CULTURE

Is Black History The Only Thing That Can Shatter Nostalgia?

Racism is perpetuated by overlooking key narratives.

Elegant man in coat in back view | Photo by David Kwewum via Pexels

Some Americans seem enamored with past versions of our society. At first glance, this fixation appears harmless. After all, memory plays a pivotal role in shaping our personality and cultural identity. Yet, there's a dark side to collective nostalgia. Focusing only on the positive elements of our past paints a rosy image that strays from reality. Take, for instance, statements made by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin in a recent Fox News interview. He rose to political power in the Republican Party by vowing to remove critical race theory from the classroom. Even though no K-12 schools introduce students to the framework, he railed against its inclusion. So, it made sense that he would applaud the state university closing DEI offices. Youngkin claimed this shift would restore the values of Thomas Jefferson. This sentiment seems misplaced because of the harm of banning diversity, equity, and inclusion offices. Yet, he was right about one thing — our society's shifting values.

Jefferson, the 3rd president of the United States, would likely approve of this attack on DEI. After all, he enslaved 600 African people throughout his life. He believed Black people were inferior and "incapable as…