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The 1619 Project


An impactful expansion of groundbreaking journalism, The 1619 Project offers a ...
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What is the purpose of history? Who gets to decide what and who is remembered? How has what’s deemed history and how history is recorded changed during your lifetime? Has it changed for the better or the worse, in your opinion?

Created: 07/10/24

Replies: 5

Posted Jul. 10, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 1109

What is the purpose of history? Who gets to decide what and who is remembered? How has what’s deemed history and how history is recorded changed during your lifetime? Has it changed for the better or the worse, in your opinion?

What is the purpose of history? Who gets to decide what and who is remembered from the past?
What are the consequences of those decisions? How has what’s deemed history and how history is recorded changed during your lifetime? Has it changed for the better or the worse, in your opinion?


Posted Jul. 11, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 1109

RE: What is the purpose of history?...

I think history serves to help us understand ourselves - who we are & how we got here - as well as helps us avoid the mistakes made in the past (although we don't seem to be doing a good job of that lately). In prior centuries history was written by the winners - those who came out on top. For example, how many WWI books are out there written from the standpoint of the losers? I'm willing to bet there are a LOT more penned by the victors. Books that don't support the prevailing viewpoint are largely suppressed.

Things have really changed in the last 150 years or so, though. For one thing, people are actually LOOKING for documents by or about overlooked populations. People are doing research and uncovering those writings that were at one time deemed unimportant or subversive. Documentation has gotten a lot better, too, first with the advent of newspapers and newspaper archives, but now, in the digital age, pictures are easy to take and documents live forever on the internet. I'd like to think that this is an improvement.

I do worry about AI, though. If a document, photo or video clip has been altered realistically enough, I don't know how we'll be able to figure out the truth of history or anything else in the future.


Posted Jul. 11, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Muse48

Join Date: 12/27/18

Posts: 73

RE: What is the purpose of history?...

We cannot change the past. I don't think "how" history is recorded" has changed all that much during my lifetime. I was born after the written word was introduced. I do think "who" records history has changed. We have allowed different voices to be heard. There seems to be no shortage of reading materials enlightening us, judging from the "Credits" section of the 1619 Project. Every time I read a new book, especially historical fiction, I learn more and more about our world. Life is a journey - and there is no utopia. So, as Betty Davis said, "Hold onto your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumby ride."


Posted Jul. 12, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Patricia Ann

Join Date: 05/24/21

Posts: 101

RE: What is the purpose of history?...

The purpose of history is to help us think about and understand the past and the context of the time. Unfortunately, in my state, the Governor appoints people to the State Board of Education who review textbooks for adoption. Members often make companies change, delete, and rewrite information. Because my state is so large, it influences what goes into the textbooks and what is omitted, not just for my state, but for many or all states.


Posted Jul. 23, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
margaret h.

Join Date: 09/20/23

Posts: 10

RE: What is the purpose of history?...

History is what is written down...by a winner, or by a loser, by an ethical researcher, or for a specific purpose. It can be twisted, manipulated, often invented, either believed or denied. For example, like so many others, I watched the January 6 assault on congress, only to be told that those involved were merely visitors who were persecuted by the justice system. That, together with claims of voter fraud, were clear attempts to influence the gullible for a purpose.

Current events are not history...they are happenings. "The 1619 Project" is history. It has been thoroughly researched by historians using government records of laws passed, writings of legislators who made laws, records of votes for and against certain legislation, newspaper accounts, anything to reveal cause and effect.

It is a brilliant book and deserves to be studied to some extent at all levels of education. It is also a valuable reference for further study in the future when even more will probably be revealed. So much of what happens is kept secret for good or bad reasons...it takes time to find the truth and that is why we do research.

Context of time is important but never excuses evil deeds, past or present.


Posted Jul. 28, 2024 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Jill

Join Date: 12/14/22

Posts: 110

RE: What is the purpose of history?...

The initial question in #9 immediately made me think of Colonial Williamsburg’s mission statement which is “So that the future may learn from the past.” Each time I read those words, I am reminded that what we know about the past continues to evolve as new information is uncovered about our past. That information can guide us going forward to avoid past mistakes, that change does not always happen quickly and that history can be a source of hope that we can do better.
Small vocal groups continue to try and erase specific events from history and manipulate what they consider to be relevant history. I recently read an article that cited how easy it is to “erase” specific news related articles on the internet so that the average person cannot find something that was on the internet only a few years ago. The point being, that when information is hard to find, it makes it easier to manipulate, deceive and lie to the public. The average person will not have time and/or skill to persevere in finding the truth. While some historical information is easy to find in books, technology has enhanced our access to history recreated on videos, in podcasts, and through discussions in blogs. While all of these are wonderful advancements, vigilance is required to ensure that what we read is based on fact and not manipulated for malevolent intent.


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