As an educator of undergraduate students, I have witnessed a significant shift in attitude towards language and historical accuracy. During a reading of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, a student hesitated to use the word “Negro” and replaced it with the offensive N-word. Subsequently, all the students followed suit, without any explanation, and started using the N-word instead of “Negro.” When I tried to explain that “Negro” wasn’t a slur and many people, even in this century, preferred to be called “Negro,” the students didn’t seem to understand. This incident demonstrates how some individuals today are attempting to retroactively change history instead of learning from it.
Similar instances of “cleansing” are becoming widespread, such as the recent Roald Dahl estate’s clumsy alterations to classic works of children’s literature. However, we need to understand that censorship undermines the purpose of art, which is to reflect society’s true nature, even if it isn’t flattering. Therefore, the act of erasing past ugliness and denialism of historical events amounts to nothing but condescension to audiences, and accepting these erasures is tantamount to infantilization.
In the most egregious instances, attempts to erase the past result in “positive negationism” that fundamentally distorts society’s actual progress towards societal issues such as racism. To accurately gauge cultural progress, we need an unflinching and honest record of our past. Instead of perpetuating a sense of passive victimization, we must acknowledge that changes have occurred, and we must continue working towards further progress.
In conclusion, we must learn from our past missteps to effect positive change within our society. Art preserves our history and allows us to reflect on our actions, good or bad. Attempts to hide our past or sanitize it are detrimental to our progress and a disservice to our society’s growth.
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