Professors at the University of Rhode Island are concerned over the executive order to remove slavery references on national park land to make history look positive, as slavery was an integral part and vehicle for American history.
Slavery is the founding and development of United States history, according to Rob Widell Jr., the history department chair. In reality, the executive order will take a step back from teaching real history in schools, as it sheds a false light and misrepresentation of what really happened.
One cannot understand the history of the U.S. without understanding the integration of slavery, according to Widell. Slavery created a system where race was used to exclude and to deny certain rights, privileges and opportunities to groups of people.
Slavery was the vehicle for the American Constitution, society, culture, politics and the economy, according to Peter McLaughlin, an assistant professor in the political science department.
“Removing a reference to history is the prime example of how unopened the U.S. has been since the beginning,” Widell said. “It goes against the narrative that people want equality, using race as the issue.”
Dynamics around the executive order trace back to satisfying Trump’s party prior to his election, according to McLaughlin.
The focus of removal can have a big effect politically, according to McLaughlin. If the American public interprets this as positive, then it works in the Trump administration’s favor, while erasing history.
“This is just political posturing and an effort to pander to certain people in [Trump’s administration],” Widell said.
People have definitive thoughts on this topic so they’re unlikely to change, according to McLaughlin. Politically, what may differ is how they interpret this administration within. It won’t persuade anyone to change their ideas, but it might change how they view it.
“It’s unknown right now, but how this story is reported is going to play a big role in how this works,” McLaughlin said.
The executive order signals reluctance for the U.S. to face its past, according to Widell. Part of the population doesn’t want to talk about it and believe removing statutes will silence others. Removing statutes won’t change history or hide the terrible things that have happened throughout the lifetime of the U.S.
States try to see the country, its people and its institutions as an enormous force of good and right in the world, according to Widell. They see U.S. history as a steady march toward improvement in the country. Realistically, as racial issues concerning African Americans arose, it was like taking three steps back in time.
The idea of danger to slavery references at URI is unlikely, according to Widell. Stereotypically, when people think of higher education, they think of Ivy League universities and forget about state universities, public institutions and community colleges.
“The idea that the United States is just by virtue is some sort of [a] positive and good thing is simply not borne out by any of its history,” Widell said.
If there was danger in removing our slavery references, the URI community should take action and refuse the removal, according to Widell. Whether it’s colleges, universities or other institutions, there’s no way to find a common ground. Instead, people should force them to play out the consequences and see who they come after.
In the wake of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, people wanted to take down confederate monuments and statutes, according to Widell. Taking down tributes like Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson are fine because they didn’t deserve commemoration as they were engaged in contrary efforts that the U.S. holds at its core. The public might try to debate these issues policy-wise.
“The important thing in issues like this is to remain true to history and report its value,” McLaughlin said.
