I know people are acting shocked by the 1776 commission report. But it reads like a Christian homeschooling textbook. Nothing new - same stuff that’s been taught for decades in conservative Christian circles.

And those dangerous ideas about history have long shaped conservative evangelicalism. Respected American historians have warned about this sort of propaganda in churches, Christian schools, and homeschooling since at least the mid-1980s.

Two or more generations of white evangelicals already believe what’s in the report. Entire denominations embrace that version of American history.

Any historian who has ever taught at an evangelical college or university has had to fight the half truths and outright lies in that report. Some profs are very good at that - many others have lost jobs for challenging that history.

A vision of history - America’s godly past with its divinely-mandated mission and future - is fundamental to white evangelicalism. Almost akin to a biblical literalism, it is something one MUST believe to be considered truly Christian. It is that central.

So, yes, it is a racist slap in the face on MLK Day. But it also a huge gift to the white evangelicals who support Trump - evidence of his faithfulness to both God and them, even amid (what they see as) a confusing and angering loss.