History Teachers, Textbooks And Racism - 1633 Words

A Whitewashed History: Teachers, Textbooks and Racism. Textbooks can be wrong. Is it possible that watching the History Channel could be more informative than the average High School History class? Alia Wong points out in her article History Class and the Fictions about Race in America the topics of underqualified teachers, inaccurate textbooks and the inefficacy of history being taught at all grade levels. I, myself, can attest to this statement having been taught history by a teacher who taught from an extremely outdated textbook. I taught myself by quietly reading in every class. The way we teach history to our children is lacking a few fundamental truths that are essential to American history and how we teach it that underplays†¦show more content†¦When you present the institution of slavery as â€Å"workers† you are sugar coating or brushing off the brutality of slavery and racism. Presenting them as other than a group of people who were brought here against thei r will, who had to endure the most barbaric, inhumane and torturous enslavement of their kind. How is this lack of accurate representation of slavery and White Supremacy ok to leave out of our History textbooks? I agree with Wong that textbook company publishers tend to â€Å"mystify† the reason why the south seceded. Largely because â€Å"they don’t want to offend school districts and lose sales†. When you have textbook companies not wanting to really emphasize that racism, slavery and White Supremacy in the south during the 1800s was one of the biggest and most prominent parts of why the Civil War started, rather they emphasize that it was about States’ Rights, and that’s the reason why the south seceded. Not that it was about the preservation of slavery. With textbooks like this you get 41% of Americans believing the cause of the Civil War was not slavery, where as the other 54% believe it is about slavery, from a recent national poll from Histo ry Class and the Fictions about Race in America. When you get these types of numbers one must think what does the â€Å"mystification† or the whitewashing of history do to us as a society? When you underplay racismShow MoreRelated Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen Essay example1439 Words   |  6 PagesJames Loewen wrote the book ?Lies My Teacher Told ME? to help the students of the United States become aware of their true history. This book attempts to show how and why American history has been taught the way it has without regard for the truth. Mr. Loewen had compared twelve different history textbooks they are: The Great Republic, The American Way, Land of Promise, Rise of the American Nation, Challenge of Freedom, American Adventures, Discovering American History, The American Tradition, Life andRead MoreEssay on Lies My Teacher Told Me910 Words   |  4 Pages All history comes with contradictions. With every moment in history comes a corresponding moment which c an take the accuracy and understanding and change them forever. Throughout time people add small pieces of information to great events in our past. This is where we get the misinterpretation of history. In chapter five of the book Lies My Teacher Told Me, these contradictions are brought into light and force us to look at them again. As I have learned in my history courses we can always questionRead MoreIn James Loewen’S Book, Lies My Teacher Told Me, He Talks1011 Words   |  5 PagesIn James Loewen’s book, Lies My Teacher Told Me, he talks about misconceptions in America school textbooks. Are these actually misconceptions though? What is the author saying about American history when details or whole event are untold? Lowen delves into these deep topics head on and gives examples as he goes. This book is not only intended for those who have read an American history book, but for those who have never heard the truth. Lowen wrote this book in order to uncover and educ ate; furthermoreRead MoreI Have Long Advocated For Social Equality1313 Words   |  6 Pagesbeen aware of the prevalence of racism. However, my forethought now seems insignificant compared to the degree of racism that James W. Loewen suggests is indoctrinating the minds and classrooms of America’s youth. Loewen takes readers on an enlightening journey through his book, Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, that intends to expose the false claims and lack of information in standard American high school history textbooks. He aims to set the record straightRead MoreThe Prevalence Of Racism On America s Youth1336 Words   |  6 Pageshave been aware of the prevalence of racism. However, my forethought now seems insignificant compared to the degree of racism that James W. Loewen suggests is indoctrinating the minds of America’s youth. Loewen takes readers on an enlightening journey through his book, Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everythi ng Your American History Textbook Got Wrong. The book intends to expose the false claims and lack of information in standard American high school history textbooks. He aims to correct the stigma behindRead MorePatriotism And Racism Essay1412 Words   |  6 PagesPatriotism in history class can and does contribute acts of racism in our society. By not covering the histories of oppressed people in depth and with the respect it deserves, those who are privileged do not understand what is happening when they see minorities protesting injustice or advocating for civil rights. This leads to feelings of anger and hate towards minorities, and even acts of retaliation. Racism has always been an issue in American society, but perhaps today it is more importantRead MoreEducation and Racism Essay791 Words   |  4 PagesEducation and Racism If teachers across America would arise and make the personal commitment to do something about racism, beginning with their own selves, their eventual impact would, I believe, be tremendous (Hacker 191). It is time to take action. Not only in our own lives, but in the lives of the children. There has been attempts, there has been success, and there has been failure. Many people have ways in which they believe will help reduce racism. But which is the right wayRead MoreHistory Is Almost Always Written By The Winners1393 Words   |  6 PagesHistory is almost always written by the winners. As a result, the details of pivotal historical events are often washed as to prevent the dirty, less flattering details to rise to the surface. It is why we need books such as â€Å"Lies My Teacher Told Me.† by James W. Loewen to uncover and expose the propogandic style teachings of high school textbooks. In his book, he has detailed his writings that are intended to elicit a thought-provoking question- is our curriculum geared toward immortalizing theRead MoreAmerican History And Its Lack Of Information Essay1373 Words   |  6 Pageswithout the truthful information given to itâ €™s future generations, America will degenerate. Because of author bias, text book selectivity, lies such as racism, uncaring consumers, and universities’ incorrect focus, there is a generation that will grow uniformed which will leave them hopeless in contributing or making a life for their own. American history is flawed due to bias of historical events, and it is because of this bias that students grow up uninformed of America’s past. How are people supposedRead MoreThe Between Teachers And Their Students During History Classrooms Nationwide1575 Words   |  7 PagesThere is a major disconnect occurring between teachers and their students in history classrooms nationwide. The main themes of United States history like freedom and liberty are individual to each person as well as each culture and ethnicity. This is an issue in the classroom because 92% of teachers are white while 80% are female. These predominantly white, female educators are attempting to teach a subject that is largely malleable among cultural and ethnic groups to a student population that is

