Public History Exam 2

Where was Clint Smith born and raised? How have present-day public debates and political divides impacted historical markers and monuments where he is from?

Clint Smith, a noted author, poet, and staff writer at The Atlantic, was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in a majority-Black city surrounded by iconography dedicated to the Confederacy and the history of slavery, which later influenced his writing. New Orleans removed four major Confederate monuments: statues of Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, P.G.T. Beauregard, and the Liberty Place Monument.

How did the tour of Monticello sanitize the realities of slavery in the U.S. past? How has it changed over time?

Thomas Jefferson was emphasized as a brilliant founding father, rather than a slave owner. Enslaved people were barely mentioned or discussed vaguely, not emotionally. Mentions of Sally Hemings were brief and brushed over. Monticello has recently started to incorporate names of enslaved people into their tours and they now acknowledge Jefferson owning hundreds of slaves.

Explain why Smith contends that "there is no story of Monticello-there is no story of Thomas Jefferson-without understanding Sally Hemings." Why was there so much controversy surrounding her DNA test?

Because her life is directly tied to Jefferson's power, choices, and legacy. DNA tests show Sally Hemings being somehow related to Jefferson's wife. Half-sister?

As a touring site, how did the Whitney Plantation differ from Monticello?

While Monticello focused mainly on Jefferson's success rather than slavery, the Whitney Plantation confronted the brutality of slavery.

How should historians approach visitors at "contested spaces"?

By encouraging critical thinking without being too aggressive.

What does it mean to center marginalized voices in history? How does it change our understanding of history?

This means shifting the focus of historical narratives away from dominant, elite perspectives to prioritize the experiences, testimonies, and contributions of groups systematically excluded or overlooked. This uncovers hidden history and corrects the "single story" phenomenon.

How can we better document and archive the experiences of ordinary people? Why aren't these stories better documented? Are they important?

Ordinary people documented their lives through oral histories and personal records. These stories weren't documented because enslaved people lacked power, literacy, and recognition. Yes, these stories matter because they reveal a more complete and honest history.

Discovered ignorance

a process where people discover the things that they didn't know

How were Black peoples' legal rights curtailed or stripped during the era of legalized segregation ("Jim Crow")?

During Jim Crow, Black people's rights were stripped through laws that enforced segregation, limited voting (like poll taxes and literacy tests), and criminalized them to force labor.

Reflect on Smith's comments about Roger's tour of Angola.

Roger's tour did not confront the harsh realities of Angola's history with slavery. The tour felt incomplete.

Why do people want to ignore painful histories? Who benefits from ignoring these histories?

People choose to ignore painful histories because it is not what they were taught growing up, and it hurts the reputation of people in power.

How does a progress narrative influence our understanding of the past?

A progress narrative can make people overlook ongoing inequalities by suggesting that past injustices are fully resolved and no longer relevant.

Progress Narrative

the idea that things are better than they were

What was the "Lost Cause" narrative? How did it permeate into historical accounts and society?

The "Lost Cause" narrative portrayed the Confederacy as noble and downplayed slavery, shaping textbooks, monuments, and public memory.

Who gets the luxury of historical empathy? Of dignity in death?

White soldiers are often given empathy and honor, while Black people are denied dignity in memory and death.

Let's think about the concept of children as "living monuments." How do we as individuals perpetuate false historical narratives? How do we contribute to the extension of these ideas?

People perpetuate false narratives by repeating simplified or inaccurate histories and not questioning what they were taught.

What is the relationship between monuments and social progress? Does the removal of certain monuments indicate social progress?

Monuments reflect values; removing them can signal progress, but real change requires deeper societal shifts. Removal is a start.

What were some of the challenges formerly enslaved people encountered after emancipation?

Formerly enslaved people faced poverty, violence, lack of resources, and continued discrimination.

How did Al Edwards II turn Juneteenth into a wider celebration? What changed?

Al Edwards II helped make Juneteenth widely recognized by pushing for its official celebration, expanding awareness beyond Texas.

In what ways does reckoning with history allow us to gain momentum in organizing for change?

Reckoning with history helps people understand injustice, which can inspire action and movements for change.

How did Lincoln's image and history become closely related to emancipation and abolition?

Abraham Lincoln became closely tied to emancipation, but this can oversimplify history and overlook the role of enslaved people in securing their own freedom. Slaves fought back too.

How did New York slave owners switch from importing enslaved people from the Caribbean to importing them from Africa?

New York traders began importing enslaved people directly from Africa to increase profits and control over the trade.

How was New York linked with slavery before and after the state abolished it? Why is this surprising?

New York was tied to slavery through labor, trade, and finance both before and after abolition, which is surprising because the North is often seen as separate from slavery.

What was the importance of Seneca Village and why was it dismantled? What do you think happened to the people who lived there?

Seneca Village was a free, diverse community destroyed to build Central Park, and its residents were displaced and likely forced into poorer conditions.

What does it mean to tell a story "correctly" or "truthfully"?

Telling history truthfully means including all perspectives, especially those that have been ignored or erased.

In what ways does engaging with history publicly enrich our relationships to our communities?

Public engagement with history helps people better understand their community's past and its connection to present inequalities.

How did Europeans use African tribes in the slave trade?

Europeans exploited rivalries between African groups, trading with some tribes to capture and sell others into slavery.

When Smith spoke with the teacher Hassan Kane, Kane mentioned that students cannot understand slavery and colonialism as separate phenomena. Explain what he means by this and how the two are interrelated.

Hassan Kane argues that slavery and colonialism are linked because both rely on exploitation, control, and racial hierarchy.

What are the implications and challenges for historians/scholars writing about histories that potentially contradict local accounts and oral traditions?

Historians face challenges when evidence conflicts with oral traditions, as they must balance respect for memory with factual accuracy.

Culture/Cultural Wars

"Culture wars" are conflicts over how history, identity, and values are interpreted and presented in public spaces like museums.

What does Bunch think public historians should do in response to controversy due to the culture wars? What does Bunch believe should be the role of museums under such circumstances?

Bunch believes public historians should face controversy directly, and museums should present honest, inclusive history rather than avoid difficult topics.

Bunch grants that there is some tension between institutional and curatorial agendas in museums. What kind of tension? How should this be addressed?

The tension is between institutional pressures (politics, funding, public image) and curators wanting to present honest history; it should be addressed by prioritizing accuracy and integrity

What is Bunch's position on self-censorship and controversial subject matter in modern museum practice?

Bunch opposes self-censorship and argues museums should not avoid controversial topics, but instead engage with them thoughtfully and openly.