it’s that the story of moral and political progress isn’t so clear. And when we pretend that it is neat and clear, we cause teachers to teach and students to think that progress happens automatically, and that destroys the impulse to change things — to become an activist” (Vox). Similarly, without knowing the truth there’s no chance that there will ever be change and the will to make change can only come from those that have the desire to better the world.

 For instance, there’s been a recent modification of 16 park names in New York City. A community of people decided to speak out about a park named after John Mullaley due to the fact that he was“...an agitator of the draft riots during the Civil War. They say that gave the park’s name a racist history” (News 12). This park and recreation center was renamed in honor of the first African American city councilmember, Rev. Wendell Foster. With a step in the right direction, other parks throughout the city were renamed after Black civil rights leaders, educators, writers, and musicians. Likewise, recently in 2020 the police brutality George Floyd faced causing his death as well as many other people of color facing discrimination and prejudice has brought a wide range of attention whether it was positive or negative. Protests occurred all over America to gain justice for all the innocent souls that lost their lives for irrational decisions of those in higher power. In like manner, the racial injustice towards Asian Americans rose over 200% when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Deceiving comments from former President Trump such as “China virus” raised much hatred towards Asians for being the cause of an illness. This relates back to the lack of education spiraling into bigger issues such as intolerance and prejudice. Based on one’s morals it determines how empathetic they are. America is nowhere near the standard of tolerance and peace due to the engraved hatred towards each other purely because of the way history was represented.

Ultimately, blindly following all the standards that the government puts out is not beneficial to the country nor for society as a whole. Depicting the truth out of all the dirty lies and exposing yourself to the possible bitter sweet truth will allow you to branch out to thinking in a completely different way. It’s crucial for everyone to commit to doing your own research and using your knowledge for the better. This will inevitably lead to more peace, understandment, and tolerance. Learn to have the will to be the change before it’s too late; Not in spite to “fit in” with the trends of being a performative activist, but because you fight for the real truth. 

Works Cited

Gross, Terry, and Richard Rothstein. “A 'Forgotten History' Of How The U.S. Government Segregated America.” NPR, 3 May 2017, https://www.npr.org/2017/05/03/526655831/a-forgotten-history-of-how-the-u-s-government-segregated-america. 

Kamanetz, Anya, et al. “'Lies My Teacher Told Me,' And How American History Can Be Used As A Weapon.” NPR, 9 August 2018, https://www.npr.org/2018/08/09/634991713/lies-my-teacher-told-me-and-how-american-history-can-be-used-as-a-weapon. 

Myint, B. “Was Christopher Columbus a Hero or Villain?” Biography, 8 October 2020, https://www.biography.com/news/christopher-columbus-day-facts. 

“Redlining - Definition, History, Legal Implications, and Effects.” Corporate Finance Institute, https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/other/redlining/.

“16 NYC parks renamed in honor of Black leaders.” News 12 Bronx, 16 June 2021, https://bronx.news12.com/16-nyc-parks-renamed-in-honor-of-black-leaders. 

Smith, Clint. “The Real Stakes of the Fight Over History.” The Atlantic, 24 September 2020, https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/09/real-stakes-fight-over-history/616455/