Opinion: Seek the truths of America’s history, reject exceptionalism as college students
U.S. education reinforces a nationalistic view of the country, glossing over the ugly side of its past, our columnist writes. He urges students to move beyond exceptionalist narratives and confront the good and bad American history. Leanne Rivera | Staff Photographer
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I was taught the story of Lewis and Clark for five straight years in elementary school. It was constantly drilled into my mind that they were brave adventurers who set out to discover the unknown country that would eventually become the United States.
They were my idols, but this was grounded in the misconception of them that I was taught. The narrative about their perfection excluded the fact that Lewis and Clark each enslaved over 20 people.
But worse of all, the territory that Lewis and Clark mapped, along with the knowledge they gained about the landscape and peoples, was used for American expansionism, resulting in gross abuses of power toward native peoples.
Lewis and Clark are not heroes, but rather overly perfected characters of history. They were manipulated to showcase American exceptionalism, or the theory that the US is unique and has a special role in the world due to its founding ideals of liberty, democracy and self-governance.
It’s highly unlikely there will be widespread change in K-12 schools omitting harsh truths of history teaching of history due to increased public scrutiny. But as college students, as well as adults, we can confront the good and bad of American history with more educational freedom. Doing so can limit the harms of teaching American exceptionalism.
In recent months, conservative nonprofit advocacy group and media organization PragerU has reinforced an image of American exceptionalism, especially through its K-12 branch. PragerU Kids has stoked widespread controversy for its inaccurate depiction of shameful history, even going as far as to have Frederick Douglass, one of the most famous abolitionists and former enslaved people, tell a child that slavery was a compromise to found the U.S.
This narrative is not only false, but it’s also misinformation that feeds American exceptionalism, and others like it are spreading in K-12 history classes across the country. Ten states have already partnered with PragerU despite widespread misinformation on the website. States that have designated PragerU Kids as an educational source are gravely disservicing their students.
Lessons spread about American exceptionalism that gloss over the ugly side of U.S. history result in an overly nationalistic view about the nation, along with an ignorance of the rest of the world. This excessively nationalistic view of America is dangerous in a time when global literacy among American students is rapidly declining due to lower literacy rates.
But as college students, as well as adults, we can confront the good and bad of American history with more educational freedom.Sam Jacob, Columnist
Furthermore, leaving out such important elements of history – like enslavement, imperialism and racial inequality – perpetuates informal racial and socioeconomic divides over perceptions of history.
At Syracuse University, there are students from a ton of different backgrounds who have vastly different understandings of American history. Some have seen practices of redlining first-hand, while others idolize the founders as near-perfect men.
The best way to contextualize differing historical perspectives is to expose yourself to experiences different from your own. Seeing and understanding differing perspectives, such as international ones, allows for a better understanding and interpretation of American truths.
For SU students, make an effort to take history classes that examine in depth various aspects of American history. Discuss your perception of American history with friends or acquaintances from different upbringings to hear their interpretations.
Visit museums that offer differing perspectives on whether or not the U.S. is truly exceptional. Museums can foster critical thinking skills, especially relating to aspects of history, along with building community.
Most importantly, though, is reconsidering how your own historical narrative perceptions misrepresent the U.S. or fail to acknowledge its shortcomings. Consider what you’ve been taught and why, along with exploring what you weren’t taught.
Making an effort to understand different perspectives relating to American history ensures better understanding in the face of overly nationalistic currents throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Sam Jacob is a freshman majoring in political science and international relations. He can be reahced at stjacob@syr.edu.
