The “Real,” “Non-Divisive,” and “Comforting” History of American Race Relations
Writers Note: What you are about to read may soon be the only allowable narrative of the African American historical experience that can be taught in K-12 classrooms across the United States…
“…The first black slaves were brought to Virginia in 1619. Soon more slaves were brought to the thirteen colonies to provide a labor force for the English settlers. Upset by the growing tyranny of King George III, which included continuing to force more slaves upon the settlers, liberty and freedom-loving Americans revolted against the brutal rule of the British.
After establishing a government by and for the people, Americans began pursuing “life, liberty, and happiness.” It was their “manifest destiny” to spread their superior civilization across the entire continent. Slavery was a sad fact of life in America at this time; however, most of the slaves lived well and enjoyed their exposure to Christianity and other aspects of Western Civilization.
By the middle of the 19th century, agitation sparked by misguided radical abolitionists led to constant attacks against the slave-holding states and their constitutionally protected property rights. These attacks sparked a bloody civil war between the Union and the Confederate States of America. Led by Republican President Abraham Lincoln, the slaves were freed. To help the freed slaves adjust to their new status, Reconstruction was instituted in the former Confederate States. It was a complete failure, riddled with corruption and incompetence. Proper leadership was restored in the South, as the former warring regions reunited in body and spirit, realizing that the war had been a sad, unnecessary tragedy.
Going into the 20th century, George Washington Carver became famous for his work in developing uses for Peanuts, while Booker T. Washington advocated for vocational training. In large numbers, African Americans began leaving the South, moving to Northern and Western cities. After World War II, the Civil Rights Movement developed. Rosa Parks stood up for her rights by refusing to vacate her seat on a bus in Alabama. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King supported non-violent protest to gain equal treatment, as he promoted character development. In 1964 all Americans became equal as President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Bill into law. All Americans were given the equal right to vote the following year under the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
George Washington Carver
More time is still needed to achieve a genuinely multi-racial democracy. A few “bad apples” on both sides delay this ultimate achievement. With the election of an African American President in 2008, the country is well on its way to total unity….”
Rosa Parks
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Time is running out to stop or reverse the teaching trend described above. Most Americans want their children to receive a complete historical education. What you have read is not a complete historical education. Patriots believe that a “Worts and all” historical education is the best way to build a truly, “great” forward-moving nation that is constantly working to be a better place for all its citizens. To be blunt, Nationalists do not believe that. In the end, fear, anger, resentment, and hate will not win out.
Studying the Past, to Understand the Present, and Prepare for the Future 