Historical Truth Matters
Confronting America’s obsession with returning to an imaginary past.
By Ebony Emerson –
In seeking reparative justice we must look at history as a form of truth telling.
The historical truth matters, especially when it comes to acknowledging the atrocities of slavery, colonialism, and other crimes against humanity that have shaped the nation.
E.B. Du Bois once noted how Blacks were constantly under the “arbitrary will” of another. When our unjust social system is constantly reproduced and readapted, then what are its consequences on our society as well as on the lives of those subjugated? Structural anti-Black racism is the living heritage of racial slavery.
How False Civil Rights Narratives Distort Modern Freedom Struggles
History bridges the gap between events of the past and our understanding of them, giving us a map of human experience we use to guide our daily actions and our future plans. By facing the uncomfortable truths of America’s past, we can begin to dismantle the unjust social systems that still persist today. It is only through a collective understanding and acknowledgement of historical injustices that we can work towards building a more equitable society.
Ignoring or romanticizing the past only perpetuates systemic inequalities and prevents progress towards true justice. It is imperative that we confront our country’s history head-on, embracing uncomfortable conversations and educating ourselves about the realities that have shaped our present.
By shedding light on these horrible chapters of history, we can challenge prevailing narratives and work toward creating a society that values truth, equality, and justice for all. Only then can we move forward with a shared commitment to building a better future for generations to come.
“The great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways, and history is literally present in all that we do. It could scarcely be otherwise, since it is to history that we owe our frames of reference, our identities, and our aspirations.” ~ James Baldwin
