Separation of Jefferson and History

Separation of Jefferson and History

Nation contributor Eric Foner defends history, and disagrees with the Texas Board of Education, on The Colbert Report.

Facebook
Twitter
Email
Flipboard
Pocket

The Texas Board of Education recently voted on new textbook standards-ultimately rewriting history through a conservative lens. References to Thomas Jefferson as an Enlightenment thinker will be removed and replaced lessons about with John Calvin. On McCarthyism, textbooks will be required to include that suspicions of Communist infiltration were later confirmed and, as Stephen Colbert reports, "any passage describing Joe McCarthy’s sweaty jowls be changed to glistening neck pouch."

Though the changes are only implemented in Texas, they impact the entire country because publishers cater their content to Texas standards, as the state represents one of the largest markets for textbooks. As Colbert says, "This battle is not just about Texas, it decides which historical figures all of our children will be drawing mustaches and eye patches on."

Colombia history professor and Nation editorial board member Eric Foner joins Colbert to "answer for his liberal crimes" of writing a popular textbook, without a conservative view, currently being used in Texas. (Foner’s "Twisting History in Texas" took the Texas Board of Education to task for in the pages of last week’s Nation.) Foner explains why the board’s decision is so harmful, "they eliminate people from the past who they don’t agree with…[and] the [board] is trying to eliminate any discussion of [historical] injustices which gives students a completely misleading picture of what American history has been."

Foner describes a person or a society without historical knowledge as a person without a memory. Colbert counters with the old adage, those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. "But if you change what history was, doesn’t that solve that problem?" Colbert asks.

–Morgan Ashenfelter

Can we count on you?

In the coming election, the fate of our democracy and fundamental civil rights are on the ballot. The conservative architects of Project 2025 are scheming to institutionalize Donald Trump’s authoritarian vision across all levels of government if he should win.

We’ve already seen events that fill us with both dread and cautious optimism—throughout it all, The Nation has been a bulwark against misinformation and an advocate for bold, principled perspectives. Our dedicated writers have sat down with Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders for interviews, unpacked the shallow right-wing populist appeals of J.D. Vance, and debated the pathway for a Democratic victory in November.

Stories like these and the one you just read are vital at this critical juncture in our country’s history. Now more than ever, we need clear-eyed and deeply reported independent journalism to make sense of the headlines and sort fact from fiction. Donate today and join our 160-year legacy of speaking truth to power and uplifting the voices of grassroots advocates.

Throughout 2024 and what is likely the defining election of our lifetimes, we need your support to continue publishing the insightful journalism you rely on.

Thank you,
The Editors of The Nation

Ad Policy
x