To look away is to be wilfully blind about America.
 | By Max Strasser |
When I was growing up in a liberal American suburb in the '90s, Black History Month was a regular feature of the academic year. And, like much of my education, it was fairly rote. The same set of characters would reappear every February: Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. |
These were great Americans, and I'm glad I studied their biographies. (And I don't mean to diminish my public school education.) But over this past year of racial reckoning, I have been thinking a lot about all of the history that I wasn't taught about Black people in America. |
In an Op-Ed today, Jonathan Holloway, a historian and the president of Rutgers University, lays out the fundamental importance of studying this history. "Black history is profoundly illuminating," Jonathan writes. "It produces a bright light by which we can make an honest assessment of how well our actions align with the ideals that have led us to proclaim that ours is a special nation." |
The history that makes itself clear is one of a people who were denied citizenship, humanity and the dignity of being considered civilized: "Although African-Americans have had to endure arguments, policies and practices that declared they were not fully human, that they could not be citizens and that they were not civilized, African-Americans have been undaunted in their desire to be considered all of the above." |
To look away from that, Jonathan writes, is to be willfully blind about America. For some people (myself included), blindness — willful or not — is harder than ever to sustain. For others (Jonathan points, for example, to the Proud Boys), it's become a political imperative. |
Here's what we're focusing on today: |
Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can sign up here. Do you have feedback? Email us at opiniontoday@nytimes.com |
Contact Us
If you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our Help Page or contact The Times. |
|
No comments:
Post a Comment