Lies Across America
Encyclopedia
Lies Across America is James Loewen
's follow up to his 1995 work Lies My Teacher Told Me
. The book, published in 2000, focuses on historical markers and museums across the United States.
The book starts on the West Coast
and moves east, a deliberate break from the traditional history found in textbooks, which begin with the Pilgrims and move westward. Similarly, Loewen covers Hispanic
rather than English
discovery, and American Indian
history.
Loewen's book voices two major complaints about historical markers in the United States
. The first, and most major, deals with historical markers established in the Southern United States which attempt to white-wash the history of slavery
and the period of Reconstruction. Many of these markers were established between 1890 and 1920, the nadir of American race relations
. Most were placed by organizations with pro-Confederate
agendas and reflect the racism of the early 20th century. While some markers have been altered in the last forty years as a result of civil rights
progress, many have not—especially those extant at American Civil War
battle sites and in the South.
Loewen's second major complaint deals with the treatment of Native Americans, who are often neglected and omitted in the telling of United States history. The author challenges and corrects many of the inaccurate and Eurocentric mistruths spread by story markers across America.
At the end of his book, Loewen makes suggestions for how those concerned about the misrepresentation of history can change markers and monuments to convey historical truth and accuracy.
The organizations running historical sites are faulted in Loewen's book according to Wilton Corkern.
In the book, Loewen argues every historic site is "a tale of two eras": the one from when the event happened one from when the event was commemorated.
James Loewen
James W. Loewen is a sociologist, historian, and author whose best-known work is Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong .-Early life and career:...
's follow up to his 1995 work Lies My Teacher Told Me
Lies My Teacher Told Me
Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong is a 1995 book by sociologist James Loewen. It critically examines twelve American history textbooks and concludes that textbook authors propagate factually false, Eurocentric, and mythologized views of history...
. The book, published in 2000, focuses on historical markers and museums across the United States.
The book starts on the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
and moves east, a deliberate break from the traditional history found in textbooks, which begin with the Pilgrims and move westward. Similarly, Loewen covers Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
rather than English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
discovery, and American Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
history.
Loewen's book voices two major complaints about historical markers in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The first, and most major, deals with historical markers established in the Southern United States which attempt to white-wash the history of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
and the period of Reconstruction. Many of these markers were established between 1890 and 1920, the nadir of American race relations
Nadir of American race relations
The "nadir of American race relations" is a term that refers to the period in United States history from the end of Reconstruction through the early 20th century, when racism in the country is deemed to have been worse than in any other period after the American Civil War. During this period,...
. Most were placed by organizations with pro-Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
agendas and reflect the racism of the early 20th century. While some markers have been altered in the last forty years as a result of civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
progress, many have not—especially those extant at American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
battle sites and in the South.
Loewen's second major complaint deals with the treatment of Native Americans, who are often neglected and omitted in the telling of United States history. The author challenges and corrects many of the inaccurate and Eurocentric mistruths spread by story markers across America.
At the end of his book, Loewen makes suggestions for how those concerned about the misrepresentation of history can change markers and monuments to convey historical truth and accuracy.
The organizations running historical sites are faulted in Loewen's book according to Wilton Corkern.
In the book, Loewen argues every historic site is "a tale of two eras": the one from when the event happened one from when the event was commemorated.
External links
- Synopsis of book on James Loewen's website
- http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=lies_across_america_what_our_historic_sites_get_wrongReview in The American ProspectThe American ProspectThe American Prospect is a monthly American political magazine dedicated to American liberalism. Based in Washington, DC, The American Prospect is a journal "of liberal ideas, committed to a just society, an enriched democracy, and effective liberal politics" which focuses on United States politics...
] - http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/l/loewen-lies.htmlExcerpt in The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
with link to a review]