U.S. History: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Summary

The script from 'Last Week Tonight' delves into the importance of accurately teaching American history, highlighting the gaps and biases in education regarding race and slavery. It critiques the lack of national standards, the influence of skewed narratives, and the political nature of historical education. The show emphasizes the need for a comprehensive understanding of history to address current racial inequalities and societal issues.

Takeaways

• 📚 History can be both fascinating and painful, with significant gaps in many people's knowledge, especially about racial issues.
• 🔊 Scientists recreated the voice of an ancient Egyptian mummy using a 3D printer, raising humorous but also poignant questions about our approach to history.
• 🕊️ The murder of George Floyd has reignited national conversations about America's past and present racial issues, highlighting the need to reexamine history.
• 🎓 Many Americans learned about the Tulsa Race Massacre for the first time from the TV show Watchmen, indicating major gaps in historical education.
• 🎉 Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the US, but a recent poll showed that 48% of Americans were not aware of its significance.
• 🗽 Misleading versions of history, such as the myth of George Washington freeing his slaves, contribute to a distorted understanding of America's past.
• 📘 Textbooks and state education standards often omit or misrepresent crucial aspects of history, such as slavery and white supremacy.
• 📝 Some classroom exercises and assignments on slavery have been highly inappropriate and harmful, reflecting broader issues in how history is taught.
• 🔍 The lack of comprehensive national standards for history education leads to significant variations and omissions in what students learn across different states.
• 🗣️ Addressing these gaps and inaccuracies is essential for understanding current racial issues and working towards a more informed and just society.

Q & A

What significant event did the scientists achieve by recreating Nesyamun's mouth and vocal chords with a 3-D printer?

The scientists were able to mimic Nesyamun's voice, producing a single sound, which was a fascinating experiment to imagine what an ancient Egyptian might sound like.

Why has the murder of George Floyd prompted a reexamination of America's past?

George Floyd's murder has forced a hard national conversation about the present state of racial inequality in the U.S., which is impossible to address effectively without understanding the historical context and past injustices.

What is Juneteenth and why is its observance significant?

Juneteenth is an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S., marking the day Union troops informed Texas that enslaved people must be freed, which is significant as it represents a step towards racial equality.

Why was the decision to hold a rally in Tulsa on June 19th considered tone-deaf?

The decision was tone-deaf because June 19th is Juneteenth, a day commemorating the end of slavery, and Tulsa was the site of one of the nation's worst racial violence outbreaks, the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921.

What is one of the key issues with how U.S. history is taught according to the script?

One of the key issues is the lack of national standards for what topics or figures students must learn about, leading to significant gaps in knowledge and a variation in state standards that often downplay or misrepresent historical events.

How did the script illustrate the problem with some history textbooks' portrayal of slavery?

The script cited examples from old textbooks that either downplayed the horrors of slavery or placed blame on the victims, such as describing slave labor as 'chores' or suggesting that a violent coup was actually a riot started by Black residents.

What is the '1619 Project' and why has it been controversial?

The 1619 Project is an initiative by The New York Times that brings slavery into the forefront of American history. It has been controversial because some, like Senator Tom Cotton, argue that teaching a curriculum based on it could lead to schools losing federal funding.

Why is it important to teach the full history of white supremacy in America?

Teaching the full history of white supremacy is important because it provides a comprehensive understanding of the systemic racism that has shaped the country's past and present, allowing students to see the connections between historical events and current social issues.

What misconception does the script suggest is common in the way U.S. history is taught?

The script suggests that U.S. history is often taught as a smooth, steady upward arc of progress, glossing over periods of white hostility, backsliding, and the ongoing struggle for racial equality.

What is the importance of understanding the full history of the Civil Rights Movement as described in the script?

Understanding the full history of the Civil Rights Movement is important because it shows that the movement was longer, messier, and more radical than commonly portrayed, and that many of its aims were thwarted, providing context for ongoing racial disparities.

How does the script address the issue of teaching an 'American Exceptionalism' narrative?

The script critiques the 'American Exceptionalism' narrative by arguing that it can lead to a distorted and incomplete understanding of history, ignoring the country's struggles with racial injustice and the ongoing impact of those struggles.