Ezra Pound developing ideas Essay - 1038 Words

Ezra Pounds Developing Ideas nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Often called quot;the poets poet,quot; because of his profound influence on 20th century writing in English, American poet and critic, Pound, believed that poetry was the highest of the arts. You never would have believed that a writer and optimist such as Ezra Pound would have been born in Hailey, Idaho in 1885. From the sound of his work youd thing he was definitely one of those European Imagist. In 1908, after teaching college for two years, Pound traveled abroad to Spain, Italy, and London. He followed the teachings of Ernest Fenellosa and became very intrigued by Japanese and Chinese poetry. The literary figure who has had the most substantial impact on modern thought†¦show more content†¦nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;No, no! Go from me. I have still the flavour, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Soft as spring wind thats come from birchen bowers. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Green come the shoots, aye April in the branches, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;As winters wound with her sleight hand she staunches, nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Hath of the trees a likeness of the savour: nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;As white as their bark, so white this ladys hours.quot; Intent on experimentation, he prefers the green shoots that shows a new thrust through earth’s crust. Its also interesting how he alliterates the past as a â€Å"winter wound† and looking ahead to April’s quot;white-barked trees,quot; using the color white as symble of an developing purity. â€Å"A Virginal,† seems to have expressed Pound’s exasperation with the predictable American artistry and with poets who refused to let go of the past. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The poems of Lustra (1916) reflect the range of Pound’s intellectual interests, the variety of his technical experiments, and the extent of his artistic achievement in his London years. Such as quot;In a Station of the Metro.quot; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;quot;The apparition of these faces in the crowd;Show MoreRelatedWilliam Carlos Williams : An Influential Poet1181 Words   |  5 Pageswith were Imagism and Objectivism. Imagism is a movement started by the famous author Ezra Pound, who is very influential to Williams. Poets and authors wrote short and direct writing that was very descriptive, but brief. Poets resorted to writing more simple work and not writing about personal and romantic experiences. Imagist poetry typically revolved around one topic, but described it thoroughly. After Ezra Pound developed the Imagist movement, Williams hoped on the bandwagon and started to createRead MoreRomanticism : Romanticism And Romanticism1141 Words   |  5 PagesIn 1783, he published his first book, Poetical Sketches. He was known for engraving words and pictures on a plate. This is how he produced Songs of Innocence in 1789 and Songs of Experience in 1794, which are known as his most fa mous works. Blake’s ideas and influence are considered to be the most powerful of all the poets in the Romantic Movement. Samuel Taylor Coleridge was a leader of the Romantic Movement in England. His father wanted Coleridge to be a clergyman so in 1791, he attended the JesusRead MoreEzra Pound : An American Poet1834 Words   |  8 PagesEzra Pound was an American expatriate poet and a crucial figure in the early modernist movement. His famous contribution to the modernist movement was his influential work of developing the literary style of Imagism. His favoritism towards using musical properties in the poetical verse, and intense use of vivid imagery, helped to not only influence many other famous poets such as Robert Frost and D.H. Lawrence, but also to change the literary world forever. Ezra Loomis Pound wasRead MoreThe Fallout After World War 1 And The Great Depression2535 Words   |  11 PagesThe fallout after the World War 1 and the Great Depression saw the emergence of a literary preoccupation with the idea of fragmentation, and a cubist application to literature as a means of representing the 20th Century modern reality. Authors, poets, artists etc saw; cubism, expressionism and fragmentation as the best vehicles to depict the incomplete, broken lives of their subjects. With both modern and post modern literature making a conscious break away from previous realism, 20thC literatureRead MoreThe Influence of T.S Eliot Through his Poetry Essay743 Words   |  3 Pagesto state ideas. T.S. Eliot had developed these poems every time, and he used his intuitive thinking to create poems that were very complex but could still release very clear ideas and thoughts. T.S. Eliot used many different skills and methods that he implemented into his poems, and this is sh own throughout the progress of his life. T.S. Eliot (1888-1965) grew up in St. Louis up until he was 18. He then attended Harvard University and got his BA. It was there where he began developing his poeticRead MoreEssay on Water and Religious Motifs in The Waste Land, by T.S. Eliot1525 Words   |  7 Pagesis holding up Phlebas as an example of one who died for a good reason: Phoenician sailors were responsible for developing, and (through trade) spreading both religion and what has become our modern alphabet. This is a parallel with the idea that drowning is positive, and essential to rebirth. The last section is titled What the Thunder Said. In the beginning of this section, the idea of aridity is repeated, this time with insistent, repetitive language from line 331 to line 358: Here is no waterRead MoreMental Illness And Its Influence On His Writing Style2053 Words   |  9 Pagesprofessional, verbal communication. While in rehabilitation, he became more involved with writing due to his mentors, Ezra Pound and Gertrude Stein. He soon developed a strong love for literature as he began to write poetry. One of his two mentors, Gertrude Stein, wrote poems that were ‘a very beautiful form of literature’, as his poems were personal, infuriating, and tender. Ezra Pound on the other hand wrote poems that had clarity, precision, as well as traditional rhyme as they are written in theRead MoreEliot s Poetry Of A Divided Mind2445 Words   |  10 PagesPrize Speech that good writing comes only from â€Å"the problems of the human heart in conflict with itself.† These insights are no more apt than when applied to the poetry of T.S. Eliot. Exploding onto the poetic scene in 1915, Eliot and his friend Ezra Pound were at the forefront of the modernist movement. They reacted strongly against the traditional techniques of the Georgians and others who came before them, who seemed to the modernists to be attempting to represent the modern world in a style thatRead MoreEssay Literary Luminaries and English Vocabulary1905 Words   |  8 Pagesbeen replaced and modified due to their inarticulate nature and modernistic replacing sensibility. In the 16th century William Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser, Tyndale, Coverdale and The university wits scholar coined several new words to express their ideas. With the renaissance influence there was a flood of learning in England. There was rebirth, reawakening and revival of Classical and Greek literature. It was a high time of discoveries, through new words were imported. People were full of enthusiasmRead MoreA Brief Introduction to American Literature3396 Words   |  14 Pages1890 ¡Ã‚ ¯s and 1900 ¡Ã‚ ¯s. Darwin ¡Ã‚ ¯s 1895 publication of The Origin of the Species had impact many new ideas into people ¡Ã‚ ¯s mind: the struggle for existence, survival of the fittest and natural selection. Then Darwinism was adopted to the social area  ©Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ©Ã¢â€š ¬ the stupid and the weak would fall victim in the natural course of events to economic forces. Writers began to write about the society growing and developing in the same way as animal class. Emile Zola, a famous and influential French writer, first proposed

