The monument that racism built

Representations of history (i.e., books, museums, monuments) tend to favor the creators of those representations. I review research on articulations of the difficult histories connected with slavery, including the war over slavery in the United States (i.e., the Civil War, 1861–1865). I find that the lopsided portrayal of these histories is evident in how Blacks and Whites are portrayed in addition to which aspects of history receive the most attention. Black perspectives are minimized and are often shown through positions of powerlessness. Whites are shown as the primary actors, yet there is a glaring omission of the advantages Whites gained through slavery and their active role in dehumanizing people of African origins. This dynamic extends to how White southerners chose to represent the US Civil War. The legacy of slavery – i.e., a structural racism that supports White advantage and exploits Blacks – supports and is evident in the ways history is represented. When considering how to address the consequences of slavery through reparations, I suggest a broader perspective that links symbols to material inequalities. Adjustments to the public landscape are necessary throughout the world. However, those changes need to be made thoughtfully; otherwise there is a risk of repeating past mistakes.