The history of slavery is part of the story of American history.
It is not a pleasant story, but it needs to be addressed.
In the era of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and since, historians and other scholars finally put the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about slavery and racism into the curriculum, long overdue.
But now, racist President Donald Trump has mandated the end of displaying and addressing the issue of slavery at national historic sites and monuments.
The outragous action to remove the display about slavery and George Washington at the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia is attempting to wipe out a sin that America has had since its beginning, which needs, continually, to be addressed.
This author and blogger in the summer of 2025 visited the Muir Woods National Monument in northern California, and shortly after, all references to the role of native Americans, women, and immigrant groups to the history of environmentalism, were also eliminated.
The cause of teaching and publishing and exposing all of the background, good and bad, of all aspects of American history, now must be doubled down on in resistance, through lawsuits and reversal of the hate filled intent of Donald Trump and his administration. The long range will see the triumph of truth!
Ronald, I am so thankful for your articles, which exactly reflect my thinking from the outset (evil of Trump, which has been blatantly apparent from the beginning).
What worries me is the failure of our education system that has allowed a person like him to gain so much power with support of millions of our friends. Well, no longer friends but weird acquaintances, even relatives. I’m sad that it will take many years of my grandchildren’s lives to undo his harm to our national values, shared history, world reputation, and personal security and opportunity. But then another like him will appear.
I am home, recovering, at age 86, from a spinal implant that I hope will give me a few more comfortable years to do what i can to undo the Trump damage. Amazing how educated Christians think it’s more important to vote Republican than to think about the contradictions. I try to be hopeful and positive, but it is a struggle. Stay well and keep up your vast outreach. Q Penny Bell, your acquaintance from the NYC Road Scholar trip last summer. Rice grad ‘61, former English teacher and lawyer in Houston. Now in Conroe, Tx, the most conservative county in the country.
Penny, great to hear from you, and hope your recovery from surgery goes well.
I had hernia surgery in September, and reached the age of 81 in December.
I agree we have, as former educators, the major burden to try to influence young people to think and analyze , and recognize truth from myth.
It was a pleasure sharing that NYC trip last year, and I wish you and your daughter the very best in the future!