Hitler and Sociology Free Essays

Most people would agree with doing something horrific to another person, since it is easier to conform, than to fight, people tend to protect themselves before protecting a stranger. Stanley Milgram put a study together to prove that Germans are more likely to be obedient to authority then American are. The study was called â€Å"If Hitler Asked You to Electrocute a Stranger, Would You? Probably. We will write a custom essay sample on Hitler and Sociology or any similar topic only for you Order Now † Milgram explains the character aspects of why people listen to authority and why they afraid not to.Social structure and the organization of society have a powerful affect on people. Milgrams set out to New Haven to start the study ad later on planed to go to Germany to do the study on the society there. Stanley wanted to prove that Germans are more obedient then Americans are. He started this study in New Haven then planned on going to Germany but while in New Haven he realized Americans could be just as obedient as Germans can be.Yet the Germans did help Hitler on his act against the Jewish people living in Germany. In his study he realized that the charter flows in the way that the society has control over the people. Germans obey without questions when Americans questions why they should do something. How Hitler had control over the Germans relates to how parents and the government take control to an extent. As children we learn to listen to our parents and do what they ask of us. And if we don’t we get punished in some way.Our parents try to teach us at a young age to obey authority. Also the government has set rules for citizens saying what they are aloud to do. But the rules they set are to keep citizens safe and away from harms way. Everyone does things they don’t exactly want to do but that is part of life yet that doesn’t mean that people have to go and kill people since they know it is wrong but people are so worried about what will happen if they don’t do it or if they will be accepted.People can be so obedient because they are afraid of what will happen to themselves and a lot of times they don’t care about what will happen to other people. People love to be accepted and have people like them and if they don’t do what people tell them to dot they might be cut out of the group. The consequences that can happen if one doesn’t listen or do what they are told brings the fear of punishment and isolation. People can be amazed at the things someone might do to just be accepted and not lose people. How to cite Hitler and Sociology, Papers