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Thinking more on major events in the U.S. that weren't covered in school. I had to learn about Kent State from Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young's "Ohio" and Crankshaft comics.
Deploying the National Guard on Americans had precedent before 2020, but if we didn't learn about it...
Deploying the National Guard on Americans had precedent before 2020, but if we didn't learn about it...
Korean War? Only knew about it because my grandpa was drafted into it, and even then he understandably never talked about it so I only know details from reading.
We skipped from WWII straight to Vietnam. Even then the latter was mostly about Communism Bad vs. the war itself.
We skipped from WWII straight to Vietnam. Even then the latter was mostly about Communism Bad vs. the war itself.
Already talked about Trail of Tears being maybe one sentence. Juneteenth I only knew about it because Texas, but we didn't dig deeper. Barely touched Reconstruction.
Tulsa and Black Wall Street I learned from talking with a friend about history that goes ignored in classrooms.
Tulsa and Black Wall Street I learned from talking with a friend about history that goes ignored in classrooms.
Japanese internment? Hell no. That we turned away Jews fleeing the Holocaust and sent them back to their doom because anti-Semitism? ALSO hell no.
César Chávez was maybe a paragraph, but after that NO EXPLOITATION OF FARM WORKERS EVER HAPPENED AGAIN. Dolores Huerta was missing.
César Chávez was maybe a paragraph, but after that NO EXPLOITATION OF FARM WORKERS EVER HAPPENED AGAIN. Dolores Huerta was missing.
All the previous I learned about from reading or talking to people.
On a world history level, the Kingdom of Mali and Arab conquest and Berber settlement of southern Europe weren't ever covered. Only learned about the former by reading and latter in art history classes.
On a world history level, the Kingdom of Mali and Arab conquest and Berber settlement of southern Europe weren't ever covered. Only learned about the former by reading and latter in art history classes.
Back to the U.S.
Chinese immigrant involvement in building the train system WAS covered, but framed as "What a great opportunity!! AMERICAN DREAM!!" vs. the inhuman working conditions and racism they endured. And that Chinese women COULDN'T immigrate because racism + sexism.
Chinese immigrant involvement in building the train system WAS covered, but framed as "What a great opportunity!! AMERICAN DREAM!!" vs. the inhuman working conditions and racism they endured. And that Chinese women COULDN'T immigrate because racism + sexism.
By "racism and sexism," I mean the U.S. assumed all Chinese women wanting to immigrate were prostitutes and wouldn't allow them to enter. They weaponized the Page Act of 1875.
Working day job right now, so this thread gets updated when I boil water for coffee. But there's a lot to say so I'm going to thread it.
Obviously Stonewall and all of the LGBTQIAP+ liberation movement was missing. Learned about it at a Pride history tent in grad school.
Obviously Stonewall and all of the LGBTQIAP+ liberation movement was missing. Learned about it at a Pride history tent in grad school.
There are some GREAT side convos happening in this thread with @mercuryhudson, @jvfriedman, & @julesrivera. Feel free to add your own info, too, because I think it's CRUCIAL we take a fine-toothed comb to American history and question what/how/why we learned what we learned.
Oh! Here's one for fellow Catholic school kids!
Spanish Inquisition. Happened, but only to heretics, you see. NOT Muslims and Jews.
Didn't get a historically accurate description until grad school - Catholic uni, Jewish professor.
Spanish Inquisition. Happened, but only to heretics, you see. NOT Muslims and Jews.
Didn't get a historically accurate description until grad school - Catholic uni, Jewish professor.
As a corollary, anti-Semitism only existed in Europe just before and during the Holocaust. History class said so.
Only knew about Jewish expulsion from England from the book Catherine Called Birdy and Jewish-exclusive taxes funding the Tower of London AT THE TOWER OF LONDON.
Only knew about Jewish expulsion from England from the book Catherine Called Birdy and Jewish-exclusive taxes funding the Tower of London AT THE TOWER OF LONDON.
