Maus
Feb 2nd 2022, 4:16 pm
#31
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Re: Maus
Here's the trick - you can't just come out and say it. Just like how Maus was removed under the pretext of language and nudity, you do the same with slavery. It used to be that books were labelled as "unfair to the south" if they said anything worse than slavery being the kind employment of black folks who really appreciated it, and those books were banned from schools and libraries. These days they ban "critical race theory" and then they can label everything involving racism (including US slavery) as that even if it isn't close. Some states even go as far as making a bounty and fining teachers. Here's a snazzy graphic of states, although the reality isn't as bad as it looks since a lot of the current bills won't succeed.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/st...al-race-theory
https://worldpopulationreview.com/st...al-race-theory
Feb 2nd 2022, 4:50 pm
#32
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Re: Maus
For generations, children have been spared the whole, terrible reality about slavery’s place in U.S. history, but some schools are beginning to strip away the deception and evasions
It is why, just four years ago, textbooks told students “workers” were brought from Africa to America, not men, women and children in chains. It is why, last year, a teacher asked students to list “positive” aspects of slavery. It is why, even in 2019, there are teachers in schools who still think holding mock auctions is a good way for students to learn about slavery. Misinformation and flawed teaching about America’s “original sin” fills our classrooms from an early age.
Feb 2nd 2022, 7:10 pm
#33
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Re: Maus
Feb 2nd 2022, 7:48 pm
#34
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Re: Maus
Referring to slaves as workers, as though it was voluntary.
'Positive aspects of slavery'?
Those mock slave auctions are unlikely to be teaching children the full extent how how slaves were treated at the time.
'Teaching'? More like indoctrinating kids into believing slavery wasn't that bad, and that there were positive benefits.
And like the banning of CRT, anything that challenges the narrative that blacks were severely disadvantaged throughout history is pushed aside and the truth literally white-washed.
Feb 2nd 2022, 8:17 pm
#35
Yo
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Re: Maus
If you consider the examples in the quote above as 'teaching about slavery', you may in fact be part of the problem.
Referring to slaves as workers, as though it was voluntary.
'Positive aspects of slavery'?
Those mock slave auctions are unlikely to be teaching children the full extent how how slaves were treated at the time.
'Teaching'? More like indoctrinating kids into believing slavery wasn't that bad, and that there were positive benefits.
And like the banning of CRT, anything that challenges the narrative that blacks were severely disadvantaged throughout history is pushed aside and the truth literally white-washed.
Referring to slaves as workers, as though it was voluntary.
'Positive aspects of slavery'?
Those mock slave auctions are unlikely to be teaching children the full extent how how slaves were treated at the time.
'Teaching'? More like indoctrinating kids into believing slavery wasn't that bad, and that there were positive benefits.
And like the banning of CRT, anything that challenges the narrative that blacks were severely disadvantaged throughout history is pushed aside and the truth literally white-washed.
Feb 2nd 2022, 9:02 pm
#36
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 26,319
Re: Maus
Here's the trick - you can't just come out and say it. Just like how Maus was removed under the pretext of language and nudity, you do the same with slavery. It used to be that books were labelled as "unfair to the south" if they said anything worse than slavery being the kind employment of black folks who really appreciated it, and those books were banned from schools and libraries. These days they ban "critical race theory" and then they can label everything involving racism (including US slavery) as that even if it isn't close. Some states even go as far as making a bounty and fining teachers. Here's a snazzy graphic of states, although the reality isn't as bad as it looks since a lot of the current bills won't succeed.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/st...al-race-theory
https://worldpopulationreview.com/st...al-race-theory
Feb 3rd 2022, 12:30 am
#37
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Re: Maus
This, while pedantically correct, seems to be going out of the way to miss the point, and praise itself in the glorious slaying of mere rhetorical hyperbole..
Last edited by kimilseung; Feb 3rd 2022 at 1:24 am.
Feb 3rd 2022, 12:44 am
#39
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Re: Maus
Part of the culture war in America, is in schools, it is a continuation of the Lost Cause narrative. Minimize slavery, claim it to be benign, claim that it benefited the enslaved. It was faux slavery, and people are just being mean and anti-South in even mentioning it.
Feb 3rd 2022, 1:36 am
#40
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Re: Maus
Is this a good place to mention Whoopi Goldberg?
I see her comment as very American-centric. where the power dynamic of inequality is very focused on that of colour. Sometimes when talking to Americans, one could start to believe that only the USA had slavery, that it was more numerous and worse in the USA than anywhere else. I am sure we all have our own cultural blinkers. But so prevalent is the USA's view on this, that I suspect that few in Britain have any idea of the brutality and the far bigger numbers of British controlled slave economies in the Caribbean. The section of America that is open to its past, has given the likes of Britain a get out of gaol card.
I see her comment as very American-centric. where the power dynamic of inequality is very focused on that of colour. Sometimes when talking to Americans, one could start to believe that only the USA had slavery, that it was more numerous and worse in the USA than anywhere else. I am sure we all have our own cultural blinkers. But so prevalent is the USA's view on this, that I suspect that few in Britain have any idea of the brutality and the far bigger numbers of British controlled slave economies in the Caribbean. The section of America that is open to its past, has given the likes of Britain a get out of gaol card.
Feb 3rd 2022, 10:35 am
#41
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Re: Maus
Not really. Saying you can't even mention slavery in some American schools is an exaggeration of Trumpian proportions. It's the kind of sloppy language which creates false beliefs. However, given Whoopi Goldberg's recent musings on the Holocaust, who knows what is actually taught in some American schools. If she had said a watered down version of slavery it would not be an issue. Many countries water down their ignominious past including Japan (Nanking) and Britain (Opium) and of course the important thing is explain these histories frankly and truthfully.
Feb 3rd 2022, 10:37 am
#42
Yo
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Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
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Re: Maus
Is this a good place to mention Whoopi Goldberg?
I see her comment as very American-centric. where the power dynamic of inequality is very focused on that of colour. Sometimes when talking to Americans, one could start to believe that only the USA had slavery, that it was more numerous and worse in the USA than anywhere else. I am sure we all have our own cultural blinkers. But so prevalent is the USA's view on this, that I suspect that few in Britain have any idea of the brutality and the far bigger numbers of British controlled slave economies in the Caribbean. The section of America that is open to its past, has given the likes of Britain a get out of gaol card.
I see her comment as very American-centric. where the power dynamic of inequality is very focused on that of colour. Sometimes when talking to Americans, one could start to believe that only the USA had slavery, that it was more numerous and worse in the USA than anywhere else. I am sure we all have our own cultural blinkers. But so prevalent is the USA's view on this, that I suspect that few in Britain have any idea of the brutality and the far bigger numbers of British controlled slave economies in the Caribbean. The section of America that is open to its past, has given the likes of Britain a get out of gaol card.
I had the same thought. (Read after my previous reply.)
Feb 3rd 2022, 1:43 pm
#43
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